Chen Tianshi, co-founder of Cambricon Technologies, has shot up the rich list to become the third-richest person globally under 40, with a fortune of about $22.5 billion. His rise is deeply tied to geopolitical shifts—when the U.S. restricted exports of advanced chips, China pushed hard to support its own chip makers. Cambricon, a leading manufacturer of AI processors, benefited strongly from this push.
Earlier, Cambricon relied heavily on Huawei, which once made up more than 95% of its revenue. But when Huawei began building its own chips, Chen faced a major setback. He rebounded by aligning with Beijing’s drive for semiconductor independence. The Chinese government offered support, shielding his business from foreign competition.
That protection helped Cambricon dominate locally. As demand for domestic chips surged, its share price exploded—up 765%, according to reports. That massive jump drove Chen’s wealth to record levels. While his success highlights China’s strategic push in tech, some analysts warn about long-term risks. They question whether Cambricon’s valuation is too high and if the company can stay competitive as global markets evolve.
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