Zuo Hui

Zuo Hui
Born
Zuo Hui

May 1971 (age 53)
DiedMay 20, 2021
Alma materBeijing University of Chemical Technology
Peking University
OccupationEntrepreneur
Known forFounder and Chairman of KE Holdings

Zuo Hui (January 1971 – May 20, 2021) was a Chinese entrepreneur, real estate tycoon and founder of KE Holdings.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

In 1992, Zuo earned a degree in computer science from Beijing University of Chemical Technology.[3]

In 2008, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Peking University.[4]

Career

After graduating, Zuo worked in a series of sales jobs in insurance and other industries.[3]

In 2001, he founded Beijing Lianjia, a Chinese real-estate brokerage company.[5]

In 2010, Zuo started Yiju Taihe, which offered property-related financial services.[3]

In 2018, Zuo founded Beike, an online brokerage platform.[1] In the same year, Zuo created KE Holdings, an umbrella company into which he put Lianjia, Yiju Taihe and Beike.[3]

In 2020, KE Holdings raised $2.12 billion from its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, valuing the company at just under $40 billion.[6][7]

Net worth

In April 2021, Forbes estimated Zuo's net worth to be $15.5 billion.[1]

Death

Zuo died on May 20, 2021, at 50 years old as a result of an unspecified illness. Beike named CEO Peng Yongdong as the new chairman following his death.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Zuo Hui". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  2. ^ "Beike founder Zuo Hui passes away at age of 50". KrASIA. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e Flannery, Russell. "High Rise: Billionaire Zuo Hui Dominates China's Property Transactions Market". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  4. ^ "Zuo Hui, who built China's biggest online property platform, dies at 50". South China Morning Post. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  5. ^ "Founder of China property platform Beike is worth US$20b". www.businesstimes.com.sg. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  6. ^ "Tencent-backed Beike surges on NYSE debut amid strained US-China ties". South China Morning Post. 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  7. ^ Swartz, Jon. "A Chinese IPO just raised more than $2 billion amid tensions between U.S., China". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  8. ^ Flannery, Russell. "Pioneering China Real Estate Billionaire Zuo Hui Dies At 50; KE Plunges". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  9. ^ "Beike names CEO Peng Yongdong as new chairman following Zuo Hui's death". South China Morning Post. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2021-08-06.