X ie Weitong was a significant figure in the global battery materials supply chain as a co-founder and former vice chairman of Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. For 17 years, he helped guide the company from its inception into a major global supplier of cobalt and lithium battery chemicals, critical components for the electric vehicle industry. During his tenure, Huayou Cobalt aggressively expanded its resource base, operating cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and acquiring lithium assets in Zimbabwe.

Although he resigned from his executive role in 2019 and reportedly sold off his stake in the company in 2021, Xie's impact on the company's trajectory was substantial. His early strategic decisions helped position Huayou Cobalt as a dominant player in the raw materials market. His wealth was largely generated from the significant appreciation of his shareholding during the EV boom, allowing him to exit with a substantial fortune.