Z hou Hongyi is a controversial and pugnacious Chinese technology billionaire who is the founder and CEO of the cybersecurity and internet company, Qihoo 360. A pioneer of China's internet industry, he made his first fortune by founding the search engine 3721, which he sold to Yahoo. He then founded Qihoo 360 in 2006. He radically disrupted the Chinese software market by offering a high-quality antivirus and security software suite for free, a model that was unheard of at the time.
He built a massive user base with his free security software and monetized it by directing traffic to his own web browser and search engine, where he sold advertising. He is famous for his aggressive and often combative business tactics, having engaged in a series of high-profile public battles with his rivals, including Tencent and Baidu. He took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange, then took it private, and then re-listed it in China at a much higher valuation, a move that massively increased his fortune.
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Zhou Hongyi is a Chinese businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Qihoo 360 (SHA: 601360), a major global provider of Internet security, web browser, and search services. His career is rooted in technology, software development, and entrepreneurial disruption.
Zhou holds a B.S. in Computer Management and an M.S. in System Engineering from Xi'an Jiaotong University. His philosophical approach centers on technological excellence, disruption (pioneering the free-to-use internet security model), and long-term commitment to digital defense. His career is marked by high-profile corporate feuds (notably with Tencent).
Zhou Hongyi's strategic genius was his commitment to the freemium model. He founded Qihoo 360 in 2005, successfully building it into a national powerhouse by offering free antivirus and security software to consumers, monetizing through advertising and other services. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern freemium digital security model that transformed the Chinese consumer software sector. The company was listed on the NYSE before going private and re-listing on the SHA.
His career is marked by fierce corporate battles (the 3Q War with Tencent over software compatibility and market dominance). He remains Chairman and CEO, guiding the company's continuous expansion and technological modernization. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global technology and software sector.
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Earns an M.S. in System Engineering from Xi'an Jiaotong University (Academic Achievement).
Founds Qihoo 360 (Founding).
Qihoo 360 executes its successful IPO on the NYSE (Financial Milestone 1).
Qihoo 360 is taken private (Corporate Transition).
Qihoo 360 completes its back-door listing on the SHA (Financial Milestone 2).
Continues as Founder, Chairman, and CEO, guiding the global technology giant (Executive Oversight).
Zhou Hongyi's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the publicly traded technology giant, Qihoo 360 (SHA: 601360), and his private investments.
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Zhou Hongyi's social impact stems from Qihoo 360's role in providing essential, free digital security software to hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers, significantly improving national digital safety and access. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives, often focused on technology access and cybersecurity education.
His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.
Zhou Hongyi maintains the professional, high-energy style of a technology executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a pioneer in the specialized software sector.
Residing in Beijing, China, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to technology innovation, strategic management, and software architecture.
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“In the internet world, if you are not disrupting, you are being disrupted. You have to be aggressive to survive.”
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This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:
All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.
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