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1543
In the world today
Zhou Hongyi

Zhou Hongyi

Z. Hongyi
-0.13% | - $-3.40M
$2.68 B ₹ 24,417 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1543 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Zhou Hongyi

Gender

Male

Age

55Y

Country

China

Born On

October, 1970

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Divorced

Children

2

Education

Xi'An Jiaotong University

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Software)

Primary Organization

Qihoo 360

Titles

Founder & CEO

Sources of Wealth

Qihoo 360

Industry

Cybersecurity, Software, Internet, Technology

About Zhou Hongyi


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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Quick Reads


  • Founder and CEO of the Chinese cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360.
  • Disrupted the industry by offering free antivirus software.
  • A pioneer of China's internet industry, he sold his first company to Yahoo.
  • Known for his aggressive and combative business style.
  • His fortune has been volatile due to the delisting and relisting of his company.

Early Life and Background


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).

  • Qihoo 360 (Founder & Chairman/CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a major provider of Internet security software, web browser, and search services in China.
  • Technology Pioneer: His success is built on scale software development and dominating the domestic market for free antivirus and security software.
  • Academic Background: He holds an M.S. in System Engineering.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in software IP and platform technology and leveraging the massive Chinese consumer internet boom.

Career Journey of Zhou Hongyi


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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Zhou Hongyi's Timeline


1980s (approx.):

Earns an M.S. in System Engineering from Xi'an Jiaotong University (Academic Achievement).

2005:

Founds Qihoo 360 (Founding).

2011 (March):

Qihoo 360 executes its successful IPO on the NYSE (Financial Milestone 1).

2016:

Qihoo 360 is taken private (Corporate Transition).

2018 (February):

Qihoo 360 completes its back-door listing on the SHA (Financial Milestone 2).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder, Chairman, and CEO, guiding the global technology giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


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.

  • Qihoo 360 (Founder & Chairman/CEO): The core publicly traded asset, a major provider of Internet security software, web browser, and search services in China.
  • Technology Pioneer: His success is built on scale software development and dominating the domestic market for free antivirus and security software.
  • Academic Background: He holds an M.S. in System Engineering.
  • Controversy/Crisis: His career is marked by high-profile corporate feuds (notably with Tencent).

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


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.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


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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Quotes and Philosophy


“In the internet world, if you are not disrupting, you are being disrupted. You have to be aggressive to survive.”

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and CEO of Qihoo 360 (Internet security and search).
  • Qihoo 360 pioneered the free antivirus and security software model in China.
  • His company was involved in the famous 3Q War with Tencent.
  • He holds an M.S. in System Engineering.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful monetization and scale of the freemium software model.
  • His philosophy emphasizes technological disruption and scale efficiency.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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