Zhong Shanshan edges out Mukesh Ambani to be Asia’s richest person

Edging out Mukesh Ambani and a group of Chinese tech titans including Jack Ma from the top spot,  Zhong Shanshan, a private billionaire, has become Asia’s richest person.

It is said that Zhong’s net worth has risen $70.9 billion this year to $77.8 billion making him the 11th-richest person in the World, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. It’s one of the fastest accumulations of wealth in history, and all the more remarkable considering that till now he was little known outside of China.

The 66-year old Zhong isn’t involved in politics and his business interests aren’t entwined with other rich families such as the property tycoons. That is the reason why he’s known locally as the ‘Lone Wolf’.

He owes his success to two unrelated fields. He took vaccine maker Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. public in April, then months later Nongfu Spring Co., a maker of bottled water became one of Hong Kong’s hottest listings. The shares of Nongfu have jumped 155 per cent since their debut.