Key Points
- Forbes ranks CZ 17th richest, ahead of Bloomberg and Gates.
- CZ disputes valuation, citing falling crypto prices in 2026.
On March 11, Polymarket stated on X that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is now worth more than Bill Gates, citing the latest Forbes rankings.
Forbes released its top 200 billionaires list on March 10, placing CZ in 17th position based on an estimated net worth of $110 billion.
Michael Bloomberg ranked 18th with $109 billion, while Bill Gates followed in 19th place with $108 billion.
Elon Musk topped the list with an estimated net worth of $839 billion.
The rankings prompted social media reactions, including Polymarket’s post highlighting that CZ had surpassed Gates in estimated wealth.
CZ Responds to Forbes Valuation
CZ responded on March 11, stating that he had not read the Forbes article but believed the figures were incorrect.
He questioned how his net worth could rise when cryptocurrency prices have declined by more than 50% in 2026.
According to Forbes data, CZ’s estimated wealth increased significantly from 2023 to 2026, following a decline in 2022.
CZ’s publicly known crypto holdings include Bitcoin (BTC), BNB, and ASTER, all of which have fallen from their previous all-time highs.
Market Context and Asset Performance
After reaching an all-time high above $126,000 in October 2025, Bitcoin trades near $70,000 as of March 11, reflecting a drop of nearly 50%.
BNB has declined from its peak above $1,370 in October to around $640, marking a decrease of more than 50%.
ASTER has fallen over 70% from its September 2025 high above $2.4 to approximately $0.7.
In October 2025, Forbes ranked CZ as the 24th richest billionaire with a net worth of $88 billion.
The publication recently suggested that CZ owns 90% of Binance, which it estimates to have a market value of around $100 billion and a market share exceeding 38%.
Beyond wealth rankings, CZ has highlighted his philanthropic efforts, including Giggle Academy, which he said is teaching nearly 185,000 children worldwide at no cost.
