AI Demand Drives Up Tycoons’ Wealth By 56% To A Record $308 Billion

A total of 34 listees are better-off, led by the biggest gainers in dollar terms, brothers Jason and Richard Chang, who jumped six places to take the No. 1 spot for the first time. The chairman and vice chairman of ASE Technology Holding, a semiconductor packaging, assembly and testing company, added $14.5 billion amid the AI frenzy to take their combined wealth to $22.4 billion.

The second-richest is Pierre Chen, founder and chairman of electronics components maker Yageo, whose net worth swelled $12.1 billion to $18.2 billion. Last year’s richest, siblings Daniel and Richard Tsai, slip to the third spot despite a $2.8 billion rise in their fortune, which now stands at $16.7 billion. Shares of their Fubon Financial Holding jumped 26% from a year ago thanks to stellar returns on its Taiwan market investments.

At No. 4 is Terry Gou, founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of electronics with more than a 40% global market share and a major producer of AI server systems for cloud service providers. Shares of Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, surged 70% from a year ago, lifting Gou’s wealth to $15.5 billion.

The biggest gainer in percentage terms is Bruce Cheng, founder of Delta Electronics, which provides power components and systems for products such as AI GPUs to Nvidia, Google and other tech giants. He’s up 16 places at No. 7 with a fortune of $14.5 billion, a nearly fivefold increase from last year.

Eight new entrants join the list, all of them from either semiconductor or AI-adjacent businesses. The wealthiest among the newcomers is Hsieh Wen-Ta, chairman of AI chip-testing equipment maker Hon. Precision, which saw its shares more than double since its November IPO. Hsieh debuts at No. 12 with a $7.1 billion fortune.

Three tycoons return to the list after falling off previously, including Chin Jong Hwa, founder of auto-parts supplier Minth Group. The Hong Kong-listed company benefited from growing demand from European and Chinese EV makers.

The wealth of four listees shrank, including that of Zhang Congyuan, founder and chairman of Shenzhen-listed Huali Industrial Group whose net worth fell 20% to $6.6 billion. The shoemaker’s net profit nearly halved to 384 million yuan ($57 million) in the first quarter ending March as orders declined amid trade and geopolitical uncertainties.

Eleven people from last year are not on the list, including Samuel Yin, former president of financial conglomerate Ruentex Group, who died in May at age 76. The minimum net worth to make the list rose to a record $2.2 billion from $1.3 billion in 2025.

Full Coverage of Taiwan’s Richest 2026:

Editing assistance and additional reporting by Yue Wang. Reporting by Shu-Ching Jean Chen, Gloria Haraito, Enyi Hu, Chengbo Liu and Catherine Wang.

Methodology

The list was compiled using information from individuals, analysts, government agencies, stock exchanges, databases and other sources. Net worths were based on stock prices and exchange rates as of the close of markets on May 22 and real-time net worths on Forbes.com may reflect different valuations. The ranking lists both individual and family fortunes, including those shared among relatives. Private companies were valued by using financial ratios and other comparisons with similar companies that are publicly traded. The list can also include foreign citizens with business, residential or other ties to Taiwan, or citizens who don’t reside in Taiwan but have significant business or other ties. The editors reserve the right to amend any information or remove any listees in light of new information.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to CBRE Taiwan, Euromonitor International and the other experts who helped us with our reporting and valuations, including James Macdonald, Savills; Hung Ou Yang, Brain Trust International Law Firm; and Govinda Singh, Newmark.