Zong Qinghou

Zong Qinghou (October 11, 1945 - February 25, 2024), a native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang, was an entrepreneur of the People's Republic of China, a member of the Communist Party of China, and a national model worker. He is the founder of Wahaha Group and served as the chairman of Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co., Ltd. from 1991 until his death. Zong Qinghou was once a national model worker, winner of the National May 1st Labor Medal, one of the 100 outstanding private entrepreneurs in the 40 years of reform and opening up, and a representative of the 10th, 11th and 12th National People's Congress. He became the richest man in China in the Hurun Report in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Later, he ranked 5th in the 2016 Hurun Rich List with a wealth of 112 billion yuan.