Is CZ Really Richer Than Bill Gates? Binance Boss Laughs at Forbes Estimate

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Key Highlights

  • Forbes estimates CZ’s wealth at $110 billion, while Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index gives a more cautious estimate of $78-88 billion.
  • CZ himself calls Forbes’ higher figure “inaccurate,” with a smirk that could probably be felt across the globe.

In early March 2026, Forbes released a billionaire list that had Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, sitting comfortably at $110 billion-above Bill Gates. Within hours, the Binance kingpin jumped to Twitter (or X, if you’re feeling fancy) to call the estimate “not accurate.” But did he offer a more accurate number? Nah, that would be too easy.

Here’s what CZ had to say:

Definitely not accurate. This is a “guess a number” list, at least for me. Bitcoin/crypto is down 50% from ATH… 🤷‍♂️

– CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) March 11, 2026

This little public spat highlights the everlasting mess of crypto wealth reporting. Unlike stocks, where you can easily check how much someone owns through share prices and market caps, CZ’s riches are wrapped up in a private company and a coin that’s tough to liquidate at anything close to face value.

Forbes used the ever-popular guesswork method to arrive at its number, claiming CZ owns 90% of Binance (which no one, including CZ, has confirmed) and factoring in BNB’s price-an unrealistic method since selling would make that value vanish faster than you can say “decentralized finance.”

Bloomberg took a slightly more grounded approach, applying a liquidity discount and projecting a more modest fortune between $78 billion and $88 billion. Still impressive, but the difference between these two estimates? Oh, just $22-32 billion, enough to buy a small country or, you know, an island or two.

Anatomy of the Estimate

Forbes’ calculation is as messy as a toddler’s finger painting. It includes CZ’s Binance equity, his personal stash of BNB, and other random investments. But here’s the catch: Binance doesn’t release audited financials. They don’t even have publicly traded shares. Forbes just takes self-reported trading volumes and compares them to, of all things, Coinbase-good luck with that.

Crypto exchange volumes are notoriously dodgy, often inflated by wash trading, and Binance’s figures have been under the microscope for years. This makes comparing Binance, which is like a wild west of finance, to a Nasdaq-listed company sound like a great way to get laughed out of a boardroom.

On the flip side, Bloomberg’s estimate tries to be more sensible, factoring in illiquidity and applying a more conservative revenue multiple. The result? A lower figure that’s probably closer to what CZ could actually cash out-if he decided to sell his soul along with his tokens.

The Strategic Value of Modesty

Now, CZ has a history of downplaying his wealth. He’s been telling people that his riches are exaggerated since 2022. But this time, the context is juicier than a soap opera. After Binance had to pay over $4 billion in 2024 to settle with the U.S. Department of Justice (and CZ personally forked out $50 million), many thought his golden days were behind him.

Fast forward to 2025-2026, and BNB’s skyrocketing value made everyone sit up and take notice-making him the next tech billionaire everyone wants to compare to Bill Gates. And what’s his response to this? Oh, just some casual downplaying of the numbers. Because why not take the fun out of it, right?

By shrugging off the huge figures, CZ cleverly removes a target from his back during a time when regulators are having a field day with crypto platforms. It also helps push the narrative that he’s not in it for the money, but rather for something greater-education, or so the story goes.

The Giggle Academy Pivot

After stepping down as CEO, CZ redirected the spotlight onto Giggle Academy, his new project that promises free, gamified education for children in underserved areas. It’s early days for the initiative, but CZ clearly wants to brand himself as a philanthropist-a guy who wants to change the world, not just the crypto market. You know, like Bill Gates did. Coincidence? Maybe.

But CZ isn’t about to let you make that comparison. In his March 10 posts, he framed wealth rankings as “unimportant” and shoved in some catchy talk about “free education for all.” Subtle, right? The comparison is hard to miss, but so is his desperate attempt to show he’s not all about the Benjamins.

What the Numbers Actually Tell Us

At the end of the day, who cares whether CZ’s worth $78 billion or $110 billion? What really matters is the undeniable fact that he controls the world’s biggest crypto exchange and holds a massive chunk of the Binance token. It’s not just money-it’s power. And that’s worth a lot more than the number on a paper.

Right now, the crypto market is in a slump, and BNB has taken a hit. If things continue to dip, CZ’s wealth could deflate faster than a flat tire. On the flip side, another bull run could make even the conservative numbers look like an understatement.

For now, CZ remains in a weird position: the richest man in crypto, yet impossible to value. He’s built an empire on transparency-but when it comes to his own wealth? Yeah, let’s not look too closely at that ledger.

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2026-03-11 09:57