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Meet 6 'Self-made' Billionaires from Asia-Pacific Entrepreneur India has worked around 6 Billionaires from the Asia-Pacific who made it big without any backing

By Aastha Singal

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Ever since Kylie Jenner reached the billion-dollar valuation mark, a dialogue around self-made billionaires has started making rounds, especially those who achieved the momentous feat at a young age. Around the globe we have come across many such enterprising names, be it Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg or Snapchat's Evan Spiegel, many from the west reached the pinnacle of success at a young age.

Amid the hoopla, Asia-Pacific is often left behind due to the lack of show around reaching the 10-figure mark. However, that doesn't imply that the region has any dearth of talented individuals pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. While Forbes has generously put it that the global financial crisis has hit APAC the hardest, removing 60 Asians from the Billionaire's list, there are many still holding onto their fortunes.

While we have Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani proudly sitting at number 13 of the world's richest list with the worth of $50 billion, there are many youngpreneurs whose diligence over the years has earned them a deserving spot to be mentioned among Asia's Youngest Richest. Entrepreneur India has worked around 6 Billionaires from the Asia-Pacific who made it big without any backing:

Colin Huang

The 39-year-old Pinduoduo founder from China is worth $13.8 billion. The serial entrepreneur started his career at Google before finding the online game company Xinyoudi and online e-commerce platform Ouku.com. He later found his calling with online discounter Pinduoduo, which went on to become one of China's largest e-commerce sites.

Yusaku Maezawa

Then there is the Japanese entrepreneur with a space fetish. Worth $2.1 billion, Yusaku Maezawa became the talk of the entire globe when Elon Musk announced that the 43-year-old would be SpaceX's first private customer who would travel to the moon. Having started his entrepreneurial journey by selling CDs and records by mail, Maezawa founded Japan's largest online fashion mall, Zozotown under the parent company Start Today Co in 1998.

Ma Huateng

Valued over $40 billion, the 47-year-old magnate chairs Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings. Having co-founded the business with 4 others, the technology entrepreneur keeps a low profile when compared to his compatriot Jack Ma – the executive chairman of one of the world's largest e-commerce businesses, Alibaba Group.

Yoshikazu Tanaka

Founder of GREE Inc, the provider of Japan's largely used social networking service and free-to-play mobile games, the Asian entrepreneur is worth $1.27 billion at 42. Within four years of finding the company, Tanaka took it public in 2008. He owns a 46 per cent stake in the firm.

Cheng Wei

Didi Chuxing is China's largest mobile transportation platform. The startup's founder formed Didi when his company Didi Dache merged with Alibaba-backed competitor Kuaidi Dache. Cheng shocked and surprised the entire nation when within one year, the firm acquired Uber China in 2016. The enterprising businessman's fortune is valued at $1.2 billion.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma

The man who changed the way India pays, the founder of mobile payments service, Paytm is worth $2.6 billion. Sharma made a splash in August 2018 by getting Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway to invest $300 million in his startup. Earlier, the businessman also got Alibaba chairman Jack Ma on board to invest in Paytm's e-commerce arm, Paytm Mall in 2015.

Aastha Singal

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Features Writer

A business journalist looking to find happiness in the world of startups, investments, MSMEs and more. Officially started her career as a news reporter for News World India, Aastha had short stints with NDTV and NewsX. A true optimist seeking to make a difference, she is a comic junkie who'd rather watch a typical Bollywood masala than a Hollywood blockbuster. 

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