TikTok Founder Becomes China’s Richest Person

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 30, 2024

Zhang Yiming, the visionary behind ByteDance and its flagship app TikTok, has ascended to the status of the richest person in China, boasting a remarkable fortune of $49.3 billion. This milestone marks a significant 43% increase in his wealth since 2023, according to the latest Hurun Research Institute report.

Key Highlights

Zhang, 41, co-founded ByteDance and stepped down from his leadership role in 2021. However, he continues to hold around 20% of the company’s shares, ensuring his substantial stake in its ongoing success. TikTok has emerged as a global phenomenon, captivating millions of users worldwide despite ongoing security concerns and accusations regarding its ties to the Chinese government. ByteDance has vigorously denied these allegations, which suggest that TikTok could be a tool for espionage.

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The platform’s future remains uncertain, particularly with the impending U.S. ban on TikTok set for January 2025. This move forces ByteDance to consider selling its highly prized recommendation algorithm, a crucial element that has propelled TikTok to unprecedented heights in the social media landscape.

Despite the challenges posed by U.S. regulations, ByteDance reported an impressive 60% increase in global profits last year, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability in a competitive market. Zhang Yiming’s rise to wealth also reflects broader trends in the Chinese tech industry, where economic conditions have shifted significantly.

The Tech Landscape in China

Zhang is not alone at the top of China’s wealth rankings. Ma Huateng, the head of Tencent, known for its dominance in the gaming industry, ranks third with an estimated net worth of $43.5 billion. However, the fortunes of these tech giants have not been immune to the economic slowdown affecting China. This downturn has hindered competitors from achieving more substantial gains, leading to a situation where only 30% of the individuals on the rich list saw an increase in their net worth this year.

The concentration of wealth among these tech leaders highlights the unique dynamics of China’s economy, where innovation and digital platforms continue to play pivotal roles. As Zhang Yiming solidifies his position at the top, the future of TikTok and ByteDance will be closely watched, particularly in the context of global regulatory pressures and market competition.

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Cyprus Remains Among EU’s Lowest Renewable Electricity Producers

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 27, 2026

Cyprus remained among the European Union’s weakest performers in renewable energy adoption in 2025, with renewables accounting for 27.5% of gross electricity consumption, according to new data published by Eurostat.

Across the EU, renewable sources supplied 49.9% of gross electricity consumption last year, bringing the bloc close to generating half of its electricity from renewable energy.

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Cyprus Remains Among The EU’s Lowest Performers

Cyprus ranked among the EU countries with the lowest share of renewable electricity, ahead of only Malta at 11.2%, the Czech Republic at 19.2%, Luxembourg at 23.3% and Slovakia at 24.1%.

Across the country’s broader energy system, renewables accounted for 21.5% of gross final energy consumption in 2025.

EU Renewable Electricity Continues To Grow

Renewables supplied 49.9% of gross electricity consumption across the EU in 2025, up from 47.5% a year earlier. Since Eurostat began collecting comparable data in 2004, the share has risen from 15.9%.

Austria recorded the highest share at 90.8%, followed by Sweden at 89.2%. Denmark generated 77.7% of its electricity from renewable sources, followed by Portugal at 65.6%, Greece at 60.9% and Spain at 60.7%.

Overall Energy Transition Still Has Work Ahead

Renewables accounted for 26.2% of the EU’s gross final energy consumption in 2025, up from 25.2% in 2024 and 9.6% in 2004.

Despite the increase, the bloc remains below its legally binding target of 42.5% by 2030. According to Eurostat, achieving that goal will require an average annual increase of 3.3 percentage points between 2026 and 2030.

Sweden recorded the highest overall renewable energy share at 65.4%, followed by Finland at 53% and Denmark at 48.2%. Belgium recorded the lowest share at 14.9%, followed by Slovakia at 16.3% and Ireland at 17.2%.

Heating And Cooling Also Show Steady Progress

Renewable energy accounted for 27.4% of heating and cooling across the EU in 2025, the highest level since comparable records began in 2004. The share increased by 0.7 percentage points from 2024, slightly below the long-term annual average increase of 0.75 percentage points.

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