Lei Jun was inspired by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to found his own business, so much so that he rushed through college graduation to dedicate himself solely toward this pursuit.
His hard work paid off as he quickly rose through the ranks at Chinese software firm Kingsoft and ultimately co-founded and CEO of Xiaomi.
Lei Jun’s Personal Life
Lei Jun was born in 1969 in the Chinese city of Xiantao. While his early years were marred with hardship as his family struggled to make ends meet during post-Cultural Revolution China, Lei remained an optimistic dreamer and achiever who found great pleasure dismantling radios for fun in his free time. Through this experimentation with tech, he gained an in-depth knowledge of its inner workings which would pave his path for later success in life.
After graduating middle school, Lei Jun took an important step toward fulfilling his dreams by enrolling at Wuhan University to study computer science. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1991 and working towards becoming a successful software developer, he joined Kingsoft – becoming CEO over time – where his dedication and perseverance made him an unstoppable force within China’s software industry.
Xiaomi was founded by Lei Jun in 2010, as a technology company producing smartphones and consumer electronics. Renowned for their affordable yet high-end features, Xiaomi has taken significant strides within the smartphone industry and become one of the most iconic global brands – becoming an innovator while building communities worldwide.
Lei Jun has an estimated net worth of approximately $2.8 billion as of 2023. Most of his fortune comes from Xiaomi smartphone sales which bring in billions annually; Lei also owns stakes in other businesses including Hubei-based software company Kingsoft and Alibaba e-commerce platform.
Lei Jun is not only known for running Xiaomi but is an equally prolific angel investor. To date he has invested in more than 270 companies such as Xunlei, UC browser, Tiger Brokers and Cheetah Mobile. Lei’s passion for startups has drawn comparisons to American angel investor Ron Conway; similar investments include companies with great potential to expand rapidly while prioritizing customer satisfaction as evidenced in how Xiaomi treats customers.
Lei Jun’s Education
Lei Jun was raised in a family that valued education, instilling his thirst for knowledge from an early age. Growing up tinkering with electronics was his father’s encouragement to explore and refine his abilities; with his keen curiosity for innovation sparked, Gundugoms was established during college years as his first venture – showing Lei’s entrepreneurial tenacity from day one!
Lei’s business venture proved an immediate success, proving his ability to recognize potential in new technologies and products. This early success enabled Lei to hone his business acumen and establish himself as a formidable presence within tech.
Xiaomi was established by Lei, who led by example to ensure its success and lead it to new heights of success. Lei’s remarkable perspective and business acumen have earned him widespread respect in the global technology community; his contributions as the founder and chairman are an extraordinary testimony to his vision, perseverance, and unrelenting drive.
Lei is known for his impressive commitment to charitable efforts, from education initiatives to disaster relief efforts. His philanthropy shows his desire to make an impactful difference and his generosity has touched the lives of many around the globe.
Lei has not forgotten his roots since becoming Chairman of Xiaomi; rather he remains deeply committed to his family and makes time for family activities while maintaining his demanding career. His dedication to family values exemplifies his holistic approach to success as well as his determination in reaching his goals.
Lei’s commitment to education has also been an integral component of his success. Most recently, he donated $2 billion to Wuhan University as part of his ongoing dedication to developing future innovators within China and ensuring common prosperity for all Chinese people. This contribution will propel its tech industry into the future while simultaneously aligning with President Xi Jinping’s call for common prosperity.
Lei Jun’s Professional Life
Lei Jun’s love for electronics was evident even from an early age. Growing up in the remote countryside of Xiantao, his parents instilled him with an interest for learning and strong work ethics that manifested themselves into proficiency in computer programming and hardware repair – as well as creating his own gadgets! Lei spent his weekends and evenings working on various projects – his first being a battery-powered flashlight made out of two batteries, one lightbulb, and a wooden box he constructed himself!
Lei Jun was driven by his fascination for technology to pursue a degree in computer science at Wuhan University and graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree. Post graduation, Lei Jun used his knowledge for good by starting up his first company; inspired by Steve Jobs he sought to leverage it in service of others and utilize its power in service of others.
Lei Jun has established himself as one of China’s premier tech entrepreneurs with his success as founder of Xiaomi. Much like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk in America, his status is similar in China as well. Lei is highly revered in China’s tech scene for his resilience, innovation and dedication towards shaping the technology landscape.
Xiaomi currently holds only a minor market share in the smartphone industry; however, Lei Jun plans on making Xiaomi into an international powerhouse. Alongside smartphones, Xiaomi is branching into other technological fields such as smart homes and new energy vehicles.
Lei Jun has made himself an active investor since 2005 and invested in over 30 companies since. Some have gone public such as app designer RIGO and e-book reader Duokan while others, like browser UCweb and game developer Wali were acquired by Xiaomi.
Lei Jun is an exemplary entrepreneur. He strongly believes in the notion that anyone can find success with the proper mindset and dedication, as evidenced by him putting his money where his mouth was and creating his successful company Xiaomi.
Lei Jun’s Entrepreneurship
Lei Jun has made his mark as one of China’s premier entrepreneurs by becoming one of its consumer electronics industry titans, becoming an international icon and innovator. His life is testament to hard work and ingenuity at work – creating devices which help reduce pollution, promote recycling programs and support education initiatives – not forgetting being an advocate of philanthropy by giving smartphones to schools in third world countries!
Lei Jun was raised by educators, so from an early age he was encouraged to tinker with radios and gadgets. This experience fostered his love of innovation which eventually led him into computer programming. After graduating Mianyang Middle School, Lei attended Wuhan University to earn his bachelor’s degree in computer science. Additionally, during this time, he also founded Gundugoms as his first company.
After graduating college, Lei joined Kingsoft, a software company. Within months he rose through the ranks to become Chief Technology Officer – playing an instrumental role in turning it into one of the leading mobile phone firms globally.
Lei’s main focus at the company was creating products to connect consumers. He was particularly intrigued with mobile phone apps and cloud computing technology, creating Mi Home brand for smart home technology.
Xiaomi was established by Lei in 2010 with a vision to become a prominent player in Chinese market by providing high-quality phones at an accessible price point. His strategy included forgoing costly ads in favor of online marketing efforts to compete against big name brands like Apple and Samsung.
Early on at Xiaomi, Lei was extremely hands-on in making decisions across every level of organization. Although this approach initially caused concern among investors, over time both his partners and subordinates learned to trust his judgment; for example, Lei played an instrumental role in pioneering Xiaomi into EV technology.
