Richard Chang

$2.30 B

Ranked #1757 in World

About Richard Chang

Renowned as "the father of China's foundry industry," Zhang Rujing (Richard Chang Ru-gin) has been a pivotal figure in shaping the semiconductor landscape. Born in 1948, Nanjing, he fled to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War and later excelled academically, earning a Ph.D. from Southern Methodist University. His 20-year tenure at Texas Instruments was crucial for microchip manufacturing advancements globally. In 1997, Zhang returned to China, founding Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) in Shanghai by 2000, despite facing legal challenges from TSMC and Taiwanese authorities leading to his resignation. His later ventures, including founding Shanghai Xinsheng and SiEn (Qingdao) Integrated Circuits, underscore his ongoing commitment to advancing China's semiconductor capabilities, with recent discussions on partnerships with Huawei Technologies for semiconductor development services.

Born

January 01, 1947 in Nanjing, Republic of China

Age

79 years

Source Of Wealth

Semiconductors

Industries

Manufacturing

Citizenship

Hong Kong

Residence

Taipei

Parent

Zhang Xilun, Liu Peijin

Zhang Rujing, also known as Richard Chang Ru-gin, was born in 1948 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. His early life was marked by significant events, including the Chinese Civil War in 1949, which forced his family to flee to Taiwan. Despite the challenges, Zhang Rujing excelled in his studies and gained admission to the prestigious National Taiwan University (NTU). He went on to pursue higher education in the United States, earning a master's degree in engineering from the University at Buffalo and a doctorate in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Richard Chang: Family

Information about Zhang Rujing's family background and personal life is limited. However, it is known that he was married and had children. His family members have not been publicly identified or discussed in detail.

Richard Chang: Career Highlights

Zhang Rujing's career in the semiconductor industry spanned several decades and was marked by significant achievements. He initially worked at Texas Instruments for 20 years, where he played a crucial role in developing microchip factories in various countries, including the US, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. His expertise and contributions in this field earned him recognition as a leading figure in the industry.

In 1996, Zhang Rujing was approached by Chinese officials to return to China and establish a chip fabrication industry. Heeding this call, he returned to China in 1997 and founded Shida Semiconductor in Taiwan. However, in 2000, TSMC acquired Shida Semiconductor, leading to Zhang Rujing's resignation due to disagreements over building a factory in mainland China.

Richard Chang: Companies

Zhang Rujing's entrepreneurial ventures include the following companies:

Shida Semiconductor (Taiwan)
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) (Shanghai)
Shanghai Xinsheng (mainland China)
SiEn (Qingdao) Integrated Circuits (Qingdao)

Richard Chang: Major Achievements

Zhang Rujing's major achievements in the semiconductor industry include:

Establishing SMIC, China's first chip fabrication company.
Building multiple wafer factories in Shanghai and Beijing, expanding SMIC's operations.

Pioneering the development of China's foundry industry, earning him the title of "the father of China's foundry industry" and "godfather of semiconductors."

Richard Chang: Awards & Achievements

Zhang Rujing's contributions to the semiconductor industry have been recognized through various awards and honors, including:

Honorary doctorate from National Chiao Tung University (Taiwan)
Honorary doctorate from Fudan University (Shanghai)
Honorary doctorate from Tsinghua University (Beijing)
Named one of the "Top 10 Outstanding Young People in China" by the All-China Youth Federation

Richard Chang: Personal Life & Legacy

Zhang Rujing's personal life remains relatively private, with limited information publicly available. He was known for his dedication to the development of China's semiconductor industry and his vision of making China a global leader in this field. His contributions have left a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of engineers and entrepreneurs in China.

Richard Chang: Trivia

Zhang Rujing was known for his passion for Chinese calligraphy and often used it as a form of relaxation.
He was an avid reader and enjoyed studying history and philosophy.
Despite his success in the semiconductor industry, Zhang Rujing maintained a humble and down-to-earth demeanor.

Wealth History

Timeline

1948

Zhang Rujing (Richard Chang Ru-gin) was born in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.

1949

Fled to Taiwan with his family during the Chinese Civil War.

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Excelled in studies and admitted to National Taiwan University (NTU).

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Earned a master's degree in engineering from the University at Buffalo.

N/A

Completed a doctorate in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University.

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Worked at Texas Instruments for 20 years, developing microchip factories in the US, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.

1996

Approached by Chinese officials to return to China and establish a chip fabrication industry.

1997

Returned to China and founded Shida Semiconductor in Taiwan.

2000

TSMC acquired Shida Semiconductor, but Zhang Rujing resigned due to disagreements over building a factory in mainland China.

2000

Founded Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) in Shanghai.

N/A

Recruited hundreds of engineers and began construction of the plant.

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Expanded SMIC by building multiple wafer factories in Shanghai and Beijing.

N/A

Faced pressure from the Taiwanese government and TSMC to withdraw his investment in SMIC.

N/A

SMIC sued by TSMC in the US for intellectual property theft and patent infringement.

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Ordered to pay damages, surrender documents, and halt the use of TSMC technology.

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Prohibited from operating in the chip industry for three years as part of a settlement.

2014

Founded Shanghai Xinsheng, the first 300 mm large silicon wafer company in mainland China.

2018

Established SiEn (Qingdao) Integrated Circuits, producing silicon wafers.

N/A

Continued to advocate for the development of China's chip industry.

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Expressed confidence in China catching up to global leaders in GaN and SiC semiconductors.

N/A

SiEn discussed potential partnerships with Huawei Technologies to access semiconductor development services.

Richard Chang : FAQs

What is Richard Chang's current net worth?

Richard Chang's current net worth is $2.30 billion.

What is Richard Chang's current global rank among billionaires?

Richard Chang holds the 1757th position globally among billionaires.

What is Richard Chang's current ranking within the Hong Kong?

Richard Chang holds the 44th position in Hong Kong.

What was the change in Richard Chang's net worth compared to the previous year?

Richard Chang's net worth increased by 386.29 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 1.91 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Richard Chang's net worth?

Richard Chang's net worth increased by 114.99 million dollars recently, a 5.01% increase, with his net worth standing at 2.30 billion dollars.

What are Richard Chang's main sources of wealth?

Richard Chang's main source of income comes from Semiconductors.

In which industry does Richard Chang primarily operate?

Richard Chang is primarily involved in the Manufacturing industry.

How old is Richard Chang?

Richard Chang is 79 years old.

Who is Zhang Rujing and why is he significant in the semiconductor industry?

Zhang Rujing, known as "the father of China's foundry industry" and "godfather of semiconductors," is a prominent Chinese businessman and entrepreneur. He played a pivotal role in establishing China's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, founding Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and contributing significantly to the industry's development in China.

Can you outline Zhang Rujing's career progression before founding SMIC?

Zhang Rujing had a 20-year tenure at Texas Instruments, where he was integral in setting up microchip factories globally. In 1997, after being approached by Chinese officials, he returned to China and founded Shida Semiconductor in Taiwan, which was later acquired by TSMC. Differences over expansion plans led to his resignation from TSMC.

What led to Zhang Rujing's resignation from SMIC and the subsequent legal issues?

Zhang Rujing faced pressure from both the Taiwanese government and TSMC to withdraw his investment in SMIC. Subsequently, SMIC was sued by TSMC for intellectual property theft and patent infringement, leading to a settlement that included damages and prohibited Zhang from operating in the chip industry for three years.

How did Zhang Rujing contribute to the semiconductor industry in his later life?

Despite earlier setbacks, Zhang Rujing continued to contribute to China's semiconductor industry. He founded Shanghai Xinsheng, the first 300 mm silicon wafer company in mainland China, and SiEn (Qingdao) Integrated Circuits, advocating for industry development and exploring partnerships with major companies like Huawei Technologies.