Terry Gou

$12.54 B

Ranked #233 in World

About Terry Gou

Terry Gou, born on October 18, 1950, in Banqiao Township, Taipei County, is the founder of Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and a prominent figure in the finance industry. He started his journey with humble beginnings, working various jobs until he founded Foxconn in 1974. Over the years, Foxconn grew to become a consumer electronics giant by supplying products to high-profile customers like Apple and HP. Gou is also involved in various other business ventures, including being the main owner of HMD Global and the biggest shareholder in biotech company Eirgenix. In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Gou has been involved in politics, expressing his support for the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwan independence. He has made headlines with his potential bids for the presidential elections in 2020 and 2024. Gou's public image has drawn comparisons to Donald Trump due to his billionaire status and outsider position in politics. However, he has faced controversies in the past, including controversial comments about his workforce and racial slurs. Despite this, Gou has a personal life that includes multiple marriages and a commitment to philanthropy, planning to give away 90% of his wealth to charity. With a net worth of US$6.8 billion, Gou ranks as the sixth wealthiest person in Taiwan.

Born

October 18, 1950

Age

75 years

Source Of Wealth

Electronics

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

Taiwan

Residence

Taipei

Education

Taipei University of Marine Technology

Terry Gou (郭台銘) was born on October 18, 1950, in Banqiao Township, Taipei County (now Banqiao District, New Taipei). His parents fled from Shanxi Province, China, to Taiwan in 1949 due to the Chinese Civil War. His father was a policeman who fought for the Kuomintang during the war. Terry Gou received education from elementary school to post college and worked in a rubber factory, grinding wheel, and medicine plant until age 24. He also fulfilled national service obligations in the Republic of China Air Force as an anti-aircraft artillery officer, stationed in Kinmen.

Terry Gou: Family

Terry Gou's first wife, Serena Lin, passed away from breast cancer in 2005. They had two children together. He had an extramarital affair in the 1990s, which led to legal disputes. In 2008, he married his second wife, choreographer Delia Tseng, and they have three children together. Terry Gou is committed to giving away 90% of his wealth to charity.

Terry Gou: Career Highlights

Terry Gou founded Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) in 1974 with $7,500 startup capital and ten employees. He started by making plastic parts for television sets in a rented shed in Tucheng, Taipei. In 1980, Foxconn received a breakthrough order from Atari to make the console joystick. Terry Gou expanded the business in the 1980s by embarking on an 11-month trip across the US, securing additional orders despite facing challenges. In 1988, he opened the first Foxconn factory in mainland China in Shenzhen, which remains the largest Foxconn factory today. Terry Gou vertically integrated assembly processes and facilities, creating a campus with housing, dining, medical care, burial, and chicken farming for workers. Foxconn became a consumer electronics giant after building chassis for Compaq desktops and other high-profile customers like HP, IBM, and Apple.

Terry Gou: Companies

Terry Gou is the founder and chairman of Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry).

He is also the main owner of HMD Global, which sells Nokia-branded phones. In April 2021, he became the biggest shareholder in the biotech company Eirgenix.

Terry Gou: Major Achievements

Terry Gou is credited with transforming Foxconn into a global electronics manufacturing giant. He pioneered the concept of vertical integration in the electronics industry, creating a self-sufficient ecosystem for production. Terry Gou's leadership and vision have made Foxconn a key player in the global supply chain for major technology companies.

Terry Gou: Awards & Achievements

Terry Gou has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the business world. Some notable honors include:

Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from National Taiwan University (2008)
Forbes Asia's "Businessman of the Year" (2010)
Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" (2012)
Ernst & Young "World Entrepreneur of the Year" (2018)

Terry Gou: Personal Life & Legacy

Terry Gou is known for his strong work ethic and dedication to his business. He is also known for his philanthropic efforts, having pledged to donate 90% of his wealth to charity. Terry Gou's legacy lies in his transformative impact on the electronics manufacturing industry and his contributions to Taiwan's economic development.

Terry Gou: Trivia

Terry Gou is compared to Donald Trump in international media during his 2019 presidential candidacy due to his billionaire status and relative political outsider position.
He cites Genghis Khan as a personal hero and wears a beaded bracelet from a temple dedicated to him.
Terry Gou sparked controversy when he compared Foxconn's workforce to animals during a board meeting and used a racial slur against Korean people in 2012.

Wealth History

Timeline

October 18, 1950

Terry Gou was born in Banqiao Township, Taipei County (now Banqiao District, New Taipei).

1949

Gou's parents fled from Shanxi Province, China, to Taiwan due to the Chinese Civil War.

1970

Gou joined the Kuomintang.

1974

Gou founded Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) with $7,500 startup capital and ten employees.

1980

Foxconn received a breakthrough order from Atari to make the console joystick.

1988

Foxconn opened its first factory in mainland China in Shenzhen.

2000

Gou let his Kuomintang membership lapse.

2005

Gou's first wife, Serena Lin, passed away from breast cancer.

2008

Gou married his second wife, choreographer Delia Tseng.

2012

Gou endorsed Ma Ying-jeou in the Taiwan presidential election.

2016

Gou was the subject of a spoof open letter in Bloomberg, mistakenly attributed to him, criticizing Donald Trump after the 2016 US presidential election.

2019

Gou advocated for Apple to move manufacturing from mainland China to Taiwan.

April 2019

Gou rejoined the Kuomintang and announced his intention to run in the Kuomintang primary.

2020

Gou finished second in the Kuomintang primary with 27.7% of the vote.

2021

Gou became the biggest shareholder in the biotech company Eirgenix.

April 2023

Gou announced his intention to run for president in the 2024 election.

August 28, 2023

Gou formally declared his independent presidential bid.

September 2, 2023

Gou resigned from Foxconn's board of directors for personal reasons.

September 14, 2023

Gou announced actress and writer Lai Pei-hsia (Tammy Lai) as his running mate.

November 24, 2023

Gou dropped out of the presidential race.

Terry Gou : FAQs

What is Terry Gou's current net worth?

Terry Gou's current net worth is $12.54 billion.

What is Terry Gou's current global rank among billionaires?

Terry Gou holds the 233rd position globally among billionaires.

What is Terry Gou's current ranking within the Taiwan?

Terry Gou holds the 2nd position in Taiwan.

What was the change in Terry Gou's net worth compared to the previous year?

Terry Gou's net worth decreased by 1.55 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 14.10 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Terry Gou's net worth?

Terry Gou's net worth decreased by 194.47 million dollars recently, a 1.55% decrease, with his net worth standing at 12.54 billion dollars.

What are Terry Gou's main sources of wealth?

Terry Gou's main source of income comes from Electronics.

In which industry does Terry Gou primarily operate?

Terry Gou is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Terry Gou educational background?

Terry Gou holds a Taipei University of Marine Technology.

How old is Terry Gou?

Terry Gou is 75 years old.

How many children does Terry Gou have?

Terry Gou has 5 children.

Who is Terry Gou and what's known about his early life?

Terry Gou, born on October 18, 1950, in New Taipei's Banqiao District, is the founder of Foxconn. His parents fled from China's Shanxi Province in 1949. His father, a former Kuomintang policeman, and his family settled in Taiwan where Terry completed his education and served as an anti-aircraft artillery officer in the Air Force before starting his career.

What key milestones did Terry Gou reach with Foxconn?

Terry Gou founded Foxconn in 1974 and has since turned it into a consumer electronics giant. He started with ten employees, making plastic parts for TVs, and a significant order from Atari in 1980 accelerated the company's growth. The opening of its major Shenzhen factory in 1988 and partnerships with companies like Compaq, HP, IBM, and Apple were pivotal milestones.

What are some of Terry Gou's other business ventures outside Foxconn?

Beyond Foxconn, Terry Gou has diversified into numerous ventures, including being the main owner of HMD Global for Nokia phones, a major shareholder in biotech firm Eirgenix, and his influence in the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in China.

What role has Terry Gou played in Taiwanese politics and his views?

Terry Gou, once a member of the Kuomintang, has been influential in Taiwanese politics, endorsing presidential candidates and harboring political aspirations of his own. His views include opposition to Taiwan independence and a critical stance towards the DPP's independence promotion. He has also expressed conservative views on social issues like same-sex marriage.

How has Terry Gou's personal life and wealth been characterized?

Terry Gou, with a net worth of around $6.8 billion as of 2022, is known for his plan to donate 90% of his wealth to charity. His personal life has seen its share of both joy and sorrow, including the loss of his first wife to cancer, remarriage to Delia Tseng, and some publicized legal disputes originating from a past extramarital affair.