The era of super-rich oil producers and other commodity billionaires is gradually coming to an end. Curiously enough, their place in the market is taken by tech companies, manufacturers of rubber gloves, TikTokers, and bottled water enterprises.

Zhong Shanshan, the founder of China’s biggest bottled water company Nongfu Spring, has become the country's wealthiest person. In just one year, Shanshan's fortune surged by $58.7 billion, surpassing Alibaba founder Jack Ma’s net by 2 billion. Thus, Shanshan became not only the richest person in China but also took the second line on the list of the wealthiest people in Asia. Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani whose capital is estimated at $85 billion takes the first line. Notably, the company's net income soared significantly when its shares rocketed on their debut in the Hong Kong stock exchange in September. The company's stocks were up by 14 times since their listing in Shanghai. Nongfu Spring also became the third-richest company in China.

Curiously enough, Shanshan is often referred to as a lone wolf in business circles in China as he rarely speaks to the media and the distance he has kept from the Chinese business and political elite. Nongfu Spring was founded in 1996 in Zhejiang province where Qiandaohu Lake, one of the largest lakes with freshwater in the country, is located.