Zou is the chairman and chief engineer of Suzhou TFC Optical Communication, a producer of fiber optic components. The Suzhou-based group's products are used in AI computing, wireless networks and data centers. It had revenue of 3.3 billion yuan ($452 million) in 2024. Zou's wife, Ou Yang, is the company's president.
The majority of the Zou family's fortune is derived from their shareholding in Suzhou TFC Optical Communication, a producer of fiber optic components.
The family owns a 38% stake through holding company Tianfu Renhe, according to a November 2025 filing. Tianfu Renhe is 40% owned by Zou, while Ou and their two children own the remaining 60% equally. The fortune is credited to Zou Zhinong & family in this analysis.
Cash holdings are included in the calculation based on an analysis of insider transactions, dividends, taxes and market performance.
Chen Kairong, a spokesperson for the company, didn't respond to a request for comment on the net worth calculation.
Zou Zhinong "Mike" and his wife Ou Yang "Lucy" were born in April and September 1968 respectively.
Zou studied mechanical design and production at Jilin University of Technology (now Jilin University). He has been an engineer since graduation from the university. He worked in a state-owned power company from 1991 to 1995 before spending six years at a technology hardware company.
Ou majored in history at Northeast Normal University. She worked as a lecturer at a teacher-training college for a decade from 1991.
The couple moved from Jilin to Suzhou in 2001 and founded Suzhou Haoyi Digital Network Co. They later co-founded Suzhou TFC Optical Communication in 2005 with others.
Suzhou TFC became publicly listed in Shenzhen in February 2015.