Wang Wenjing

When Deng Xiaoping told his startled countrymen that "to get rich is glorious" two decades ago, he might have had someone like Wang Wenjing in mind. The 36-year-old software entrepreneur, who grew up an impoverished farmer's son, has built Beijing-based UFSoft-- whose transliterated Chinese characters stand for "user's friend"--into one of China's most successful financial and accounting software companies. Last year, Wang floated UFSoft on the Shanghai stock exchange, earning $602 million for his 55.2% stake in the company. Even though his paper worth has since dropped to $304 million, Wang is still one of China's richest people.

Born in the small village of Shangrao, in the mountainous Jiangxi province, Wang excelled as a student and was able to win a spot in the Jiangxi University of Finance & Economics when he was just 15. Graduating with honors, Wang was given a government job in Beijing--the only person from his village ever to attain such a posting. His task: to develop computerized financial software for the State Council's government offices administration. "People viewed me as at the peak of success," Wang recalls.