According to the Hurun Richest Women in China 2026 list, Zhou Qunfei holds a fortune of 127 billion yuan, making her China's richest woman. Her story shows how a former security guard built a multibillion‑dollar empire.

The South China Morning Post reported that she dropped out of high school at 16, moved to Shenzhen, and first worked as a construction‑site security guard before joining a glass‑factory assembly line. Those early jobs gave her a hard‑working foundation.

At age 23, Zhou set up her own workshop, teaching herself advanced screen‑printing and curved‑glass techniques, and later secured contracts with Motorola and with Apple for the first iPhone, as noted in the source. These deals launched her company onto the global stage.

Lens Technology went public in Shenzhen in 2015, but its stock fell sharply in 2018 amid US‑China trade tensions, according to The Straits Times; the company later staged a comeback with a Hong Kong secondary listing that was oversubscribed about 462 times. The rebound restored much of Zhou’s wealth.

Hurun’s 2026 list shows that Chinese women represent 78 of the world’s 150 self‑made women billionaires, meaning they punch above their weight in global business. This highlights how Zhou’s success reflects a broader trend of Chinese women entrepreneurs.

Zhou Qunfei’s journey from a security guard to the head of a touchscreen giant illustrates the power of self‑learning, bold decisions, and perseverance. Her rise reminds readers that humble beginnings can lead to extraordinary achievements.