A Chinese businesswoman who was seated between Elon Musk and Tim Cook during a high-profile state banquet in China has gone viral online after many discovered her remarkable rise from factory worker to multibillionaire.
The woman, 56-year-old Zhou Qunfei, attended the state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the recent visit by US President Donald Trump on May 14.
Photos from the event quickly circulated online after netizens noticed Zhou seated directly beside two of the world’s most recognisable technology leaders.
According to international reports, Zhou is the co-founder and chairman of Lens Technology, one of the world’s largest suppliers of touchscreen glass and electronic display components.
Dropped Out Of School At 15 To Work In Factories
Zhou’s background has drawn widespread attention due to how drastically different her early life was compared to her current billionaire status.
Born in rural Hunan in 1970, Zhou reportedly grew up in poverty after losing her mother at a young age. Her father later became disabled following an accident, leaving the family struggling financially.
At just 15 years old, she reportedly dropped out of school and moved to Shenzhen in search of work.
She began working on factory production lines, handling watch glass cutting and polishing at a local optics company.
Despite her difficult circumstances, Zhou reportedly attended night classes while working full-time and taught herself various technical and business-related skills, including accounting, computing, and screen-printing technology.
Her dedication eventually helped her rise to become a supervisor within the factory.
Took Over Factory Workshop After Investor Pulled Out
Reports stated that Zhou’s turning point came when production at the factory was suspended after the owner withdrew investment.
Instead of leaving, Zhou reportedly took over the workshop and continued operations herself using the technical knowledge she had gained over the years.
She later began manufacturing printed watch glass products, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become her future empire.
In 1993, Zhou and several family members officially started a small business, which later evolved into Lens Technology.
The company would eventually become one of the most important suppliers in the global consumer electronics industry.
Lens Technology Became Key Apple Supplier
Lens Technology reportedly experienced its biggest breakthrough in 2007 after entering Apple’s supply chain during the development of the first iPhone.
At the time, Apple was searching for durable glass displays to replace plastic smartphone screens, but only a small number of manufacturers were able to meet the demanding production standards.
Reports stated that Zhou played a major role in improving manufacturing techniques to satisfy Apple’s requirements.
As the iPhone grew into one of the world’s most successful consumer technology products, Lens Technology also expanded rapidly alongside it.
The company later diversified into the electric vehicle industry and now reportedly supplies automotive glass and related components to Tesla as well.
Net Worth Estimated At Over S$20 Billion
Lens Technology was listed on Shenzhen’s ChiNext board in 2015 before later securing a Hong Kong listing in 2025.
According to reports, Zhou’s net worth is currently estimated at approximately S$20.48 billion, making her one of China’s wealthiest self-made women.
While she is less publicly visible compared to global tech billionaires, Zhou is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the international electronics manufacturing industry.
Her appearance alongside Musk and Cook during the state banquet has since sparked fresh interest in her story, with many online praising her rise from factory worker to tech billionaire as one of China’s most extraordinary business success stories.