Zhang Xin went from a factory girl in Hong Kong to one of the world’s richest self-made women.

At 15, she worked long hours on assembly lines just to survive. But she had one goal: get out. She saved enough to study in the UK, earning degrees from top schools.

In 1995, she returned to China at the perfect moment right as the country began its massive urban boom. Alongside her husband, she co-founded SOHO China and helped reshape Beijing’s skyline, earning the nickname “the woman who built Beijing.”

She made bold, timely moves buying during downturns, selling before the crash. At her peak, she was worth billions.

But today, she reflects with mixed emotions. The same system that created massive opportunities has tightened, and much of what she built has lost value or freedom.

Now based in New York, she’s focused on new ventures, but her story remains simple:

A mix of timing, risk, and relentless drive turning survival into empire.