Early Life
Lei Jun was born on December 16, 1969, in Xiantao, Hubei, China. His parents were teachers. As a child, he showed an interest in electronics and enjoyed taking apart and reassembling radios. He graduated from Wuhan University in 1991 with a degree in computer science.
Rise to Success
Lei Jun's career began in 1992 when he joined Kingsoft. He rose through the ranks to become the CEO in 1998, leading the company to an IPO in 2007. In 2000, he founded Joyo.com, an online bookstore, which was later sold to Amazon. His most significant achievement is founding Xiaomi in April 2010. Xiaomi quickly became a major player in the smartphone industry, and by 2014, it was the largest smartphone vendor in China.
Key Business Strategies
Lei Jun adopted a unique business model for Xiaomi, which included direct-to-consumer sales and a focus on online platforms. This strategy allowed Xiaomi to offer high-quality products at competitive prices, disrupting the traditional market. The company also expanded into an ecosystem of interconnected smart devices.
Philanthropy
Lei Jun is also recognized for his philanthropy. In 2021, he donated $2.2 billion worth of Xiaomi shares to charity. In 2023, he made a record donation of 1.3 billion yuan (approximately $183 million) to his alma mater, Wuhan University.