Table of Contents

Introduction

David Xueling Li has an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion as of September 4, 2026, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire profile. Forbes identifies him as the co-founder and director of JOYY Inc., a Nasdaq-listed, Singapore-headquartered technology company focused on live streaming and social media.

Li’s fortune is primarily an entrepreneurial equity fortune, rather than one built through a conventional executive salary. His wealth is closely associated with the businesses he helped build, particularly JOYY and its international social-entertainment operations.

His career is unusual for a technology billionaire. He began in journalism and digital media, founded CFP.cn, worked as chief editor of NetEase.com, and eventually became one of the key figures behind YY, which later evolved into JOYY.

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Full Name	David Xueling Li
Chinese Name	Li Xueling
Age	53
Birth Date	Not publicly verified by authoritative sources
Nationality	Chinese
Residence	Singapore
Profession	Technology entrepreneur, investor and corporate director
Estimated Net Worth	$1.9 billion
Primary Source of Wealth	Live-streaming and social-media businesses
Education	Bachelor of Arts, Renmin University of China
Marital Status	Not publicly verified
Current Position	Co-founder and Director of JOYY Inc.
Former Positions	Chairman and CEO of JOYY

Net worth is a dynamic estimate and can change with market conditions and the value of publicly traded holdings.

David Xueling Li Net Worth

David Xueling Li’s estimated net worth is $1.9 billion.

Forbes currently estimates Li’s real-time fortune at $1.9 billion and identifies his source of wealth as live-streaming services. Forbes also classifies him as self-made.

The important point is that this figure should not be confused with JOYY’s market capitalization, revenue or cash holdings. A company’s revenue is not the founder’s personal income.

Li’s personal fortune has largely been created through:

Founder equity
Ownership in JOYY
Value generated by social-entertainment platforms
The growth and international expansion of BIGO
Long-term appreciation of technology-company holdings

Because JOYY is publicly traded, the value of Li’s holdings can change as the company’s share price moves. His net worth therefore represents an estimated value of his assets and equity interests rather than cash sitting in a bank account.

How David Xueling Li Built His Fortune

Li’s wealth story can be summarized as:

Journalism → CFP.cn → YY → International Expansion → BIGO → JOYY → Billion-Dollar Equity Fortune

His early experience in online media helped him understand the commercial potential of internet communities and digital content.

He founded CFP.cn in 2000, later worked at NetEase, and then became involved in the development of YY. JOYY’s corporate biography describes him as a pivotal figure in the company’s growth and global expansion.

Rather than relying on multiple unrelated businesses, Li’s fortune developed primarily from his participation in the growth of the internet and social-entertainment industry.

Income Sources

JOYY Equity

The most important component of Li’s wealth is his ownership interest in JOYY.

As a founder and major shareholder, Li’s financial exposure to JOYY is substantially more important than a conventional salary. The value of publicly traded equity can increase or decrease daily, which helps explain why billionaire estimates can change even when there is no corresponding change in personal income.

Live-Streaming Revenue

Live streaming remains a major component of JOYY’s business.

JOYY reported $2.124 billion in net revenue for 2025, of which $1.530 billion came from live streaming.

Live-streaming platforms typically monetize through virtual gifts, virtual items and related digital services. This revenue belongs to the company; it should not be described as Li’s personal earnings.

Advertising

Advertising has become an increasingly important part of JOYY’s business.

JOYY reported $442.7 million in advertising revenue in 2025, up 37.1% from $323 million in 2024. BIGO Ads alone generated approximately $398.5 million, an increase of 38.5% year over year.

This diversification is important because it gives JOYY a second major monetization engine alongside live streaming.

BIGO

BIGO is one of the most significant businesses associated with Li’s entrepreneurial career.

JOYY completed its acquisition of the remaining approximately 68.3% of BIGO in 2019. The transaction helped strengthen JOYY’s international social-entertainment operations.

BIGO’s ecosystem includes products and businesses such as Bigo Live, Likee, imo and BIGO Ads.

Shopline and Smart Commerce

JOYY has also expanded into smart commerce through Shopline, which provides tools and services for merchants.

This business gives JOYY exposure beyond social entertainment and live streaming and represents another potential source of long-term corporate value.

Salary and Executive Compensation

Li previously served as JOYY’s chairman and chief executive officer.

However, he stepped down as chairman and CEO in August 2024. He remained a director of JOYY, while the company’s leadership transitioned to Ting Li.

Therefore, it would be misleading to portray a current CEO salary as the main source of his $1.9 billion fortune.

Acting, Music and Brand Endorsements

There is no reliable evidence that acting, music, celebrity endorsements or influencer income represent significant sources of David Xueling Li’s wealth.

These categories are sometimes automatically included in generic celebrity-net-worth articles, but they do not accurately describe Li’s business model.

Early Life and Education

Public information about Li’s childhood and family background is limited.

What is well documented is his education. Forbes lists him as holding a Bachelor of Arts from Renmin University of China.

His academic background in philosophy is notable because he later entered journalism, internet media and technology entrepreneurship rather than following a conventional business or engineering career.

Career Journey

2000: Founded CFP.cn

Li founded CFP.cn, a copyright-trading platform serving journalists and amateur photographers.

The venture gave him early experience in digital content and online intellectual-property transactions. Forbes identifies CFP.cn as his first major entrepreneurial venture.

2003–2005: NetEase

Li later joined NetEase.com, where he served as chief editor.

This period gave him experience inside one of China’s leading internet companies and strengthened his understanding of online publishing and digital communities.

2005: YY Era Begins

Li became a co-founder of YY, the business that eventually developed into JOYY.

The company initially built technology around online voice and community interaction before expanding into broader social entertainment and live streaming.

2016: Chairman of YY

Li became chairman of the company’s board in August 2016. JOYY’s corporate biography records his tenure as chairman from August 2016 until August 2024.

2017: Returned to the CEO Role

Li returned to operational leadership after the departure of CEO Zhou Chen.

His involvement helped guide the company during an important period of international expansion.

2019: BIGO Acquisition

JOYY completed the acquisition of the remaining stake in BIGO in 2019.

The deal was strategically significant because BIGO provided JOYY with a stronger international footprint and products serving users outside China.

2019: YY Becomes JOYY

The company adopted the JOYY Inc. name as it developed a more internationally oriented portfolio.

Its ecosystem expanded across live streaming, short-form video, messaging, social entertainment, advertising and commerce.

2020–2021: YY Live Transaction

JOYY agreed to sell its domestic live-streaming business to Baidu in a transaction valued at approximately $3.6 billion.

The transaction represented another major strategic shift toward the company’s international businesses.

2024: Leadership Transition

In August 2024, Li stepped down from his roles as chairman and CEO.

He continued as a member of JOYY’s board, while Ting Li became chairperson and CEO.

2026: Billionaire Founder and Major Shareholder

By 2026, Li remained a major figure in JOYY’s ownership and corporate history.

Forbes’ current profile lists him at $1.9 billion, with his wealth attributed primarily to live-streaming services.

JOYY’s Business Model

Understanding JOYY’s business model is essential to understanding David Xueling Li’s wealth.

The company’s revenue comes from several interconnected areas:

Business Area	Main Monetization
Live Streaming	Virtual gifts and digital items
Bigo Live	Live-streaming user spending
Likee	Social entertainment and advertising
imo	Social communication and digital services
BIGO Ads	Digital advertising
Shopline	Smart-commerce services

JOYY generated $2.124 billion in 2025 revenue. Live streaming contributed $1.530 billion, advertising generated $442.7 million, and other revenue contributed $151.9 million.

The company’s first-quarter 2026 results also showed continued diversification. Total revenue reached $555.7 million, while BIGO Ads revenue increased 55.6% year over year to $124.8 million and Shopline revenue increased 16.1% to $30.5 million.

This is an important development for investors and for understanding Li’s wealth: JOYY is no longer dependent on a single monetization model.

Major Achievements

David Xueling Li’s most important achievements include:

Co-founding JOYY, formerly known as YY.
Founding CFP.cn in 2000.
Serving as chief editor of NetEase.com.
Building a major social-entertainment technology business.
Driving JOYY’s international expansion.
Playing a key role in the development and acquisition of BIGO.
Helping establish an ecosystem spanning live streaming, social media and advertising.
Serving as JOYY chairman from 2016 to 2024.
Serving as JOYY CEO from its inception through August 2024.

Assets and Lifestyle

There is limited reliable public information about Li’s personal luxury assets.

Unlike some highly publicized billionaires, authoritative sources do not provide a verified inventory of his:

Private jets
Yachts
Luxury automobiles
Multiple residences
Art collections
Personal real-estate portfolio

It would therefore be speculative to assign dollar values to such assets.

The most significant publicly documented component of his wealth is his connection to JOYY and its equity value.

This distinction improves the accuracy of the article: being worth $1.9 billion does not mean that Li owns $1.9 billion in cash or luxury property.

Personal Life

David Xueling Li maintains a relatively private personal life.

Forbes lists his residence as Singapore, Singapore, and his citizenship as China.

His marital status, spouse and children’s identities are not reliably established by the authoritative sources reviewed for this article.

For that reason, unsupported claims about his wife, children or family wealth should not be presented as facts.

David Xueling Li Net Worth Growth Timeline

Year	Major Development	Impact on Wealth
2000	Founded CFP.cn	Established his entrepreneurial career
2003–2005	Worked at NetEase	Expanded digital-media experience
2005	YY developed	Entered social-platform technology
2016	Became chairman	Expanded leadership role
2017	Returned as CEO	Resumed operational leadership
2019	BIGO acquisition	Strengthened international expansion
2019	YY renamed JOYY	Globalized business strategy
2020–21	YY Live transaction	Major portfolio restructuring
2024	Left CEO/chairman roles	Transitioned to board-level position
2026	Forbes estimates $1.9B	Current billionaire wealth benchmark

Historical net-worth figures should be treated carefully because billionaire wealth estimates depend on share prices, ownership disclosures and valuation methodologies. Forbes’ current real-time figure is the most appropriate benchmark for September 2026.

Why David Xueling Li’s Net Worth Changes

JOYY’s Stock Price

A large founder-level equity position means movements in JOYY’s market value can influence Li’s estimated wealth.

Business Performance

JOYY’s 2025 revenue declined from $2.238 billion in 2024 to $2.124 billion, but the company also reported stronger advertising and other revenue.

Advertising Growth

BIGO Ads is becoming an increasingly important growth driver. Its 2025 revenue increased 38.5% year over year.

Live-Streaming Trends

Live streaming remains the largest revenue source, but its revenue declined in 2025 compared with 2024.

International Expansion

JOYY’s international platforms expose the company to a broad global user base, creating opportunities for growth but also exposing the business to regulatory, competitive and economic risks.

Interesting Facts About David Xueling Li

He studied philosophy at Renmin University of China.
His early career was in journalism and digital media rather than finance.
He worked as chief editor at NetEase.com.
He founded CFP.cn before becoming a major technology entrepreneur.
He is a co-founder of JOYY.
JOYY was formerly known as YY.
BIGO became an important part of JOYY’s international strategy.
Li served as JOYY’s chairman from 2016 to 2024.
He served as CEO from the company’s inception until August 2024.
Forbes currently estimates his fortune at $1.9 billion.
Forbes lists his residence as Singapore and citizenship as China.
His wealth is primarily associated with live-streaming services rather than entertainment-industry salaries.

FAQs

What is David Xueling Li’s net worth?

David Xueling Li’s estimated net worth is $1.9 billion as of September 4, 2026, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire estimate.

Who is David Xueling Li?

David Xueling Li is a Chinese technology entrepreneur, co-founder and director of JOYY. He previously served as the company’s chairman and CEO.

How did David Xueling Li become a billionaire?

Li built his fortune primarily through technology entrepreneurship and substantial equity exposure to JOYY and the social-entertainment businesses he helped develop.

Is David Xueling Li still CEO of JOYY?

No. Li stepped down as CEO and chairman in August 2024 but remained a member of JOYY’s board of directors.

What company does David Xueling Li own?

Li is closely associated with JOYY Inc., the Nasdaq-listed technology company he co-founded. His wealth is primarily connected to his equity interests rather than a simple ownership claim over the entire company.

What is JOYY?

JOYY is a Singapore-headquartered technology company operating businesses across live streaming, social entertainment, advertising and smart commerce.

What is BIGO?

BIGO is a major international social-entertainment business associated with JOYY. Its ecosystem includes products such as Bigo Live, Likee and imo, alongside advertising operations.

What is JOYY’s main source of revenue?

Live streaming remains JOYY’s largest revenue category. The company generated $1.530 billion from live streaming in 2025, compared with $442.7 million from advertising.

Does David Xueling Li earn money from acting or music?

There is no reliable evidence that acting or music is a meaningful source of Li’s wealth. His fortune is primarily associated with technology entrepreneurship and live-streaming businesses.

Where does David Xueling Li live?

Forbes currently lists Singapore, Singapore as his residence.

What did David Xueling Li study?

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Renmin University of China.

Is David Xueling Li married?

His marital status is not reliably disclosed by the authoritative sources reviewed for this profile, so claims about a spouse should be treated cautiously.

Why does David Xueling Li’s net worth change?

His estimated wealth can change because the value of his business interests and publicly traded equity can fluctuate with JOYY’s stock price, operating performance and investor expectations.

Who is the CEO of Bigo?

The CEO of BIGO is David Huang, who leads BIGO, JOYY’s international business focused on products such as Bigo Live, Likee, and imo.
David Xueling Li is not the current BIGO CEO; he is a co-founder and director of JOYY and stepped down as JOYY’s CEO in August 2024.

How much is $1 worth in BIGO LIVE Diamonds?

If you mean BIGO LIVE Diamonds, the rate varies by region and purchase method. Current listings are roughly $1 = 50–51 Diamonds (about 1,000 Diamonds for $19.92).
If you mean how much $1 worth of Diamonds pays a streamer, that is a different conversion—tell me and I’ll give you that rate.

Is the BIGO app 18+?

BIGO LIVE is generally intended for users 18 and older, although age requirements can vary by country and platform.

Does BIGO LIVE have private rooms?

Yes, BIGO LIVE offers private or limited-access rooms where users can interact with selected people.

Final Takeaway

David Xueling Li’s $1.9 billion fortune is fundamentally a technology-founder success story. His career moved from journalism and online media into internet entrepreneurship, eventually producing JOYY, a global social-entertainment company.

The most important factor behind his wealth is not a celebrity salary, endorsement portfolio or entertainment career. It is equity ownership created through entrepreneurship and the long-term value of the businesses he helped build.

JOYY’s financial results also show why his wealth story remains dynamic. While live streaming continues to generate the largest share of revenue, advertising—particularly BIGO Ads—and smart commerce are becoming increasingly important growth areas. In the first quarter of 2026, JOYY reported $555.7 million in total revenue, with BIGO Ads revenue rising 55.6% year over year.

For readers trying to understand David Xueling Li net worth, the clearest conclusion is this: his billionaire status is best explained through founder equity, JOYY, BIGO, live-streaming monetization and the expansion of a global digital-media ecosystem.

David Xueling Li Net Worth: Billionaire Wealth Revealed