TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — ASE Technology Holding Chair Jason Chang (張虔生) and Vice Chair Richard Chang (張洪本) led Taiwan’s list of the 50 richest tycoons for the first time as AI demand propelled the collective wealth of the nation’s top 50 to a record NT$9.76 trillion (US$308 billion), up 56% from last year.
“Taiwan’s 50 Richest” was published Wednesday by Forbes, which said Taiwan’s economy grew 8.7% in 2025, the fastest pace in 15 years. Growth was driven by robust semiconductor exports and an AI-fueled rally that pushed the benchmark TAIEX index to more than double its level from a year earlier.
The Chang brothers added NT$459.5 billion to their combined fortune. They jumped six spots to reach NT$709.9 billion as their semiconductor packaging and testing firm ASE Technology Holding rode the AI trend.
Yageo Electronics founder Pierre Chen (陳泰銘) claimed the second spot with NT$576.8 billion after his net worth swelled significantly. In May, he was named the world’s 172nd richest individual with a net worth of NT$527.5 billion.
Meanwhile, last year’s top tycoons Daniel Tsai (蔡明忠) and Richard Tsai (蔡明興) slipped to third despite a NT$88.7 billion gain to NT$529.2 billion. Fubon Financial Holding shares rose 26% over the year thanks to strong returns on the group’s Taiwan market investments, supporting the Tsai brothers’ wealth even as they fell behind their peers at ASE.
Hon Hai Precision Industry founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) ranked fourth with NT$491.2 billion as Foxconn shares surged 70%. The world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer holds more than 40% of the global market and produces AI server systems.
Delta Electronics founder Cheng Tseng-hua (鄭崇華) leaped 16 spots to seventh with NT$459.5 billion, a nearly fivefold increase from last year. His power component and systems business supplies AI GPUs to tech giants including Nvidia and Google.
Eight newcomers joined the list, Forbes said, all from semiconductor or AI-adjacent businesses. AI chip-testing equipment maker Hon Precision Chair Hsieh Wen-ta (謝文達) debuted at 12th with NT$225 billion after shares more than doubled since the company’s November IPO.
One major figure whose wealth shrank was Chang Tsung-yuan (張聰淵), founder of shoemaker Huali Industrial Group. His fortune fell 20% to NT$145.8 billion as net profit nearly halved to NT$1.81 billion in the first quarter due to trade and geopolitical uncertainties.
