CZ's Gilded Life: From Prison to Palace
CZ, the richest man in crypto, with an estimated fortune of $114 billion, lives a gilded life in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. He resides in a nearby villa with nine bedrooms, four bodyguards, a chef, and a yacht named 'Da Moon.' The crypto giant has been pitching regulatory frameworks across Asia while simultaneously tying himself and the UAE royal family to a $2 billion deal co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons' World Liberty.
On a June morning, Zhao pulled up outside the St. Regis Abu Dhabi in a white Nissan SUV. He offered to give a tour of the city himself, joking, 'My Lamborghini.' He is not an ordinary person, not long ago, U.S. authorities filed criminal charges against him over his leadership of Binance, painting the crypto exchange as a haven for Russian money launderers, Iran sanctions evaders, and ISIS terrorists.
After serving his four-month sentence, Zhao returned to Abu Dhabi still majority owner of Binance and the most powerful figure in the industry. He moves through the world like a head of state, flying private jets across Asia, advising governments on crypto regulation.
His most influential allies come from two prominent ruling families: one holds sway over the UAE, and the other is the Trump family. Last year, Binance forged a business relationship with World Liberty Financial, a crypto startup founded by President Trump and his three sons.