CZ's Life of Luxury: Binance Founder Spotted with Pardoned Status and $2 Billion Deal

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, has been living a life of luxury after his release from prison. He has a nine-bedroom villa in Abu Dhabi, four bodyguards, and a yacht named 'Da Moon'. A New York Times reporter spent time with CZ, as he is widely known, and documented what life looks like for him after his guilty plea for anti-money laundering violations.

CZ served four months in prison and was released in September 2024. He was pardoned by President Trump in October 2025. Today, CZ is still the majority shareholder of Binance, despite his plea agreement placing restrictions on him.

His net worth is estimated at $114 billion, and he has been traveling extensively across Asia by private jet, advising governments on how to build regulatory frameworks for crypto. He is also involved in a range of investment and educational initiatives, including a $2 billion USD transaction involving World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's crypto venture, and UAE royalty.

The connection between CZ and World Liberty Financial is the thread most worth watching, as it keeps CZ close to centers of political power. As the largest owner of Binance, CZ remains a central figure in the crypto industry.