DiDi Global Inc. (formerly Didi Chuxing), the world’s largest ride-hailing platform by trip volume in China, was founded in 2012 by Cheng Wei (also known as Will Cheng) in Beijing. Today, DiDi CEO Cheng Wei leads a company that serves over 550 million users across China, Latin America, and other international markets. With approximately 19,000 employees, DiDi processes billions of rides annually and reported revenues of RMB 206.8 billion ($28.7 billion) in 2024. After navigating a turbulent period of regulatory scrutiny, NYSE delisting, and a $1.2 billion cybersecurity fine, Cheng Wei has steered DiDi back to profitability and is preparing the company for a potential Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing.
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Cheng Wei – Quick Facts
Is Cheng Wei Still the CEO of DiDi? (2026 Update)
Yes. As of March 2026, Cheng Wei (Will Cheng) continues to serve as Founder, Chairman, and CEO of DiDi Global Inc. In September 2025, he met with Brazilian President Lula to announce a 2 billion reais investment in DiDi’s food delivery operations in Brazil, confirming his active leadership role. The company has returned to profitability, posting net income of RMB 1.5 billion in Q3 2025 alone, and is preparing for a potential Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing.
DiDi Competitors
DiDi Global commands approximately 80% of China’s domestic ride-hailing market, with nearly 94 million monthly active users as of late 2024. However, the company faces growing competition both domestically and internationally:
- Uber Technologies – Global ride-hailing leader, DiDi’s primary international competitor
- Meituan Dache – Meituan’s ride-hailing service, aggressively expanding in China
- AutoNavi (Gaode Map) – Alibaba-backed ride-hailing aggregator gaining market share
- T3 Chuxing – Backed by Chinese automakers FAW, Dongfeng, and Changan
- Caocao Chuxing – Geely-backed ride-hailing platform focused on electric vehicles
- Grab Holdings – Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing and super app
- Ola Cabs – India’s largest ride-hailing company
- Hello Chuxing – China’s second-largest ride-hailing platform by users
Cheng Wei Net Worth 2026 – DiDi CEO Salary
As of 2026, Cheng Wei’s net worth is estimated at approximately $2.5–3.5 billion USD, primarily derived from his equity stake in DiDi Global. His wealth has fluctuated significantly over the years: at DiDi’s June 2021 NYSE IPO, his stake was valued at approximately $4.4 billion when the company reached a peak market capitalization of $70 billion. Following the regulatory crackdown, delisting, and $1.2 billion cybersecurity fine in 2022, his net worth declined sharply. With DiDi’s recovery — the company now trades OTC with a market cap of approximately $23.8 billion — his wealth has partially rebounded.
Cheng Wei Net Worth Over Time
Key Insight: Cheng Wei’s personal salary details are not publicly disclosed, as DiDi is no longer listed on a major exchange requiring full executive compensation disclosure. His wealth is primarily tied to his equity stake in DiDi Global. A successful Hong Kong listing could significantly increase his net worth, with analysts suggesting DiDi’s normalized valuation could reach $50–100 billion.
DiDi Global Net Worth 2026 – Is DiDi Profitable?
Yes, DiDi Global has returned to profitability. After years of losses following the 2022 regulatory crackdown, the company reported a net income of RMB 1.3 billion for the full year 2024, and Q3 2025 saw a 67% profit surge to RMB 1.5 billion. The company continues to grow revenues steadily while improving margins.
DiDi Global Financial Summary
Hong Kong IPO Watch: DiDi is preparing for a potential Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing, having adopted IFRS accounting standards and received signals from the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Analysts suggest a normalized valuation of $50–100 billion is achievable once full market access is restored, which could significantly boost investor confidence and Cheng Wei’s personal wealth.
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DiDi CEO Email Address | Cheng Wei Contact
Cheng Wei’s personal contact details are not publicly disclosed. Below are the official channels for reaching DiDi Global:
Career & Education – Company, University, & College
Cheng Wei’s career trajectory — from a foot massage company assistant to founder of the world’s largest ride-hailing company in China — is one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial stories in Chinese tech history. Below is his complete career timeline:
Cheng Wei Career Timeline
Cheng Wei was born into a modest family in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province. His father was a civil servant and his mother was a mathematics teacher. After graduating from Beijing University of Chemical Technology with a bachelor’s degree in administration, he took a job as an assistant at a foot massage company — a role that lasted about a year.
In 2005, Cheng Wei joined Alibaba Group as a sales representative, where he quickly distinguished himself. Over six years at Alibaba, he rose through the ranks to become Sales Manager for China’s Northern Region. He then moved to Alipay (Alibaba’s payment arm) as a Regional Manager, where he further honed his operational and leadership skills.
In June 2012, at age 29, Cheng Wei left Alibaba to found Didi Dache (later known as Didi Chuxing, now DiDi Global) — a taxi-hailing app that would revolutionize transportation in China. Starting from a small Beijing apartment, the company quickly gained traction and attracted major venture capital funding.
Key Company Milestones Under Cheng Wei’s Leadership
- 2015: Merger with Kuaidi Dache to form Didi Kuaidi, later rebranded as Didi Chuxing
- 2016: Acquired Uber China’s operations in exchange for equity, ending a costly market share war
- 2018: Expanded internationally to Brazil (via 99 acquisition), Mexico, Australia, and Japan
- 2021: NYSE IPO in June, raising approximately $4.4 billion
- 2022: NYSE delisting (June); CAC cybersecurity fine of $1.2 billion (July)
- 2023: Approval to resume new user registrations in China (January)
- 2024: Full year profitability restored with RMB 1.3 billion net income
- 2025: Q3 profit surged 67%; preparation for potential Hong Kong IPO
Education
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Cheng Wei Wiki – Age, Family, & More
Cheng Wei was born on May 19, 1983, in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province, China. He is 42 years old as of March 2026. Cheng Wei maintains an extremely private personal life and rarely discusses his family in public. It was reported in 2016 that he and his partner were expecting a child, but he has since kept all details of his family life completely out of the media spotlight.
He is known for his intense work ethic and strategic instinct for identifying talent. His longtime business partner Jean Liu (Liu Qing), formerly President of DiDi, has been one of his most important collaborators. Jean Liu, the daughter of Lenovo founder Liu Chuanzhi, joined DiDi in 2014 and was instrumental in the company’s fundraising and international expansion, though she stepped back from daily operations in 2022.
Notable Achievements & Recognitions
- Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year (2016) – Named the top business leader globally by Fortune magazine
- Forbes Asia Businessman of the Year (2016) – Recognized for building DiDi into a global mobility giant
- TIME’s 20 Most Influential People in Tech – Selected for transforming urban transportation
- Fortune China 40 Under 40 (#1, 2015) – Top-ranked young Chinese business leader for three consecutive years (2017–2019)
- Forbes Global Game Changer (2017) – Recognized for disrupting the global ride-hailing industry
- Vanity Fair New Establishment List – Named among the world’s most influential innovators
- Wired 100 List – Included among the world’s top technology leaders
- Co-Chairman, Summer Davos (2015) – Selected as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Asia summit
- Author: “Didi: the Sharing Economy is Changing China” (2016, co-authored with Zhang Xiaofeng and Jean Liu)
- Beijing Youth “May 4th” Medal and National Outstanding Individual in Poverty Alleviation
About DiDi Global Inc.
DiDi Global Inc. is a Chinese mobility technology company headquartered in Beijing, China. Founded in 2012 as Didi Dache, the company has grown into the world’s leading multi-modal mobile transportation platform, delivering over 10 billion passenger trips annually across multiple countries. DiDi operates across four main business segments:
DiDi trades over-the-counter in the United States under the ticker symbol DIDIY. The company delisted from the NYSE on June 13, 2022 following regulatory scrutiny from China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC), and is now pursuing a potential Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing to regain full public market access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of DiDi?
The current CEO of DiDi Global Inc. is Cheng Wei (also known as Will Cheng), who also serves as Founder and Chairman. He has held the CEO position since February 2015 and founded the company in June 2012 as Didi Dache. As of March 2026, he continues to actively lead the company.
What is Cheng Wei’s net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Cheng Wei’s net worth is estimated at approximately $2.5–3.5 billion USD, primarily based on his equity stake in DiDi Global. His wealth peaked at $4.4 billion during DiDi’s 2021 NYSE IPO, declined significantly after the regulatory crackdown and delisting, and has partially recovered as DiDi returns to profitability with a market cap of approximately $23.8 billion.
What is DiDi CEO Cheng Wei’s salary?
Cheng Wei’s salary and compensation details are not publicly disclosed, as DiDi delisted from the NYSE in June 2022 and trades over-the-counter (DIDIY), which does not require full executive compensation disclosure. His wealth is primarily derived from his equity stake in DiDi Global rather than annual salary.
How can I contact DiDi CEO Cheng Wei?
Cheng Wei’s personal email address is not publicly available. The best way to reach DiDi Global is through the company’s Investor Relations website at ir.didiglobal.com or through the corporate website at www.didiglobal.com. DiDi’s headquarters are located in the Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Is DiDi a profitable company?
Yes, DiDi Global has returned to profitability. The company reported net income of RMB 1.3 billion for full-year 2024, and Q3 2025 showed a 67% profit surge to RMB 1.5 billion. Full-year 2024 revenue was RMB 206.8 billion (~$28.7 billion), up 7.5% year-over-year. DiDi is now preparing for a potential Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing.
Article last updated:February 2026March 3, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including OTC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source.