Lei Jun
雷军
Founder and CEO of Xiaomi, a prominent Chinese electronics company, and a notable angel investor.
Biography
Lei Jun, born December 16, 1969, in Xiantao, Hubei Province, is a towering figure in China's technology landscape, best known as the founder and CEO of Xiaomi Inc.
A programming prodigy, Lei Jun completed all his credits within two years at Wuhan University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science in 1991. His early work included co-founding a company in his university days and writing code that was so impressive it was preserved in the Wuhan University library.
In 1992, Lei Jun joined Kingsoft, one of China's earliest software companies. He spent 16 years there, rising from an engineer to the CEO, leading the company through its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007. After his departure, he became a highly successful angel investor, backing numerous startups like UCWeb and YY.
Feeling he had an "unfinished dream," Lei Jun returned to the entrepreneurial arena in 2010, founding Xiaomi with a vision to create high-quality, well-designed technology accessible to everyone. Starting with the Android-based firmware MIUI, Xiaomi launched its first smartphone in 2011 and has since grown into a global consumer electronics giant.
Education Background
- 1991: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Wuhan University
Major Achievements
- Joined Kingsoft in 1992 and became CEO in 1998, leading its IPO in 2007.
- Founded Xiaomi in 2010, revolutionizing the smartphone industry with its business model.
- Led Xiaomi to become one of the youngest companies on the Fortune Global 500 list.
- A highly successful angel investor with a portfolio of influential tech companies.
Business Philosophy
Lei Jun is a proponent of "Internet Thinking," a philosophy that emphasizes user experience, rapid iteration, and fair pricing. His famous "triathlon" model for Xiaomi focuses on three pillars: hardware, internet services, and new retail. He is deeply committed to building a "fan culture" and co-creating products with users, famously stating Xiaomi's hardware net profit margin will never exceed 5%.
Legacy and Impact
Lei Jun is often called the "Steve Jobs of China" for his product focus and presentation style. His work at Xiaomi has not only made high-performance smartphones affordable for millions but has also fostered a vast ecosystem of IoT and lifestyle products. As an investor and mentor, he has been a key architect of China's mobile internet boom, shaping the growth of a generation of tech companies.
Timeline
1969
Born in Xiantao, Hubei
PersonalLow ImpactDecember 16, 1969
📍 Xiantao, Hubei
Lei Jun was born in Xiantao, a city in Hubei Province, China.
1987
Enrolled in Wuhan University
EducationHigh ImpactSeptember 1987
📍 Wuhan, Hubei
Admitted to the Department of Computer Science at Wuhan University.
1991
Graduated from Wuhan University
EducationHigh ImpactJuly 1991
📍 Wuhan, Hubei
Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, completing a four-year program in just two years.
1992
Joined Kingsoft
CareerHigh ImpactJanuary 1992
📍 Beijing
Joined Kingsoft, one of China's earliest software companies, as its 6th employee.
1998
Became CEO of Kingsoft
CareerHigh ImpactAugust 1998
📍 Beijing
At the age of 28, Lei Jun took over as the CEO of Kingsoft.
2000
Founded Joyo.com
FoundingHigh ImpactMay 2000
📍 Beijing
Founded Joyo.com, an online bookstore and e-commerce platform.
2004
Sold Joyo.com to Amazon
AcquisitionHigh ImpactAugust 2004
📍 Beijing
Sold Joyo.com to Amazon for $75 million.
2007
Kingsoft IPO and Resignation
CareerHigh ImpactOctober 9, 2007
📍 Hong Kong
Led Kingsoft to a successful IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, then resigned as CEO.
2010
Founded Xiaomi
FoundingHigh ImpactApril 6, 2010
📍 Beijing
At the age of 40, Lei Jun founded Xiaomi Inc. with a team of co-founders.
Launched MIUI
Product LaunchHigh ImpactAugust 16, 2010
📍 Beijing
Xiaomi's first product, the Android-based firmware MIUI, was officially launched.
2011
Launched First Smartphone, Mi 1
Product LaunchHigh ImpactAugust 16, 2011
📍 Beijing
Xiaomi launched its first smartphone, the Mi 1, at a shockingly low price of ¥1999.
2013
The Famous 1 Billion RMB Bet
Pivotal MomentMedium ImpactDecember 12, 2013
📍 Beijing
Lei Jun made a public 1 billion RMB bet with Gree Electric's Chairwoman Dong Mingzhu.
2015
'Are You OK?' India Launch Event
Pivotal MomentMedium ImpactApril 23, 2015
📍 New Delhi, India
Lei Jun's English phrase 'Are you OK?' at a launch event in India went viral.
2018
Xiaomi IPO
IPOHigh ImpactJuly 9, 2018
📍 Hong Kong
Xiaomi successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Related Stories
The Birth of MIUI: Xiaomi's First 'Believers'
Without a single physical phone, Xiaomi's first product was a mobile phone ROM called MIUI. How did Lei Jun and his team, with just an invisible piece of software, gain their first and most loyal 'believers' on various forums? And how did the story of these '100 dream sponsors' define Xiaomi's 'fan economy'?
The Joyo Regret: Lei Jun's First Painful Sale
In 2000, Lei Jun incubated Joyo.com within Kingsoft, which at one point became China's largest B2C e-commerce platform. Four years later, in the depths of a capital winter, he was forced to 'marry it off' to Amazon for $75 million. This was not a business transaction; it was a separation of 'flesh and blood.' Why does Lei Jun regard this venture as 'an eternal pain in his heart'?
After Financial Freedom: Lei Jun's Angel Metamorphosis
In 2007, after leading Kingsoft to its IPO, 38-year-old Lei Jun chose 'semi-retirement' and became an angel investor. In the three 'leisurely years' before founding Xiaomi, he invested in a series of star projects like UC and YY. How did this seemingly 'ethereal' experience complete his ultimate evolution from CEO to strategist?
'Are You OK?': Lei Jun's Indian 'Purgatory' and 'Ascension'
In April 2015, in New Delhi, India, at the launch of the Mi 4i, Lei Jun greeted Indian Mi fans with his now-infamous 'Xiantao English.' A single phrase, 'Are you OK?', unexpectedly made him a top meme on Bilibili. Behind this much-parodied greeting lies a true story of blood and tears from Xiaomi's international expansion, a journey from falling into hell to fighting back from the brink.
The Billion-Yuan Bet: Lei Jun and Dong Mingzhu's 'Battle of Models'
In 2013, at a CCTV awards ceremony, Lei Jun and Dong Mingzhu made a 'billion-yuan bet' that shocked the nation. It wasn't just a personal spat but was seen as a showdown between the new internet tycoon and the queen of manufacturing, a 'battle of models' for the future of Chinese business. Five years later, what was the outcome? And who was the real winner?
From Xiantao to Mount Luojia: The Making of a Programming Legend
In 1987, a young man from Xiantao, Hubei, entered Wuhan University. Two years later, he had not only completed all his credits, but a piece of his code was even written into a textbook. This isn't just a story about a top student; it's the first encounter between a future icon and the 'Fire in the Valley' burning within him.
The ¥1999 Gamble: The 'Nuclear' Debut of the Xiaomi Phone
On August 16, 2011, Lei Jun, dressed in a Vancl T-shirt like a devout believer, launched the Xiaomi Phone 1. When the price of '¥1999' was dropped like a nuclear bomb on the stagnant mobile phone market, the entire audience erupted for a full half-minute. How was this history-making price born? And what was at stake in this high-stakes gamble?
A Bowl of Congee: Lei Jun and His 'All-Star' Partners
On April 6, 2010, in a modest office in Beijing's Zhongguancun, 13 people and a pot of congee marked the birth of a company that would go on to completely change China's tech landscape. How did the 40-year-old Lei Jun, armed with his reputation and a dream, assemble one of the most star-studded founding teams in Chinese tech history?
The Fall of Pangu: Lei Jun's Multi-Million Dollar Waterloo
As the tide of Windows came crashing in, Kingsoft invested its entire fortune in the 'Pangu Office Suite,' developed by a team led by the 24-year-old Lei Jun. It was seen as the ultimate weapon against Microsoft, yet it ended in an epic failure. Why did this high-stakes gamble fail so spectacularly? And what excruciating lesson did it teach the young Lei Jun?