DeepSeek founder Lian Wenfeng is being hailed as a hero in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, where he grew up and reportedly returned for the Lunar New Year, joined by bodyguards.
Wenfeng, who is already a billionaire at the age of 40 due to his hedge fund, High-Flyer, is apparently even more beloved by locals following DeepSeek’s groundbreaking research. The research demonstrated that strong AI models could be built with fewer and less powerful Nvidia chips, which has significant implications, especially in China where access to the highest-end chips has been restricted.
Residents of his hometown tell the Financial Times that Wenfeng was a “top student” who loved comic books, excelled in math, and came from a family of educators. According to one local source, Wenfeng also enjoyed playing football. “We all grew up in this village,” the resident tells the FT. “We’re very proud of him.”
Despite his growing reputation, Wenfeng has mostly stayed out of the public eye, leaving those curious about him frustrated. Considering the experiences of high-profile Chinese CEOs like Jack Ma and Pony Ma who faced government scrutiny after becoming too visible, it wouldn’t be surprising if Wenfeng decides to remain in the background.
