Meet CJ Wang, home appliance billionaire who quit teaching job to invent world’s first automatic soy milk maker
After leaving his teaching post, CJ Wang invented an automatic soy milk maker, setting him on a path in the home appliance sector that eventually led to a US$10.4 billion fortune.
CJ Wang, a home appliance billionaire, left his teaching job to invent the world's first automatic soy milk maker. Born in 1969 in Yantai, China, Wang was introduced to soy milk during his childhood and later studied electrical engineering at Beijing Jiaotong University. After graduating, he pursued a teaching career, inspired by his family's tradition.
However, he grew dissatisfied with teaching and left his job in 1994 to pursue his passion for engineering. Wang believed that soy milk and fried dough sticks would remain essential components of Chinese breakfasts, and he invented the world's first electric machine for making soy milk. This invention marked a significant breakthrough for Wang.
In 1994, he founded Joyoung, an appliance brand that sold over one million soy milk makers by 2004 and eventually expanded to offer a wide range of affordable, reliable appliances. As Joyoung grew into a leading appliance brand in China, Wang began expanding his horizons in the late 2010s. He acquired SharkNinja, a U.S.-based company known for its vacuums and blenders, to bring its strong products and market presence to China.
Wang's private equity firm took a majority stake in SharkNinja in 2017, and the company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2019. Under Wang's leadership, SharkNinja focused on expanding its product range, improving its supply chain, and updating its sales strategy. The company, which is now divided into two main brands—Shark for vacuums and beauty products, and Ninja for kitchen appliances—has become a multibillion-dollar business, particularly thriving on social media platforms like TikTok.
As of May 2026, Wang held about 35% of SharkNinja and 52% of JS Global Lifestyle, with an estimated fortune of $10.4 billion. Wang, who is described as soft-spoken and shy, chose to share his story to preempt speculation about his background and business interests amidst heightened US-China trade tensions and scrutiny of Chinese investment in the U.S.
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