Built the drinks company 娃哈哈 from a small school-run shop he took over in Hangzhou in 1987 into one of China's biggest beverage makers, and was several times ranked the richest person in mainland China.
Zong Qinghou topped China's rich list multiple times.
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娃哈哈 shares its name with a well-known children's song. It began in 1988 as a nutrition drink for picky-eating children, sold with the slogan 喝了娃哈哈，吃饭就是香, 'drink Wahaha and food tastes great'. Despite his fortune he lived frugally.
