Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun are two prominent entrepreneurs who built major technology businesses in different industries. Bloomberg co-founded Bloomberg L.P., a financial information and media company, while Lei Jun co-founded Xiaomi, the Chinese technology company known for smartphones, connected devices and electric vehicles.
Although their names appear together in billionaire rankings and business comparisons, there is no publicly established direct business partnership or personal relationship between Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun. Their documented connection is primarily through their standing as wealthy entrepreneurs and founders of technology companies.
Key takeaways
- Michael Bloomberg co-founded Bloomberg L.P. in 1981 and served as mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013.
- Lei Jun co-founded Xiaomi in 2010 and, as of October 2026, is identified by the company as its chairman and CEO.
- Forbes included both men in its 2025 and 2026 billionaire rankings, identifying Bloomberg and Lei Jun as the richest residents of New York City and Beijing, respectively, in its 2025 city ranking.
- No direct business partnership has been publicly established between the two entrepreneurs.
- Lei Jun appears in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, but Michael Bloomberg is excluded under the publication’s editorial policy.
Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun profile summary
| Field | Michael Bloomberg | Lei Jun |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Rubens Bloomberg | Lei Jun (雷军) |
| Nationality | American | Chinese |
| Known for | Co-founding Bloomberg L.P. | Co-founding Xiaomi |
| Main industry | Financial information, technology and media | Consumer electronics and technology |
| Company founded | Bloomberg L.P., 1981 | Xiaomi, 2010 |
| Earlier career | Financial services at Salomon Brothers | Software industry at Kingsoft |
| Major public role | Mayor of New York City, 2002–2013 | Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi |
| Business focus | Financial data, analytics and professional services | Smartphones, connected devices and electric vehicles |
The information reflects Bloomberg’s official biography and Xiaomi’s corporate board disclosures, as available in October 2026.
Why Are Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun Mentioned Together?
One documented reason the two names appear together is their inclusion in Forbes’ billionaire rankings.
In its article The Cities With The Most Billionaires 2025, published on April 2, 2025, Forbes identified Michael Bloomberg as New York City’s richest resident and Lei Jun as Beijing’s richest resident.
Using valuations dated March 7, 2025, the publication estimated Bloomberg’s fortune at $105 billion and Lei Jun’s at $43.5 billion.
Both also appeared in Forbes’ 2026 global billionaire ranking, based on valuations from March 1, 2026.
In that ranking, Forbes placed Bloomberg at No. 18 with an estimated fortune of $109 billion. Lei Jun was ranked joint No. 90 with an estimated $27.9 billion.
These figures are historical estimates rather than fixed or independently audited measures of personal wealth.
Sources: Forbes’ 2025 billionaire-city ranking and Forbes’ 2026 global billionaire ranking.
Their appearance in the same rankings provides a factual basis for comparing their businesses and financial standing. It does not indicate that they have invested together, worked on a joint project or maintained a personal connection.
Why Does Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index Include Lei Jun but Not Michael Bloomberg?
There is an interesting distinction between Forbes’ billionaire rankings and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Lei Jun appears in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the estimated fortunes of wealthy individuals around the world.
Michael Bloomberg, despite founding the company behind the index, is excluded.
Bloomberg’s official index methodology states:
> “Michael Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg L.P., isn’t considered for this ranking.”
The methodology explains that Bloomberg News does not cover Bloomberg L.P. under its editorial policy.
This distinction matters because the Bloomberg Billionaires Index is produced by Bloomberg’s financial news organization. Lei Jun’s inclusion reflects the publication’s coverage of wealthy individuals, not a personal association with Michael Bloomberg.
Forbes operates independently and includes both men in its rankings.
How Their Business Careers Developed
Although Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun established their best-known companies decades apart, both entered entrepreneurship with substantial experience in their respective industries.
Their careers are most clearly distinguished by the customers their businesses serve and the products they developed.
Michael Bloomberg: Building a Financial Information Business
Michael Bloomberg began his career in financial services at Salomon Brothers, where he gained experience in the workings of financial markets.
After leaving the firm in 1981, he co-founded the business that became Bloomberg L.P.
The company developed technology that allowed financial professionals to access market information and analytical tools through specialised computer systems.
Its best-known product, the Bloomberg Terminal, brings together financial data, market news, analytics and communication services used by professionals in banking, investment management and related industries.
The central idea was practical: financial professionals needed dependable information presented in a form they could use to follow markets and make decisions.
Bloomberg L.P. subsequently expanded into journalism, television, digital media and other financial information services.
The company remains closely associated with professional financial technology, even as its media operations reach a broader audience.
Bloomberg’s public career also extended into politics. He served three consecutive terms as mayor of New York City between 2002 and 2013, giving him a prominent role in American public life beyond his business activities.
His company and mayoral service are documented in his official Bloomberg CityLab biography.
Lei Jun: From Software to Xiaomi
Lei Jun’s professional background is rooted in China’s software and internet industries.
He joined the software company Kingsoft in 1992 and subsequently held senior leadership positions. In 2000, he founded Joyo.com, an online retail business that Amazon acquired in 2004.
Those ventures preceded his best-known entrepreneurial project.
In 2010, Lei Jun co-founded Xiaomi alongside other technology entrepreneurs, including Lin Bin.
Xiaomi developed into a major consumer technology company through smartphones, software and an expanding range of connected electronic products.
Its product range later grew to include wearable devices, smart-home technology and other consumer electronics.
Unlike Bloomberg L.P., which primarily provides information and software services to professional users, Xiaomi sells technology products directly to consumers.
The company’s expansion into electric vehicles marked another significant development.
On March 28, 2024, Xiaomi announced pricing for its SU7 electric car, entering a market with different manufacturing, engineering and competitive demands from those associated with smartphones.
The move extended Xiaomi’s business into vehicle production while continuing its emphasis on connected technology.
Lei Jun’s earlier career and present corporate responsibilities are documented in Xiaomi’s official board information. The company’s electric-vehicle launch was covered by Reuters in March 2024.
What Makes Their Businesses Different?
The main distinction between Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun is how their companies use technology.
Bloomberg L.P. built its business around financial information. Its customers use specialised services to access data, analyse markets and communicate within professional financial environments.
Xiaomi operates primarily in consumer technology. Its products include devices people purchase for everyday use, from smartphones and connected home equipment to electric vehicles.
That difference affects how the businesses operate.
Bloomberg L.P.’s professional services are centred on information, software and analytics. Xiaomi’s operations involve consumer product development, manufacturing, hardware distribution and software integration.
Their expansion histories also differ.
Bloomberg L.P. broadened its original financial information offering into related services and media. Xiaomi moved from its early smartphone and software business into a wider collection of connected devices and, eventually, electric vehicles.
Both companies use technology as a central part of their operations, but they address different customer needs.
That makes Michael Bloomberg and Lei Jun useful subjects for a business comparison without suggesting that they follow identical strategies or directly compete with one another.
The distinction also explains why their professional achievements should be understood independently.
Bloomberg is associated with the development of financial information systems and later municipal government leadership. Lei Jun is associated with software entrepreneurship and Xiaomi’s expansion across consumer technology markets.
As of October 2026, their publicly documented careers remain separate. Bloomberg’s official materials identify him as the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg L.P., while Xiaomi identifies Lei Jun as its founder, chairman and CEO.
Their shared appearance in billionaire rankings reflects the financial scale of their business careers. It is not evidence of a joint venture or a personal relationship.
