Inside the lavish post-prison life of the billionaire founder of world's largest crypto e…

Changpeng Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, lives in a $5 million Abu Dhabi villa, travels by private jet and maintains royal connections after serving four months in U.S. custody.

The 49-year-old Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur, widely known as CZ, has returned to a life of extraordinary wealth and influence in the United Arab Emirates, where he lives with his family on Abu Dhabi's exclusive Saadiyat Island.

His nine-bedroom villa comes with four bodyguards, a personal chef and a yacht named "Da Moon." The property, valued at about $5 million, includes a private gym and a children's playroom furnished with an expensive Steinway piano. He shares the villa with his partner, He Yi, a senior Binance executive, and their three young children.

Despite his wealth, Zhao likes to describe himself as a "normal dude," Zhao told a New York Times’ reporter who toured his house in June. He sometimes drives himself around Abu Dhabi in a white Nissan SUV, which he jokingly called "My Lamborghini." He described his home as relatively modest by billionaire standards, noting that a nearby property was being offered for $150 million.

According to Forbes, his fortune stood at $114.6 billion as of Oct. 7, placing him 18th among the world's richest people. Zhao disputes the estimate, saying that his actual wealth is between $10 billion and $30 billion. He said he could live comfortably with just $10 million.

Beyond his home, his affords him private jet travel and access to some of the most powerful figures in the Middle East and Asia. He regularly flies to countries seeking advice on cryptocurrency regulation, including Pakistan, the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan. During these visits, government representatives sometimes arrange vehicles to collect him directly from his aircraft and organize special receptions.

He has also developed close relationships with members of the UAE's ruling family, including Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an influential investor who oversees major technology and artificial intelligence investments.

At a private gathering in Abu Dhabi attended by prominent business figures, including billionaire investor Ray Dalio and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son, Zhao said UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally approached him to ask how he was doing and whether he needed assistance.

The UAE has become an important base for Zhao since he first visited Dubai in 2021. During that trip, he was offered a long-term residency visa and completed the approval process in less than 12 hours. He later received UAE citizenship along with passports for his family. He eventually relocated from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, where he established closer connections with the country's political and business leadership.

Zhao founded Binance in 2017, transforming it into the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume within months.

In November 2023, he pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at the company. He stepped down as CEO and personally paid a $50 million fine, while Binance agreed to a $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. authorities.

He began serving a four-month prison sentence at a low-security federal facility in Lompoc, California, on May 30, 2024, and was released on Sept. 27. Just 26 minutes after leaving custody, his private jet departed for Abu Dhabi.

Zhao returned to the UAE with his wealth and majority ownership of Binance intact, although his plea agreement prohibited him from operating or managing the exchange. His partner, Yi, has since become one of Binance's two co-CEOs, keeping the company closely connected to his family.

In October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump granted Zhao a full and unconditional pardon. The decision came months after Binance accepted the USD1 stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency business associated with Trump's family, as payment for a $2 billion investment by Abu Dhabi-based MGX.

Since leaving prison, Zhao has expanded his activities beyond Binance, investing in technology companies and advising governments on cryptocurrency regulations. His investments include a startup working on artificial-womb technology.

In a July interview with CommonWealth Magazine, he said he was advising 10-20 government entities, mentoring technology founders and supporting startups through YZi Labs. He has also devoted considerable attention to Giggle Academy, a free education platform that had attracted more than 600,000 users by July.

Despite continuing to work extensively, Zhao says his experience in prison changed his priorities. In a May interview with The National, he said he had come to appreciate spending time with his family. "I really enjoy spending time with my family ... the people are the most important things in your life," he said.

He has also supported education and rehabilitation programs for prisoners. U.S. nonprofit Prison Professors said Zhao had donated $2 million through four contributions of $500,000 each, helping fund free educational resources for incarcerated people.

Zhao published his memoir, "Freedom of Money," earlier this year, recounting his rise in the cryptocurrency industry, legal troubles and imprisonment. The book also explores his belief in simulation theory, the idea that reality could be an artificial environment created by a more advanced intelligence.

He has said the philosophy helps him maintain perspective on life's uncertainties, summarizing his outlook with the words: "It's just a game."