I recently came across Zhou Shouzi’s resume, and I was really quite shocked. This guy is originally from Singapore, and he has pushed his way all the way to the position of TikTok CEO purely through his own abilities—his entire career can be described as “leveling up” like in a cheat code.

Speaking of his story, Zhou Shouzi’s journey is just like an inspirational drama. At 12, he stood out in the national exam and entered a top-tier institution. At 18, he joined the military directly, and by over 20, he retired with the rank of lieutenant. At that age, most people are still studying, but he had already started planning for his future. After that, he studied economics at University College London, truly opening the door to internationalization.

Once he entered the workforce, things got even more intense. At 23, he joined a top investment bank and began to show his talent, but he didn’t choose to settle down on Wall Street. At 25, he made a bold decision—giving up his job at Goldman Sachs to pursue an MBA at Harvard. During his internship at Facebook, he witnessed the growth of internet giants firsthand, an experience that would later help him tremendously as he moved into the tech industry.

At 27, after he joined the Russian investment fund, he made a name for himself in a single breakthrough by leading JD.com’s $500 million financing. This move helped him establish his position in the financial world. At 32, he joined Xiaomi as CFO, directly participating in Xiaomi’s rapid development; at 35, he helped Xiaomi successfully go public. During that period, his influence in Asia’s tech circle was really significant.

When he turned 38, Zhou Shouzi reached a new height in his career—joining ByteDance and taking on the role of TikTok CEO. This position may look glamorous, but in reality, it comes with immense pressure and challenges. With the complex global market situation and various regulatory issues, he somehow carried it all. Behind the 700 million annual salary is his dedication to the job and his deep understanding of the market.

Looking at his entire career trajectory, Zhou Shouzi isn’t just lucky—at every stage, he made the right choices. From military service to Wall Street, and then to top companies in Silicon Valley and Asia, he seized every opportunity with sharp insight and unwavering conviction. His story is definitely worth paying attention to, and it also inspires many people to pursue their own goals.