Meet Chinese woman who was richer that Elon Musk, Bill Gates

Meet Chinese woman who was richer that Elon Musk, Bill Gates

Wealth has always been a measure of influence, with some of history’s most powerful people amassing fortunes that seem unimaginable.

Today, names like Elon Musk and Bill Gates dominate conversations about wealth, but their combined net worth is absolutely nothing compared to one of China’s emperors.

Wu Zetian, better known as Empress Wu, was not only the first and only female emperor of China but also the richest woman to have ever lived.

Her reign during the Tang Dynasty (624–705 AD) saw China control around 23% of the global economy, making her wealth in today’s terms a staggering £12 trillion, according to a report from SCMP.

For comparison, Musk’s net worth is estimated to be around £339 billion and Gates’ at £83 billion. This means that even combined they are worth £11 trillion less than Empress Wu.

China: Wu Zetian (Empress Wu), 624-705, Empress Regnant of the Zhou Dynasty (r.690-705).
Born in Shanxi Province in 624 AD, Wu came from a wealthy family with strong ties to the imperial court.

At just 14, she joined the palace of Emperor Taizong as a secretary, where she gained the education and political skills that would later propel her to power.

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