Lei Jufang (雷菊芳)

Age: 58

2011 net worth (US$): 1.05 billion

2010 net worth (US$): 1.55 billion

General ranking: 120

Company: Cheezheng Tibetan Medicine Group

Headquarters: Gansu

Title: Chairwoman and General Manager

Main focus: Pharmaceuticals

Lei Jufang was once a senior engineer at the Lanzhou Institute of Modern Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1993, Lei, who relishes in taking high risks, launched her business empire after become enamored with Tibetan plateau plants and minerals and their medicinal qualities. Since then, Cheezheng has become China's largest pharmaceutical company engaged in production of Tibetan medicine, with a product line mainly featuring ointments, adhesive plasters, bathing essence and capsules. Lei holds more than 45 percent of shares in the company, which was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2009.