Zhang Jike at a Glance
- Net Worth (2025): $20 Million
- Birthdate: February 16, 1988
- Birthplace: Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Profession: Professional Table Tennis Player
- Nationality: Chinese
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What is Zhang Jike’s Net Worth?
Zhang Jike has a net worth of $20 million. He is one of the most decorated and celebrated professional table tennis players in the history of the sport. His wealth was primarily accumulated through tournament prize money and, more substantially, from massive national and international endorsement deals during the peak of his career.
Zhang became the fastest player in history to achieve a career “Grand Slam,” making him one of China’s most marketable and highest-earning athletes for many years. His income was derived from major sponsorships with brands like Anta, Butterfly, and FAW-Toyota.
However, his financial status faced significant turmoil. In 2023, Zhang was at the center of a major public scandal involving alleged large gambling debts and the sharing of private videos of his ex-girlfriend. As a direct result of these allegations, nearly all of his major sponsors, including Anta and Toyota, publicly terminated their partnerships with him. This mass cancellation of contracts delivered a severe blow to his earnings.
Early Life
Zhang Jike was born on February 16, 1988, in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. His father, Zhang Chuanming, was a professional table tennis coach who began training his son at the age of four. This intensive, early focus on the sport set the foundation for his disciplined and aggressive playstyle. He was selected for the Shandong provincial team at 12 and joined the Chinese national team in 2003.
Career
Zhang Jike’s career is defined by his meteoric rise and historic achievements. After joining the national team, he began to make his mark, but his true ascent to legendary status started in 2011. That year, he won the World Table Tennis Championships in Rotterdam. He followed this just months later by winning the 2011 World Cup in Paris.
This incredible run culminated at the 2012 London Olympics, where he won the gold medal in the men’s singles event. By winning these three major titles, he completed the “Grand Slam” of table tennis in a record 445 days, the fastest player ever to do so.
He continued to be a dominant force, winning the World Table Tennis Championships again in 2013 and the World Cup in 2014. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he was a key part of the gold-medal-winning Chinese men’s team and also secured the silver medal in the men’s singles. His intense, powerful, two-winged attacking style made him a global icon in the sport.
At the height of his fame, Zhang Jike was a commercial powerhouse in China. His status as a Grand Slam winner and national hero attracted lucrative sponsorship deals. He was the face of sports apparel giant Anta, table tennis equipment manufacturer Butterfly, and carmaker FAW-Toyota, among many others. In 2016, he was reportedly the second-highest-earning athlete in China.
This financial success came to an abrupt halt in 2023. Following the explosive scandal involving his alleged gambling debts and the misuse of his ex-girlfriend’s private videos, his sponsors distanced themselves. Anta, Toyota, Nutrend, and Nivea all publicly announced the termination of their contracts, effectively ending his status as a top-tier brand ambassador.
