Entrepreneur behind the Subor and BBK electronics empire (the family that produced Oppo, Vivo and OnePlus), often called "China's Buffett".
Life story
Duan Yongping was born in 1961 in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, China (Wikipedia gives two different dates — January 4 and March 10). He entered Zhejiang University in 1978 to study radio electronics engineering, later earning a master's in econometrics from Renmin University and an EMBA from CEIBS. Little is available in English-language sources about his family or childhood.
He is a US citizen. In 2006 he and NetEase founder William Ding Lei donated $40 million to Zhejiang University — at the time the largest gift to Chinese higher education.
How they got started
After working at the Beijing Radio Tube Factory, Duan in 1989 became director of a small, struggling electronics factory in Zhongshan (just 20 workers) and turned it into a leading maker of "learning computers" and game consoles under the Subor brand. In August 1995 he left Subor and founded BBK Electronics in Dongguan, initially making DVD players. The BBK family later produced smartphone brands such as Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, iQOO and Realme.
His best-known investment was buying struggling NetEase shares in 2002–2004, becoming its second-largest shareholder after Ding Lei (over 10% at peak). In 2006–2007 he paid $620,100 for a charity lunch with Warren Buffett (the money went to the Glide Foundation). He invests in US stocks mainly through H&H International Investment.
Investment style
Duan considers himself a Buffett disciple: he buys businesses he understands, with strong brands and business models, at sensible prices, and holds them for a long time. For example, he has invested in Kweichow Moutai (a Chinese liquor maker) since 2012 and judges it on a ten-year horizon.
He concentrates in a small number of large positions and believes a short-term sales slowdown doesn't change a company's long-term value. He shares his views openly on Chinese social media.
Best decisions
NetEase (2002–2004)
He took more than 10% of NetEase when it was struggling after the dot-com crash; the company went on to become one of China's largest internet and gaming firms.
The BBK ecosystem
His entrepreneurial school and corporate culture gave rise to Oppo and Vivo, among the world's largest smartphone brands — his biggest achievement as a business builder.
Long-term conviction in Moutai (2012–)
He has held Moutai since 2012 and added to it again in 2025 — an example of the Buffett principle of holding a great brand for the long run.
Biggest mistakes
Limited information
No reliable English-language sources were found detailing major investment mistakes by Duan.
Today
At 65 in 2026, Duan remains an active investor: he manages US stocks through H&H International Investment and also buys Chinese shares such as Moutai. In August 2026 he reportedly challenged Chinese fund managers to a ten-year, 100-million-yuan public bet on Moutai.
What to learn from following the portfolio
- Duan concentrates in few positions and holds them for years — long-held positions that keep growing show his strongest conviction.
- A 13F shows only US-listed stocks; his Chinese holdings (such as Moutai) don't appear here.
- 13Fs are up to 45 days late; copying is not a strategy — use it to study his ideas.
- From a halal perspective: he favours technology and consumer companies, which are often more likely to be halal; but alcohol producers (like Moutai) and financials are not. Check each position's halal status in the Portfolio tab.
An introduction based on public sources — not investment advice. Spotted an error? Let us know.