Mainland China family wealth and family offices

How large is mainland China family wealth today?

The article on the economy of China describes a large domestic private sector that contributes approximately 60% of GDP, 80% of urban employment and 90% of new jobs. It counts 5.3 million millionaires in 2026, second only to the United States, and 539 billionaires according to Forbes in March 2026 (Wikipedia, Economy of China).

Behind these figures stand founders and their families, many of whom own or steer the companies they built. For a family office, the first question concerns the mix of assets: shares of the operating company, property, financial assets and holdings abroad. The mix decides which advisers and structures the family needs, and it shows how much of the wealth depends on one company.

Why is the first handover arriving for mainland China founders?

Economic reforms began under the policy of reform and opening up in 1978, and many private companies grew in the decades that followed. The founders of those companies are now at an age where the question of who leads next, and who owns what, becomes practical. The first generation of wealth holders wrote the rules as they went.

The second generation often grew up with different experiences: study abroad, careers in finance or technology and a wish to build their own paths. A plan therefore starts with listening. Ask each heir what role they want, and compare the answers with the needs of the company and of the household. Some heirs wish to lead, some prefer to own, and some choose a different career.

How do capital controls shape mainland China family choices?

An individual citizen can transfer around US$50,000 of foreign currency a year, and transfers above the quota need approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (Wikipedia, Capital controls in China). Rules in this area change over time, and regulators have acted against unauthorized offshore investment services aimed at mainland investors.

The practical point is compliance. Plan every cross-border step with advisers licensed in mainland China, keep records of the source and purpose of funds and use only routes that the rules recognize. A family office can hold the checklist and the documents, while the licensed advisers give the legal answers. Review the checklist each year, since the rules and the family both change.

How can a mainland China founder separate company and family wealth?

Many founders hold most wealth inside the company, so a sale or a dividend is the only route to the household. Start with a map: what the company owns, what the founder owns personally and what the family owns together. Then decide how much wealth the household should hold outside the company.

Tools include dividends within the rules, planned share sales, holding companies and trusts, each with tax effects that mainland advisers explain. Research on family firms offers the three-circles model of family, ownership and management, which separates the roles that people hold (Wikipedia, Family business). A relative can own without managing. Write the owner rights and the manager duties on separate pages.

Where does a family office fit for mainland China families?

A family office can sit at home, in Hong Kong or in Singapore, and some families use two. Hong Kong shares language and time zone with the mainland and hosts banks that serve mainland clients. Singapore offers a base for families who also invest in ASEAN. Compare both, and read the guide on family offices in Asia for the full picture.

The role of the office is coordination: collect reports from banks and advisers, track currency exposure across USD, SGD, HKD and JPY (EQOS Asia private page, 2026), keep a record of decisions and prepare the family for meetings. Each country keeps its own rules, so the office works alongside local advisers and supports them. Agree who reports to whom in writing.

How do heirs who live abroad change a mainland China family plan?

When heirs live and work in Singapore, Hong Kong or further away, the family deals with several tax residencies, several banks and several sets of law. A plan lists where each heir lives, which country taxes which income and which documents each country requires.

Communication matters as much as structure. Hold regular family meetings, online or in person, and keep the language simple. A shared calendar, a shared document folder and a named coordinator keep everyone on the same page, and they reduce the surprises that damage trust between generations. Families that meet twice a year often settle questions before they become disputes.

How can a mainland China family start planning with a family office?

Start with 3 lists: assets by country, heirs by city and advisers by role. Add the company, with its owners and managers. Draw the three circles of family, ownership and management. Share the drawing with the family, and ask each member to mark where they stand.

A free 30-minute pre-diagnostic with EQOS Asia helps you place your case (EQOS Asia private page, 2026). This page is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice, as of October 2026. Confirm every legal and tax point with advisers licensed in mainland China and in any other country where your family holds assets.

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About the author

Stéphane Jambu

President, EQOS Forecast Asia

Stéphane Jambu leads EQOS Forecast Asia and works as a consultant in e-commerce, search visibility, and AI. LinkedIn profile