7. Zhenli Ye Gon
Fortune: $300 Million
Born in Shanghai, China and later became a Mexican citizen, Zhenili Ye Gon is the owner of Unimed Pharm Chem México. Ye Gon’s company, Unimed, had gotten contracts from the Mexican government to import pseudoephedrine and ephedrine into the country ranging from 2002 to 2004. Back then, these products were commonly included in over the counter medication such as cold remedies. However, since they were also key to manufacturing methamphetamine, the Mexican government officials audited Unimed closely; even after the company’s license to import these products ended in 2005. Ye Gon eventually faced allegations that he and some of his colleagues continued to import unauthorized chemicals into the country. The US Department Of Justice filed an indictment against Ye Gon stating that four shipments were part of a larger conspiracy to support methamphetamine importation. Some sources claim that Ye Gon is part of the Sinaloa Cartel, the international crime empire which the United States Intelligence Community has described as “the world’s most powerful organization trafficking drugs”. With cases against him in both US and Mexico, Ye Gon was eventually arrested in Maryland and incarcerated. His assets were seized from his Mexico City residence, and included $200 millions and many more millions in Mexican pesos, hundreds thousands of euros and Hong Kong dollars, and vast amounts of jewels, Mexican gold bullion coins, an arsenal of guns, cars and property.
