Qin Yinglin and his wife Qian Ying started a pig-breeding business with 22 pigs in 1992 and scaled Muyuan Foods into one of the world's largest hog producers, creating the family fortune through operating growth. [1][2][3]
Muyuan began with 22 pigs after an early industry job
Forbes says Qin was born in Henan province and worked for a state-run pork producer before starting his own business. He and Qian Ying launched the venture in 1992 with only 22 pigs, giving the company a very small operating base. [1]
Forbes identifies Qin and Qian as the founders of Muyuan Foods, with the company dating its founding to 1992. The record ties the origin of the business to their own agricultural venture rather than to an inherited livestock company. [3]
Muyuan later developed feed production, breeding, hog farming, slaughtering and meat processing at industrial scale. Forbes says the company reached annual pig-farming capacity of about 80 million head, far beyond the founders' initial herd. [1][3]
Founder ownership grew with one of the industry's largest operators
Forbes reported in 2026 that Muyuan had become the world's corporate leader in hog sales by volume and sold nearly 78 million hogs in 2025. Qin remained chairman and chief executive until stepping down from the board in June 2026. [2]
The reviewed evidence supports a primarily self-created fortune. Qin began with a tiny operating herd, spent decades scaling the business and retained founder ownership as Muyuan became a major public food company. [1][2]
Sources for background
Sources reviewed Sep 22, 2026.
- Qin Yinglin · Forbes · Mar 10, 2026
- China Hog Billionaire's Son Joins Board Of Global Leader Muyuan · Forbes · Jun 23, 2026
- Muyuan Foods · Forbes · Jun 24, 2026
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