OC500 2025: CHARLIE ZHANG

CHARLIE ZHANG 

FOUNDER 

ZION ENTERPRISES 

WHY: Longtime philanthropist and founder of real estate development company Zion Enterprises. Previously founded Chinese fast-food chain Pick Up Stix, which he built to 85 stores before selling it to TGI Fridays in 2001 for $50M. A second food and beverage business he started after Pick Up Stix with his wife, Ling, Aseptic Solutions, sold for $60M.  

IN THE NEWS: Gave $500K gift to support Bowers Museum’s exhibit World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century, which he served as lead chair. Awarded the Business Journal’s Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award on March 20.  

NOTABLE: Grew up in Shanghai, where his family ran a coffee roasting business. Arrived in Southern California in 1980 at the age of 24 with $20. Doesn’t open restaurants anymore, saying “that’s a young person’s game.” Recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and honorary degrees from Concordia University and California State University, Fullerton. Backs Orange County Music & Dance nonprofit performing arts school and Pacific Symphony. He and his wife, Ling, donated the $6.2M building that houses the symphony’s headquarters. On the board of directors of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. 

QUOTABLE: “The community raised me up. That encourages me to want to give back.”