Peggy Cherng

Peggy Cherng

Peggy Cherng (#525)

A lot of people in the restaurant business aren't educated as engineers. I have an advantage.

  • $ 7 B
  • Fast food
  • United States
  • F
  • 78 Years

About Me

Peggy Cherng is cofounder and co-CEO of Panda Express, the $6.2 billion (est. sales) Chinese fast-food chain with some 2,500 locations. Born in Myanmar, Cherng got a Ph.D. in electrical engineering in the U.S., then went to work for 3M and McDonnell Douglas, where she helped design battlefield simulators for the U.S. Navy. She left her engineering career to help her husband, Andrew Cherng, open Panda Express' first location in a Glendale, California, shopping mall in 1983. She implemented the company's sales and analytics software, earlier than many other restaurants, helping make Panda Express the dominant player among Asian limited-service chains in America. In 2018, the Cherngs invested in a group that bought the Mandarin Oriental hotel, now the Waldorf Astoria, in Las Vegas for $214 million.
About Images

Achievements

Career Highlights

A snapshot of the defining milestones, leadership decisions, and breakthroughs that shaped Peggy Cherng’s rise and global influence.

  • #487   Billionaires (2026)
  • #187   Forbes 400 (2025)
  • #29   World's Richest Self-Made Women (2025)
  • #11   America's Richest Self-Made Women (2025)

Wealth Growth

Net Worth Growth Over Time

Tracking Peggy Cherng’s net worth journey over the years, highlighting key growth phases and financial milestones.

Current Net Worth: $7.3B (May 4, 2026)

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