Who is Terry Gou? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Guo Tai-ming

Age: 74 Years, 74 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Delia Tseng (m. 2008), Serena Lin (m. 1974–2005)

children: Gou Shou-shan, Gou Shou-zheng, Gou Xiao-ling, Gou Xiao-ru

Electronics Entrepreneurs Libra Entrepreneurs

Founder/Co-Founder: Foxconn

More Facts

education: Taipei College of Maritime Technology (1966–1971)

Recommended For You

1

What is Terry Gou known for?

Terry Gou is known for founding Foxconn Technology Group, a multinational electronics contract manufacturing company.
2

What is the current role of Terry Gou in Foxconn?

Terry Gou currently serves as the chairman of Foxconn Technology Group.
3

What are some major products manufactured by Foxconn under Terry Gou's leadership?

Under Terry Gou's leadership, Foxconn has been involved in manufacturing products such as iPhones, iPads, and other electronic devices for companies like Apple.
4

How has Terry Gou contributed to the growth of Foxconn?

Terry Gou has played a key role in expanding Foxconn's operations globally and establishing it as one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world.
5

What are some challenges faced by Terry Gou in his career?

Terry Gou has faced challenges related to labor practices and working conditions at Foxconn's factories, as well as issues related to supply chain disruptions and global economic changes.

Recommended Lists:

Taiwanese People

Taiwanese Business People

Childhood & Early Life

Terry Gou was born on October 8, 1950 in Banqiao, Taipei County, Taiwan. His father was a career police officer. His parents had lived in mainland China’s Shanxi Province until 1949 when they fled to Taiwan.

He was the first-born son of the couple. He had two younger brothers, Tai-Chiang Gou and Tony Gou both of whom became successful businessmen as well.

Gou received his formal education from an elementary school post which he attended college.

Continue Reading Below

Career

Upon graduating from college, Terry Gou started working in a rubber factory. His early days also included stints working at a grinding wheel and a medicine plant. Working odd jobs continued until he turned 24.

In 1974, Gou founded his own company Hon Hai. With as little as just $7500 and a staff of ten elderly workers, he started the business of manufacturing plastic parts of television sets in a rented shed in Tucheng, a suburb of Taipei.

The initial breakthrough in Gou’s career came when he received an order to make console joystick from Atari in 1980. Not only did it give his business a new prospect but it also helped him in achieving economic prosperity.

With a vision to further expand his career, Gou went on an 11-month trip to the US, looking for customers. Blessed with aggressive sales skills, he contacted many companies despite being uninvited and managed to get additional orders.

In 1988, Gou set up his first factory in mainland China in Shenzhen. Till date, the factory remains the largest one amongst the many that he has. Expansion took a colossal size when he started vertically integrating the assembly process. The campus site where his factory was located turned into a single-place solution for Gou with all facilities streamlined within it – housing, hospital, dinning, chicken farming, and even burial ground.

In 1996, Gou’s company, Hon Hai started building chassis for Compaq desktops. It turned out to be a highly profitable venture for Gou. Very soon Gou started building bare bones chassis for other high-profile customers including HP and IBM. When Gou inked a deal with Apple Inc, it marked the beginning of an era of unprecedented growth and profitability for his company.

Hon Hai, which was soon re-christened with a trade name Foxconn, became a giant in consumer electronics production. With a clientele comprising top brands under its belt, it rose phenomenally, becoming the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer.

In 2012, Foxconn acquired a 10 percent stake in the Japanese electronics company Sharp Corporation, for US $806 million, and purchased up to 50 percent of the LCDs produced at Sharp's plant in Sakai, Japan. Four years later, Foxcomm bought the company, making it the first foreign takeover of a major Japanese electronics company. Foxconn also acquired Nokia mobiles in 2016.

Gou’s company, though known globally as a manufacturing giant, has acquired a bad reputation due to the spate of suicides committed by Foxconn workers. At least 14 workers killed themselves in 2010 due to poor working conditions in the Foxconn factories.

Continue Reading Below

Major Works

Terry Gou’s career touched great heights after his company started building chassis for Compaq desktops in 1996. This served as the biggest breakthrough for Foxconn as the company went on to become the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer.

As per company reports in 2015, Foxconn generated a revenue of $136.12 billion, making it the fourth-largest information technology company by revenue. Gou’s net worth which was worth $5.6 billion in 2016 rose dramatically to $10.6 billion in 2017, as per a report by Forbes. Foxconn also holds the position of the largest private employer in China and one of the largest employers worldwide.

Personal Life

Terry Gou’s first wife was Serena Lin. The couple welcomed two children, a son and a daughter. While Gou’s son works in the film and real estate industries, his daughter who worked in the financial sector took up leadership of her mother's charity after the latter’s death in 2005.

In 2007, Gou’s youngest brother, Tony Gou died of leukaemia. The following year, he married his second wife, choreographer Delia Tseng on July 26. Tseng and Gou have three children. Together, they have decided to give 90% of Gou's wealth away.

Gou has been involved in a lot of charitable works. He has funded non government organizations and charitable institutions.

Facts About Terry Gou

Terry Gou is known for his love of singing and has been seen performing at various events and gatherings.

He is a skilled calligrapher and enjoys practicing this traditional art form in his free time.

Terry Gou is a dedicated philanthropist, having donated significant amounts of his wealth to various charitable causes and organizations.

He has a passion for collecting luxury watches and is often seen sporting rare and unique timepieces.

Terry Gou is an avid golfer and has been known to organize charity golf tournaments to raise funds for important causes.

Terry Gou Biography

You wanted to know

What is Terry Gou known for?

What is the current role of Terry Gou in Foxconn?

What are some major products manufactured by Foxconn under Terry Gou's leadership?

How has Terry Gou contributed to the growth of Foxconn?

What are some challenges faced by Terry Gou in his career?