Lin Tsung-chi, an 85-year-old former carpenter, now tops Taiwan's wealth rankings. His company, King Slide, started in 1986 making hinges and drawer slides for furniture. But in 2001, it began producing rails for server racks — a niche that exploded with the rise of AI data centers.

The Wall Street Journal reports that King Slide now controls about 80% of the global market for server rails. In the second quarter of 2026, its gross margin hit 87%, up from 50% in 2020. That's higher than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's 68% and Nvidia's 75% — a remarkable figure even for the AI era, according to analysts.

From door handles to data centers

Lin's journey began in 1941. He worked as a carpenter at a furniture factory, then at 36 founded a small workshop making door handles with just one metalworking shop. The business later shifted to complex furniture hinges, and in 1986, King Slide was born.

The turning point came in late 2000, when Compaq ordered the first sliding server rails. Soon, King Slide's product became its main revenue source, and it signed deals with IBM and Dell. The company listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in March 2005.

The AI boom has been a windfall. In 2024, US sales more than doubled, and revenue rose 76% year-over-year to 10.1 billion Taiwan dollars ($333 million). Net profit jumped 128% to 6.2 billion Taiwan dollars ($194.6 million). In 2025, revenue reached 17.5 billion Taiwan dollars ($563 million). Since the start of 2026, King Slide's stock has surged 280%.

Lin first appeared on Forbes' Taiwan rich list in 2025 with a $2.9 billion fortune. He owns 44% of the company directly, through his children, and via holding firms. His daughter, Shu-Chen, serves as CEO, and her husband, Wang Chun-chiang, is deputy CEO. Lin remains chairman.