Ma Huateng

Ma Huateng, along with several friends, founded Tencent Holdings Ltd. in 1998. The company later launched the QQ service, which became one of China's most popular instant-messaging platforms.

In 1989, Ma Huateng started his academic journey by enrolling in Shenzhen University.

In 1993, Ma Huateng successfully completed his studies and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Shenzhen University.

Ma Huateng founded Tencent in November 1998 with a university classmate. Their first product was an instant messaging software called QQ, similar to AOL's ICQ chat, which became China's largest instant-messaging platform.

In 2000, Ma Huateng secured investments from US investment firm IDC and Hong Kong's telecom carrier Pacific Century CyberWorks, which bought 40 percent of Tencent's shares for US$2.2 million. This investment helped Tencent grow and expand its messaging platform.

In 2007, Ma Huateng was recognized by Time magazine as one of the most influential individuals globally.

In 2009, Huateng made a statement to China Daily.

Tencent introduced WeChat in 2011, a mobile instant-messaging app that quickly gained popularity with 650 million users by late 2015.

In 2014, Time magazine included Ma Huateng in their prestigious list of the most influential people worldwide.

Ma Huateng, also known as 'Pony' Ma, became one of the wealthiest individuals in China due to Tencent's immense success.

On November 28, 2017, Ma Huateng, the founder of Tencent, shared insights on how technology is influencing the global economy. The discussion focused on the role of innovation and technology in shaping economic landscapes worldwide.

On April 28, 2018, Ma Huateng's book 'China on Fingertips' was officially launched, detailing China's social transformation as a mobile Internet power. The book provided insights into China's digital evolution.

A biography of Ma Huateng, the CEO of Tencent, was published by Udit Agarwal on April 4, 2020.

Tencent's Ma Huateng surpassed Jack Ma to become China's richest person again in 2020. The rise in Tencent's stock value was attributed to the increased demand for mobile games during the coronavirus lockdowns.

Tencent CEO Ma Huateng reclaimed the title of China's richest person in 2021. China has the second-largest number of billionaires in the world, and Ma Huateng's wealth surged amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 27, 2024, China's Weibo platform removed fake images that depicted Pony Ma, the founder of Tencent, as rapidly aging. The incident caused a stir on social media and highlighted the issue of misinformation and fake news.