Last Updated:

2024-02-27 02:45:56

Jack Ma

Chinese business magnate, philanthropist, and Alibaba co-founder.

Jack Ma, born in 1964, is the co-founder of Alibaba Group and Yunfeng Capital. He is one of the wealthiest individuals globally, known for his philanthropy and influence in Chinese business. Ma's entrepreneurial journey began in the 1990s, leading to the establishment of Alibaba in 1999. He has been recognized for his leadership and philanthropic efforts, supporting various communities worldwide.

Xi Jinping Jackie Chan Alibaba Jack Black Mark Zuckerberg Hu Jintao Ma Huateng Mao Zedong Baidu Jet Li

1964-09-10

Birth of Jack Ma

Jack Ma, also known as Ma Yun, was born on September 10, 1964, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. He is a Chinese entrepreneur and the co-founder of Alibaba Group, one of the world's largest e-commerce businesses.

1980

Meeting Ken Morley

In 1980, Jack Ma met Ken Morley, a member of the Australia-China Friendship Society, while practicing English with tourists. This encounter led to a long-lasting relationship that significantly impacted Ma's life.

1982

First Attempt at Chinese College Entrance Exam

In 1982, at the age of 18, Jack Ma failed the nation-wide Chinese college entrance exam on his initial attempt, facing challenges and rejection that would later shape his determination and resilience.

1983

Second Attempt at Chinese College Entrance Exam

In 1983, Jack Ma failed his college entrance exam for the second time, but showed improvement in his math score. Despite opposition from his family, he remained determined to pursue higher education.

1984

Third Attempt at Chinese College Entrance Exam

In 1984, Jack Ma took the college entrance exam for the third time, achieving a significant improvement in his math score and ultimately securing a place in Hangzhou Normal University's Department of English, marking a turning point in his academic journey.

1986

Graduation from Hangzhou Teachers College

Ma Yun graduated from Hangzhou Teachers College and started his career as an English teacher, earning a modest salary of $15 a month.

1988

Graduation from Hangzhou Normal University

In 1988, Jack Ma earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Hangzhou Normal University, marking the completion of his undergraduate studies and the beginning of his professional career.

1994

Establishing First Business Hangzhou Haibo Translation Agency

In 1994, Jack Ma embarked on establishing his first business, marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

1995-05-10

Registration of chinapages.com

On May 10, 1995, Jack Ma and his business partner registered the domain chinapages.com in the United States, marking the establishment of their second company, China Pages.

1999

Founding of Alibaba

Jack Ma launched Alibaba in 1999 from his Hangzhou apartment with a small team. The company later became one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world.

2000

Naming of Alibaba

Jack Ma chose the name 'Alibaba' for his company, inspired by the story of a young man willing to help others, reflecting Ma's values and vision for the company.

2003

Creation of Taobao

Jack Ma created Taobao, a consumer-to-consumer online marketplace, which became a significant competitor to eBay in the Chinese market.

2004

Ma Honored as Top 10 Economic Personalities of the Year

In 2004, Jack Ma was honored as one of the 'Top 10 Economic Personalities of the Year' by China Central Television (CCTV).

2005-09

Ma Selected as Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum

In September 2005, Jack Ma was selected as a 'Young Global Leader' by the World Economic Forum.

2007

Alibaba.com's IPO

Alibaba.com raised $1.7 billion dollars in its initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone for the company.

2008

Ma Featured as one of the World's Best CEOs by Barron's

In 2008, Jack Ma was featured as one of the 30 'World's Best CEOs' by Barron's.

2009-05

Time 100 Most Powerful People

In May 2009, Time magazine listed Ma as one of the world’s 100 most powerful people.

2010

Ma Selected as one of Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes Asia

In 2010, Jack Ma was selected by Forbes Asia as one of Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy for his contribution to disaster relief and poverty.

2013-11

Ma Awarded Honorary Doctoral Degree by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

In November 2013, Jack Ma was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

2014-09-24

Expressing views on American society and positive value system for China

On September 24, 2014, Jack Ma shared his views on the strength of American society, emphasizing the importance of a positive value system for China to overcome the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution.

2015-09

Jack Ma shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping

In September 2015, Jack Ma was pictured shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

2016

Ma Awarded the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour

In 2016, Jack Ma was awarded the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour by French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius.

2017-01-09

Meeting with President-elect Donald Trump

Ma met with United States President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower to discuss the potential of creating 1 million job openings in the United States through the expansion of Alibaba's business interests.

2017-09-08

Alibaba's 18th Anniversary Celebration

Ma appeared on stage and gave a Michael Jackson-inspired performance to celebrate Alibaba's 18th year of establishment.

2017-11-06

Ma's Acting Debut in Gong Shou Dao

In 2017, Jack Ma made his acting debut in the kung fu short film Gong Shou Dao, which was filmed in collaboration with the Double 11 Shopping Carnival Singles' Day.

2018-09-10

Announcement of Stepping Down as Executive Chairman

Ma announced that he would step down as executive chairman of Alibaba Group Holding in the coming year to focus on philanthropy through his foundation.

2018-12-18

Celebration Meeting for China's 'Reform and Opening Up' Policy

On December 18, 2018, Alibaba's co-founder Jack Ma attended a celebration meeting marking the 40th anniversary of China's 'reform and opening up' policy at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This event showcased the influential role of Jack Ma in China's economic development.

2019-05-16

Jack Ma delivers speech at Viva Technology show

Jack Ma delivered a speech to participants during the 4th edition of the Viva Technology show at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles in Paris, France. This event took place on May 16, 2019.

2020-10-01

Stepping Down from the Board of Alibaba

Ma stepped down from the board of Alibaba on October 1, 2020.

2020-10-24

Jack Ma criticizes China's financial regulatory system

On October 24, 2020, Jack Ma criticized China's financial regulatory system, stating that China was following global rules that are part of 'an old people's club' as Ant Group was gearing up for an IPO.

2020-11-02

Jack Ma offers parts of Ant Group to Chinese government

During a meeting with the Chinese government on November 2, 2020, Jack Ma offered to give parts of Ant Group to the Chinese government. Despite this offer, China proceeded with a rule change.

2020-12-23

Jack Ma's stake in Alibaba

In 2020, Jack Ma still owned an 8.9% stake in Alibaba when Chinese regulators launched an antitrust investigation into the company. This highlighted the ongoing involvement of Jack Ma in the company despite regulatory scrutiny.

2021-01-20

Public Appearance at Rural Teacher Initiative

Ma made a public appearance speaking via video link to a group of rural teachers at a charitable event, the annual Rural Teacher Initiative.

2022-11

Jack Ma resurfaced in Thailand

After vanishing from the public eye, Jack Ma reappeared in Thailand just hours before giving away control of his company. He was last seen in Japan in November 2022, where he was reported to have been living for six months after disappearing from public view following a Chinese crackdown on his businesses.

2023-01-06

Jack Ma's Net Worth Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite the impact of China's strict COVID-19 policies on his company's value, Jack Ma's net worth remained substantial, with a reported amount of over $31.4 billion as of January 6, 2023, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.

2023-01-07

Jack Ma Resurfaces in Thailand

Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Alibaba, reappeared in Thailand shortly before relinquishing his company. This event marks a significant development in his recent timeline of challenges and setbacks.

2023-03-27

Jack Ma's Appearance at Yungu School in Hangzhou

Jack Ma, the billionaire tech founder, made a rare appearance at Yungu School in Hangzhou, where he discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on education. His return to China after a year abroad has sparked speculation about the country's attitude towards its tycoons.

2023-06-19

Jack Ma's return to China after traveling abroad

After spending more than a year traveling abroad, Jack Ma returned to mainland China in June 2023, coinciding with signs of easing crackdown on the internet sector by authorities.

2023-11-08

Alibaba Group's Business Split and Reshuffle

Jack Ma's Alibaba Group underwent a business split and reshuffle in November 2023. Following these changes, Jack Ma's wealth increased to $25.1 billion upon his return to China.

2023-11-17

Alibaba's Market Value Drop and Jack Ma's Share Sale

Alibaba Group faced a $21 billion market value loss after suspending its cloud unit IPO and Jack Ma's decision to sell some shares. These events led to investor concerns and impacted Alibaba's stock.

2024-02-26

Ant Group's Fight for Credit Suisse's Chinese Business

Ant Group, led by Jack Ma, is reportedly competing with Citadel for Credit Suisse's Chinese business. This indicates a significant move in the financial sector.

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Jack Ma