Jack Ma is a Chinese business mogul and philanthropist. Also called as Ma Yun, he is known for establishing the Alibaba Group, a prosperous group of internet based companies. Ma was born on September 10, 1964 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang region of China. After failing an entrance exam three times, he went on to attend the Hangzhou Teacher’s Institute and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Ma noticed the potential of the internet in the mid-90s and went on to play with different ideas and how they could be utilized. It was in 1995, that he started his first internet company and set up Alibaba in 1999 along with 17 friends. Apart from being highly business-oriented Ma is known for giving back generously to the community.
Let us now look at the illustrious Ma Family
Ma Parents
Jack Ma’s parents were traditional musicians from China, who also did some story telling in order to support their family. The family had limited means of income and Ma grew up in a poor household but a happy one. Jack was passionate about learning English and since they couldn’t afford the classes, this led him to ride his bike to a hotel nearby and interact with foreigners. It was one these friends from abroad who gave him the name Jack.
Ma Spouse – Zhang Ying
Jack is married to Zhang Ying, who he met while studying together at the Hangzhou Normal University, and wed right after graduation. She is Chinese and has constantly supported him in all his business related ventures. It was with the help of Zhang that Jack established his first company by investing in USD 20,000 and later on Alibaba. She is also involved in supporting many charities and organizations which stand for various social and environmental causes. To these she has made many donations, in millions too.
Jack Children – Ma Yuankun and 2 more
Jack and his wife Zhang Ying have a total of three children together. It is known that one of them is a boy named Ma Yuankun. He was born in the year 1992 and graduated from the University of California in Berkeley. The names of his other two children are not public yet.
Net Worth
As of 2015, Jack Ma has a net worth of USD 23.1 billion. This makes the man the 33rd richest person in the world and the 2nd richest in China.