Origins & Early Life

Ma Yun (Chinese: 马云; pinyin: Mǎ Yún; born 10 September 1964), also known as Jack Ma, is a Chinese businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of the Jack Ma Foundation, and co-founder of Alibaba Group and Yunfeng Capital. He is one of the richest men in China with a net worth of approx US$27.5 billion. After taking the gaokao three times, Ma earned a bachelor's degree in English from Hangzhou Normal University in 1988 and was assigned as a lecturer at Hangzhou Dianzi University.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A pioneer of Internet business in China, he founded a translation agency in 1994 and launched its website the following year, before leaving his university position to run an online yellow pages service, which was acquired by China Telecommunications Corporation in 1996. Following an uneasy collaboration with the state-owned enterprise, Ma left the company in 1997 and went on to develop websites for China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. In 1999, he co-founded Alibaba Group, initially as a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce marketplace and later expanded into a multinational conglomerate. Ma has been the face of Chinese entrepreneurship. His influence declined after Chinese authorities...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abedi Pele — Contemporary (Born in 1964) (1964): Legendary Ghanaian footballer, celebrated for his attacking prowess and leadership.
• Adam Yauch — Contemporary (Born in 1964) (1964): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Angela James — Contemporary (Born in 1964) (1964): Pioneering Canadian ice hockey star, celebrated for her dominance in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Agostinho Neto — Shared historical date (09-10 · Died) (1979): Angolan communist revolutionary, poet, and first President of Angola.
• Alonso de Guzmán y Sotomayor, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia — Shared historical date (09-10 · Born) (1550): Spanish aristocrat and patron, famed for his role in the 1588 Spanish Armada.
• Ann Powers — Historical peer (Born in 1964) (1964): American writer and acclaimed popular music critic.
• Arvydas Sabonis — Historical peer (Born in 1964) (1964): Legendary Lithuanian center, celebrated for his international prowess and enduring career.
• Adele — Historical peer (Born in 1988) (1988): Iconic English singer-songwriter celebrated for powerful mezzo-soprano vocals.
• Alan Paton — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Pioneering South African author and fierce anti-apartheid activist.
• Alexia Putellas — Historical peer (Born in 1994) (1994): One of the greatest female footballers, known for her midfield brilliance and success with Barcelona and Spain.
• 1964 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1964
• September 10 (09-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 10