“Better Quality and Better Price Than the Real Names”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Jack Ma
Ma Yun, 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.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
business · Chinese business magnate and investor (born 1964) · entrepreneur · philanthropist · businessperson · also Jack Ma, Ma Yun, Mǎ Yún, Jack Ma Yun, Teacher Ma Yun, Ma
Born 10 September 1964 · Q1137062
70 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
3 photos · 2 video
Video
Davos 2017 - An Insight, An Idea with Jack Ma
Jack Ma I've Had Lots Of Failures And Rejections - Davos 2015
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 2 entries
“I even went to KFC when it came to my city. Twenty-four people went for the job. Twenty-three were accepted. I was the only guy [rejected] ...”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
2025· 3 entries
The Guardian: Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma implicated in intimidation campaign by Chinese regime
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Xi Jinping tells Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Chinese tech chiefs to ‘show their talent’
- #news
- #headline
In May 2025, Time Magazine chose Jack Ma as one of its Time100 Philanthropy honorees for his contributions through his foundation, during COVID-19, and for his rural teacher initiative.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #philanthropy
2024· 1 entry
Alibaba Group and its B2B e commerce site also pledged to reduce packaging materials using AI and pushed for reusing practices to increase conservation
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2023· 3 entries
PolitiFact rated the claim “Video shows Elon Musk and Jack Ma presenting “a new software called ‘Quantum AI.’”” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
The Guardian: Alibaba founder Jack Ma seen in China after months of absence
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Jack Ma to give up control of China’s Ant Group, firm says
- #news
- #headline
2022· 1 entry
Ma moved to Tokyo, Japan, largely retreating from the public life
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2021· 6 entries
BOOM Fact Check rated the claim “Video shows Jack Ma repairing an AC” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Video shows Chinese tech billionaire Jack Ma in Malaysia after ‘disappearance’” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
The Guardian: The strange case of Alibaba's Jack Ma and his three-month vanishing act
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Chinese billionaire Jack Ma makes first public appearance in months
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Where is Jack Ma? Chinese tycoon not seen since October
- #news
- #headline
Alibaba pledged to become carbon neutral in its operations by 2030
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2020· 10 entries
The Guardian: China orders Alibaba founder Jack Ma to pare down fintech empire
- #news
- #headline
BOOM Fact Check rated the claim “Photo shows Chinese billionaire Jack Ma as a child.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Photo shows Chinese billionaire Jack Ma as a child” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
News Mobile rated the claim “Jack Ma said: For people in business, 2020 is really just a year for staying alive” FALSE..
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
India Today rated the claim “According to Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma, 2020 is the year of staying alive and not a time to dream or plan.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
BOOM Fact Check rated the claim “Video show billionaire businessman Jack Ma praising China's response to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Video shows Jack Ma praising China’s response to COVID-19 in speech” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation launched various initiatives, some of which involved donating medical supplies to the United States as well as various countries in Asia
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Following his public criticism of regulators for prioritizing risk aversion over innovation
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation launched various initiatives, some of which involved donating medical supplies to the United States as well as various countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #philanthropy
2019· 6 entries
India Today rated the claim “Childhood photo of Chinese business tycoon and co-founder of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma.” Half true.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
FACTLY rated the claim “Photo of Jack Ma.” FALSE.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Forbes named Ma in its list of "Asia's 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy" and awarded him the Malcolm S
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Reported net worth: $37.3B (as of 2019).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #net-worth
To give his views on the future, Ma again stated that 996 was currently a "huge blessing" necessary to achieve success, but went on to state that artificial intelligence technology might lead to a better life of leisure
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Jack Ma and Elon Musk debated, taking opposing views on AI and its potential risks and rewards
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2018· 2 entries
Awarded Pioneer of Reform (2018).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
In September 2018, Ma started the Jack Ma Foundation and announced that he would retire from Alibaba to pursue educational work, philanthropy, and environmental causes.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #philanthropy
2017· 4 entries
Fortune ranked Ma second on its World's 50 Greatest Leaders list
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Ma advocated for the use of big data and AI as a means to implement elements of a planned economy, stating that this technology would eliminate the information gaps that limited planned economic models historically
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Ma made his acting debut with his first kung fu short film Gong Shou Dao, directed by Wen Zhang and produced by Jet Li
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
A KPMG survey ranked Ma third in global tech innovation visionary survey
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2016· 2 entries
Awarded Knight of the Legion of Honour (2016).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Was awarded the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour by French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2015· 3 entries
Also founded the Hupan School, a business school
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Asian Award honoured him with the Entrepreneur of the Year award
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Alibaba launched a nonprofit organization, Alibaba Hong Kong Young Entrepreneurs Foundation, which supports Hong Kong entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2014· 2 entries
Alibaba had a record-breaking IPO of $25 billion
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Was ranked as the 30th-most-powerful person in the world in an annual ranking published by Forbes
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2013· 2 entries
Awarded Financial Times Person of the Year (2013).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Became chairman of the board for The Nature Conservancy's China Program; this was one day after he stepped down from Alibaba as company CEO
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2011· 1 entry
It was announced that one of his companies had gained control of Alipay, formerly a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, so as to "comply with Chinese law governing payment companies in order to secure a license to continue oper
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2010· 2 entries
Ma made clear with regards to the lack of his technical expertise by revealing to the public that he had never written a line of computer code, nor had ever made one sale to a customer, and that he only acquired a person
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Ma was selected by Forbes Asia as one of Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy for his contribution to disaster relief and poverty
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2009· 2 entries
Ma became a trustee of The Nature Conservancy's China program, and in 2010 he joined the global Board of Directors of the organization
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And joined its global board of directors in April 2010
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2008· 2 entries
Alibaba donated $808,000 to victims of the Sichuan earthquake
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Barron's featured him as one of the 30 "World's Best CEOs"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2004· 2 entries
Ma was honoured as one of the "Top 10 Economic Personalities of the Year" by China Central Television (CCTV)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“When you have one billion dollars, that's not your money. That's the trust the society gives [to] you.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
1999· 3 entries
Quit and returned to Hangzhou with his team to establish Alibaba, a Hangzhou-based business-to-business marketplace site in his apartment with a group of 18 friends
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: président-directeur général (1999–2019).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Co-founded Alibaba Group, initially as a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce marketplace and later expanded into a multinational conglomerate
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1997· 1 entry
And went on to develop websites for China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1994· 2 entries
Ma heard about the Internet and also started his first company, Hangzhou Hope Translation Agency (杭州海博翻译社), and launched its website the next year
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1988· 4 entries
Career landmark: teacher (1988–1999).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Ma applied for 31 different odd entry-level jobs and was rejected for every single one
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Ma earned a BA degree in English from Hangzhou Normal University
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And was assigned as a lecturer at Hangzhou Dianzi University
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1983· 1 entry
Ma failed his college entrance exam for the second time
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1982· 1 entry
At the age of 18, Ma failed the Chinese college entrance exam on his initial attempt, obtaining only 1 point in mathematics
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1980· 1 entry
While he was riding his bike to practice English with tourists, he met Ken Morley, who was traveling with his family with the Australia-China Friendship Society
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1964· 1 entry
Born 1964-09-10.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth