Ma Huateng

Born on October 29, 1971, in Chaoyang, Guangdong Province, China, Ma Huateng has played a pivotal role in shaping China's digital landscape. Tencent, under Ma's leadership, has grown from its humble beginnings in 1998 as a provider of instant messaging services into a global powerhouse encompassing social networking, entertainment, artificial intelligence, and more. The company's flagship products include WeChat (known as Weixin in China), QQ, and various online games, making it a leader in both social media and online entertainment sectors. Ma Huateng is recognized for his strategic vision and leadership, guiding Tencent to innovate and expand its influence not only in China but also globally. His entrepreneurial success has earned him recognition as one of the wealthiest individuals in China and the world.

Ma Huateng's entrepreneurial journey and Tencent's evolution into one of China's most influential tech companies.

• Ma Huateng was born in Chaoyang, Shantou, Guangdong. 
• When his father, Ma Chenshu, took a job as a port manager in Shenzhen, young Ma moved with him. 
• He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Applied Engineering from Shenzhen University in 1993.
• Worked at China Motion Telecom Development, developing software for pagers, earning $176 per month.
• Also worked at Shenzhen Runxun Communications Co. Ltd. in Internet calling services R&D.
• Co-founded Tencent in 1998 with four classmates, inspired by ICQ.
• Launched OICQ (Open ICQ) in February 1999, later renamed QQ, becoming popular with over a million users by 1999.
• Secured funding from IDC and Pacific Century CyberWorks in 2000.
• Tencent faced arbitration from AOL over domain names in 2000, renaming the service to QQ.
• Expanded into online gaming, launching QQ.com in 2003 and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2004.
• Launched online gaming platform in 2004 and C2C platform Paipai.com in 2005.
• Launched WeChat in 2011, now the largest instant messaging platform globally.
• Tencent diversified into web portals, e-commerce, multiplayer online games, and healthcare services like internet hospitals.

Detailed information about his family members is not extensively documented.

• Ma Huateng, often referred to by the nickname Pony derived from the English translation of his family name Ma (马), meaning "horse," maintains a low public profile and is known for his secretive lifestyle.
• His wealth primarily stems from a 9.7 percent stake in Tencent Holdings. Ma reportedly owns property in Hong Kong and possesses art pieces valued at approximately US$150 million. He also owns a sprawling, redeveloped residence spanning 1,820 m2 (19,600 sq ft) in Hong Kong.
• On April 28, 2018, Ma Huateng's book "China on Fingertips" was officially launched, detailing China's social transformation into a mobile Internet powerhouse.