Ma Huateng – higher referred to as “Pony Ma” – is the founder and CEO of China’s tech main Tencent.
Ma Huateng, also called Pony Ma, is among the richest individuals on the planet. He’s behind the Shenzhen, China-based web and leisure big Tencent, greatest recognized for WeChat messaging app and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). However to many, particularly in India, the frequent individuals nonetheless don’t appear to have a lot of a background of who Ma is. That being mentioned, listed here are some lesser-known details concerning the billionaire CEO of Tencent – the equal of Facebook or Google in China.
# Ma Huateng’s nickname is Pony Ma. Pony’s surname Ma is the Chinese language phrase for horse: therefore his nickname. Actually, Tencent’s Chinese language title, teng xin, can be horse-based.
#Ma Huateng was born in 1971, in Dongfang, Hainan, China. He’s mentioned to have a modest background as his father was a port supervisor, in Shenzhen. In 1989, Ma enrolled at Shenzhen College to check software program engineering. Ma is a long-time Nationwide Folks’s Congress (NPC) delegate.
#After graduating with a bachelor’s diploma in pc science from Shenzhen College, Ma began his profession as a programmer with China Movement Telecom Improvement, an organization recognized for growing software program for pagers. He reportedly used to earn $176 (Rs 12,891) per thirty days. After leaving CMMobile, Ma landed a job at Shenzhen Runxun Communications. He labored there within the analysis and improvement division for Web calling providers.
WeChat, known as Weixin in China, is a well-liked app that behaves like WhatsApp, Uber and Instagram.
#In 1998, aged 27, Ma together with 4 of his classmates, co-founded Tencent. The corporate’s first product was the Web instantaneous messaging service software program QICQ or Open ICQ. Regardless that QICQ was a rip off of Israeli instantaneous messaging ICQ, the service turned extraordinarily widespread in China inside months of launch. At one cut-off date, QICQ had 350 million customers in China. Tencent later modified the title of the service to QQ after AOL (American On-line} filed a lawsuit for violating QICQ’s domains.
#The large second got here in Ma’s life when he launched WeChat in 2011. WeChat is China’s hottest messaging service, simply behind Fb’s WhatsApp and Messenger. Many say it’s inconceivable to speak in China with out WeChat. The app, which has over a billion customers, can be utilized for funds, reserving cabs, buying and even taking part in video games.
#Ma, 48, is China’s richest man with a internet value of over $52 billion, based on Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He holds a 9.7 per cent possession of Tencent. Not many know that Prosus, a subsidiary of South African shopper web conglomerate Naspers, owns 31 per cent of Tencent. The stake is at present value over $120 billion.
Tencent for a 40 per cent possession stake in Epic, the studio behind Fortnite.
#Ma’s Tencent can be the most important video video games writer on the earth. His firm owns 100 per cent stake in Riot Video games, which is greatest recognized for the favored sport League of Legends. Tencent additionally owns a 40 per cent stake in Fortnite studio, Epic Video games, and has a stake in Bluehole, the developer behind PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). It additionally poured in $8.6 billion to accumulate 84.Three per cent stake in Helsinki-based Supercell, the studio behind Conflict of Clans and Conflict Royale. The Chinese language tech firm additionally has minority stakes in Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard. About 60 per cent of Tencent’s $19.13 billion in gaming income final 12 months got here from cellular video games.
#In 2011, Ma’s Tencent turned the first Chinese language firm to go the US$500 billion inventory market valuation mark, overtaking Fb. Earlier this 12 months, in July, Tencent’s market capitalization as soon as once more surpassed Fb’s market valuation mark. Tencent’s market capitalization at present hovers over $509.7 billion.
#Through the years, Ma’s Tencent has made investments in quite a few huge tech corporations. It has a 5 per cent stake in Tesla and a 10 per cent stake in Snap Inc. Tencent additionally owns 9 per cent of Spotify, whereas the latter firm owns 9 per cent of Tencent Music.
Tencent has a stake in South Korea’s Bluehole, the developer of the most well-liked Battle Royale-style sport, PUBG.
#Ma is understood for holding a low profile within the media. His classmates described him “shy” and “geek” whereas rising up. Ma’s idol is the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple.
#When Ma was younger, he wished to be an astronomer. Whereas Ma in the end determined to be a pc engineer, his curiosity in area exploration hasn’t pale away. In 2016, Tencent invested in three start-ups Moon Categorical, Satellogic and Planetary Sources that are concerned in area exploration.
#Ma met his spouse by way of the QQ messaging service, which was developed by Tencent. Ma’s daughter Ma Manlin is reportedly relationship the son of Dalian Wanda Group founder Wang Jianlin, who’s the founding father of China’s largest actual property improvement firm.
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