ChinaCo-founded it
Ma Huateng
Ma Huateng (Pony Ma) co-founded the Chinese internet company Tencent, maker of WeChat and online games, in 1998 and is its chairman and CEO; his fortune is mostly his Tencent stake.
- Forbes estimate
- $45.5B
- Forbes, 15 Oct 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 44
- 15 Oct 2026
- Stake in Tencent
- 8.85%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $50.3B
- Bloomberg, 17 Oct 2026
- Born
- 29 Oct 1971
- Chaoyang, China
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- BS in computer and its application, Shenzhen University (1993)
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
Tencent Holdings stock
Tencent
messaging, games and online payments, founded 1998
804,859,700 shares held through Advance Data Services Limited, which he wholly owns (95,000,000 of them via its subsidiary Ma Huateng Global Foundation Limited)
Tencent Interim Report 2026, directors' interests, 30 Jun 2026
Executive director, chairman and CEO
Other holdings
Tencent Computer and Shiji Kaixuan
54.29% of the registered capital of each, two Tencent associated corporations, as of June 30, 2026
Where Ma stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Ma Huateng is outlined.
How the fortune started
Founded it
Founded it 42
Inherited and grew it 12
Built it up 8
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Technology
Technology 24
Finance 10
Several industries 9
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Fashion and beauty 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Crypto 2
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree 27
Graduate degree 24
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Not stated 11
Role today
Runs the company
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
Founder, no executive role 8
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 29 Oct 1971Chaoyang, China
- Citizenship
- China
- Lives in
- Shenzhen, China
- Education
- Bachelor's degreeBS in computer and its application, Shenzhen University (1993)
- Parents
- His father, Ma Chenshu, moved the family to Hainan and later to Shenzhen, where he worked as a port manager
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Tencent Foundation and a personal charity fundHe led the founding of Tencent Foundation in 2007 and in 2016 pledged 100 million Tencent shares to a charity fund; Ma Huateng Global Foundation Limited holds part of his Tencent stake
- Lifetime giving
- Not stated
Role and record
- Role now
- Runs the companyChairman and CEO of Tencent
- Successor
- None named
- Public office
- Deputy to the National People's Congress (12th and 13th), 2013-2023
- Legal record
- None found
