Ma Huateng, also known as Pony Ma, is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tencent Holding Ltd., a Chinese multinational technology and entertainment conglomerate. Tencent was founded on 11 November 1998. As of January 2023, Ma Huateng has $ 37.3 Billion net worth, according to Forbes.
Huateng started his career with China Motion Telecom Development as a in charge of developing software for pagers and after that he worked for Shenzhen Runxun Communications Co. Ltd. In the Year 1998 Huateng co-founded Tencent company along with his classmates. After founding tencent in February 1999, he launched a Chinese Internet instant messaging service OICQ which become very popular in very less time.
In December 2000, Ma Huateng changed OICQ’s name to QQ as he lost the case in violation of an Israeli Company which was bought by AOL ICQ’s trademark. Huateng worked hard for expending Tencent and in 2003, released Tencent’s own portal – QQ.com and entered online games market while in 2004 the company became the largest Chinese instant messaging service. With huateng’s hardwork the company was listed with Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Under Huateng’s guidance, Tencent launched many online gaming platform, C2C platform, Paipai.com and in January 2011, it launched a text messaging and group chat app named WeChat which became largest messaging platform in the world. The Time magazine honored Ma Huateng as one of world’s most influential people for 2007, 2014 and 2018 while Forbes named him as the world’s most powerful person for year 2015.
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Ma Huateng was born in 29 October, 1971, in Chaoyang, Shantou, Guangdong. After Completing his schooling, Huateng earned Degree in Bachelor of Science in Computer and went to Shenzhen University for engineering.
