Zhang Ying Wikipedia: Age, Net Worth, Kids, Family & BIO of Jack Ma's Wife (2025)

Zhang Ying, also known as Cathy Zhang, is a former Chinese teacher who is best known for being the wife of Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Alibaba Group, a multinational technology conglomerate.

Zhang has been a constant supporter and partner of Ma in his entrepreneurial journey, from starting his first internet company in 1995 to launching the world’s largest e-commerce platform in 1999. She is also a co-founder of Alibaba Group and Alibaba.com, and has been involved in various philanthropic and social causes.

Early Life and Education

Zhang was born in 1966 in Ganlinzhen, a small town in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province of China. She grew up in a modest family, with her father Zhang Jiang working as a traditional musician and storyteller. She developed an interest in English and literature at a young age, and excelled in her studies.

She met Jack Ma in 1986, when they were both studying at the Hangzhou Normal University, majoring in English. They fell in love and got married in 1988, right after their graduation. They both became teachers at Hangzhou Dianzi University, teaching English and international trade respectively.

Zhang Ying Wiki/Bio

Business Ventures and Achievements

Zhang and Ma’s lives changed dramatically in the mid-1990s when they discovered the potential of the Internet and decided to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. In 1995, they founded China Yellow Pages, one of the first internet companies in China, with an initial investment of $20,000. The company provides online directory services and e-commerce solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In 1999, they co-founded Alibaba Group, along with 17 other friends and colleagues, in Ma’s apartment in Hangzhou. The company aimed to create an online marketplace that connected millions of buyers and sellers across China and the world. Zhang was one of the key members of the founding team and helped to set up the company’s culture, values, and vision. She also played a vital role in the development and management of Alibaba.com, the company’s flagship B2B e-commerce platform.

Zhang and Ma’s vision and hard work paid off, as Alibaba Group grew rapidly and became one of the world’s largest and most influential tech giants. Today, the company operates in various domains, such as e-commerce, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital media, entertainment, and fintech. Some of its most popular products and services include Taobao, Tmall, AliExpress, Alipay, Ant Group, Alibaba Cloud, Youku, and Cainiao.

As of February 2024, Alibaba Group has a market value of over $500 billion and reaches nearly 800 million users worldwide. Jack Ma is the sixth-wealthiest person in China, and the 50th wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth of $30.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Net worth & Income Sources

According to some media sources, Zhang’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 billion as of February 2024. Zhang’s wealth comes from her successful business ventures in the paper recycling industry.She is the founder and director of Nine Dragons Paper Holdings, the largest papermaker in China.

Nine Dragons Paper produces packaging paper, recycled printing and writing paper, and specialty paper.The company has 39 production lines in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the US, and has an annual production capacity of over 17 million tons.

Personal Life, Spouse & Kids

Zhang and Ma have three children together, a son named Ma Yuankun, a daughter named Ma Yuanbao, and another child whose name and gender are not publicly known. Ma Yuankun, born in 1992, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently pursuing a music career. Ma Yuanbao, born in 1995, is a student at the University of Pennsylvania and is interested in art and design.

Zhang and Ma have maintained a low-profile and humble lifestyle, despite their immense wealth and fame. They live in a modest apartment in Hangzhou and rarely make public appearances. They are also known for their generosity and philanthropy, supporting various causes and organizations that benefit underprivileged communities, education, health, environment, and women empowerment.

In 2014, they established the Jack Ma Foundation, a charitable organization that aims to promote human development, social innovation, and a harmonious society. The foundation has donated millions of dollars to various projects and initiatives, such as rural education, entrepreneurship, disaster relief, environmental protection, and women leadership.

In 2019, Forbes Magazine named Ma and Zhang in its list of “Asia’s 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy”, for their humanitarian and philanthropic work. In 2020, they also donated millions of masks, test kits, and medical supplies to countries affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including China, the US, Italy, Spain, France, and Africa.

Controversies

Zhang has recently made headlines for acquiring three so-called shophouses in Singapore, the Business Times reported on February 21, 2024. Shophouses are properties that are among the city-state’s most highly prized, as they combine commercial and residential spaces in a historic and cultural setting. Zhang paid between S$45 million and S$50 million for the three adjoining shophouses along Duxton Road, which are 99-year leasehold sites with 63.5 years left. She is a Singapore citizen and has reportedly been living in the country since 2018.

Zhang’s husband, Jack Ma, has also been in the spotlight for his controversial speech in October 2020, where he criticized the Chinese financial system and regulators. His speech angered the authorities and reportedly reached the attention of President Xi Jinping, who intervened to halt the initial public offering of Ant Group, Ma’s fintech company that commands the digital payment market in China through its Alipay app. The IPO was expected to be the world’s largest, raising $37 billion.

Ma’s speech and the subsequent regulatory crackdown on his businesses led to his disappearance from the public eye for three months, sparking rumors and speculations about his whereabouts and well-being. He resurfaced in January 2021, in a short video address for a charity event, where he praised China’s poverty alleviation efforts and expressed his gratitude to the teachers. He was later spotted playing golf on the Chinese tropical island of Hainan in February 2021.

Ma has also become an honorary professor of business at the Hong Kong Baptist University, the institution announced on February 18, 2024. Ma, who was a teacher before becoming a businessman, will share his insights and experience with the students and faculty of the School of Business. He will also participate in academic and research activities, and contribute to the development of the university.

Zhang Ying is a remarkable woman who has been a pillar of support and inspiration for Jack Ma, one of the most successful and influential entrepreneurs in the world. She has been a co-founder and a key player in the growth and innovation of Alibaba Group, a global leader in technology and e-commerce.

She has also been a generous and compassionate philanthropist, who has made a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world. She is a role model and a leader for women, entrepreneurs, and social changemakers.