Jack Ma’s Family, Children, Relationships, and Friends: Everything You Should Know

Jack Ma was born in Hangzhou, China, in 1964. He became known not only for founding Alibaba but also for his emphasis on the importance of family and nurturing strong relationships with friends. Throughout his life, friends and family played key roles in shaping his career and supporting his journey.

Family Life and Upbringing

Jack Ma was raised in Hangzhou, China, by parents who strongly influenced his early years. His family background was modest. His parents worked as traditional musicians and storytellers, sharing folk art in their local community.

Ma pursued higher education at Hangzhou Teacher’s Institute. He graduated in 1988 with a degree in English. Ma’s ability to learn from his family and community helped him overcome early setbacks.

Jack Ma married Zhang Ying, also known as Cathy Zhang, whom he met while attending Hangzhou Teacher’s Institute in the 1980s. They developed a close bond during their studies and married in Hangzhou.

The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Both children were born after Jack and Zhang Ying married. Available sources suggest that their children are biological. Zhang Ying played a role in Alibaba’s early development and later focused on the family.

Ma remained committed to his family, often speaking about the importance of support from his wife and children as he built his business.

Name	Relation	Birth Year
Zhang Ying	Wife	Unknown
Son	Son	Unknown
Daughter	Daughter	Unknown

Friends Throughout His Life

Jack Ma valued close friendships throughout his life. Some of his closest friends were business associates who grew with him as Alibaba expanded.

Joe Tsai, one of the co-founders of Alibaba, formed a strong friendship with Ma. Their professional relationship started in the late 1990s when Tsai joined Alibaba. They shared a commitment to the company and often collaborated closely outside work.

Another long-term friend is Simon Xie, who also helped launch Alibaba during its early days. Their bond developed as they faced the challenges of building a company from scratch.

Ma often maintained steady friendships with peers in the tech industry. For example, Pony Ma of Tencent was often seen as both a friendly rival and an occasional ally.

Some business friendships occasionally became strained due to competitive pressures, but many of these relationships lasted. Ma’s friendships reflected loyalty, mutual respect, and shared experiences in entrepreneurship.

Name	Known Since	Profession
Joe Tsai	Late 1990s	Business Executive
Simon Xie	Late 1990s	Entrepreneur
Pony Ma	Early 2000s	Tech Executive (Tencent)