Jack Ma (Photo : Reuters)
Following Alibaba's record-setting share sale in September, the giant e-commerce company founder Jack Ma has been announced as the current number one in Forbes's list of the richest persons in China, BBC reported.
With a fortune of $19.5 billion, Ma's wealth increased more than double compared with his $7.1 billion net worth in 2013. However, China-based Hurun estimated Ma's wealth at $25 billion earlier this year, as it also declared the former English teacher as China's richest person.
Alibaba, launched in 1999 by Ma, is now valued at $240 billion.
According to the annual Forbes list, the total number of billionaires in China rose from 168 in 2013 to 242 this year.
Ma replaced entertainment company Wanda's chief executive Wang Jianlin, who was the richest man in China in 2013. This year, Wang ranked fourth.
Following Ma in the list is internet company Baidu's Robin Li, ranking second with an estimated net worth of $14.7 billion, which is higher than his $11.1 billion fortune in 2013.
Known as Pony Ma, Tencent's Ma Huateng is in third position with $14.4 billion fortune, which is higher than his $10.2 billion in 2013. Tencent is the biggest online firm in China and is the parent of WeChat messaging app.
Meanwhile, the richest man in China is currently in the United States looking for partnerships with Hollywood studios.
On Oct. 27, Monday, Ma was at the WSJ.D Live conference in Laguna Beach, Calif., and the next day, he met with Sony executives to talk about his plan to make more culturally significant movies in China.
In the evening of Oct. 28, Tuesday, Ma attended a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game with giant talent agency William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WMEE) chief executives Ari Emmanuel and Patrick Whitesell, Wall Street Journal reported.
Ma, Emmanuel and Whitesell reportedly discussed a possible partnership between Alibaba and WMEE.
