William Ding

William Ding

Date of Birth

October 1, 1971

Country

China

Occupation

Chinese businessman and entrepreneur

Born on October 1, 1971, William Ding is a Chinese businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of NetEase, Inc., one of the largest internet and online gaming companies in China.

Ding was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. He showed an early interest in technology and programming, and at the age of 19 he dropped out of college to start his first business, a software company that provided accounting software for small businesses. In 1997, he founded NetEase with a team of six employees, initially providing free email services to Chinese internet users.

Under Ding's leadership, NetEase has grown into a major force in China's internet industry. The company has expanded into online gaming, e-commerce, music streaming, and other areas, and as of 2021 it had a market capitalization of over $70 billion.

In addition to his work with NetEase, Ding is also involved in philanthropy. He has donated millions of dollars to education initiatives in China, including the establishment of the Ding Yifeng Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program at Tsinghua University, which provides funding and support to young entrepreneurs.

Ding has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including being named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2005. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs in China and beyond.

Additional information about William Ding

1. In 2019, Forbes valued Ding's fortune at $18.7 billion, making him one of the richest people in China.
2. In 2018, he was named the best CEO of a company in China at the China Economic Person of the Year ceremony.
3. Ding is a fan and collector of classical Chinese poetry. He gave readings of his favorite poems at the Boao Forum for Asia in 2013.
4. In 2016, Ding became the first private investor to announce a $10 million donation to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
5. In 2020, NetEase launched online courses for educational institutions that had to switch to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This service was provided for free thanks to Ding's contribution to public welfare.
6. Ding is also an investor in Chinese startups such as Didi Chuxing (ride-hailing service), Xiaomi (electronics and smartphone manufacturer), and Meituan Dianping (delivery and booking service).
7. In 2018, at the Boao Forum for Asia, Ding proposed creating an international scientific platform on artificial intelligence for exchanging knowledge and expertise. He also supports the development of artificial intelligence in China and calls on the government to increase investment in this area.