Pony Ma (Huateng)

Ma Huateng–better known to non-Chinese audiences by his English name, Pony Ma–is cofounder, chairman, and CEO of Tencent, the backbone of China’s internet. The Chinese tech giant runs WeChat, the super app with over 1.3 billion monthly users. The low-profile Ma has grown Tencent into a tech behemoth, including its status as one of the world’s largest video gaming companies, with stakes in Supercell, Riot, Epic Games, and Ubisoft. Tencent is now emerging from Beijing’s crackdown on the tech industry, which, among other things, slapped the company with hefty anti-monopoly fines. Shares are up over 40% so far in 2024.