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52
In the world today
William Ding

William Ding

W. Ding
-0.56% | - $-217.58M
$38.89 B ₹ 3.54 Lk Cr
Real Time Net Worth #52 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes
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More on William Ding

Gender

Male

Age

54Y

Country

China

Born On

October, 1971

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

3

Education

University Of Electronic Science And Technology Of China - Bachelor'S

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Technology)

Primary Organization

NetEase

Titles

Founder & CEO

Sources of Wealth

Online Games

Industry

Technology, Media-Entertainment

About William Ding

W illiam Ding (Ding Lei) is the founder and CEO of NetEase, one of China's pioneering internet technology companies. He established NetEase in 1997, initially as a software developer and search engine before pivoting to online gaming, which became the company's massive profit engine. Under his leadership, NetEase developed blockbuster titles like "Fantasy Westward Journey" and secured lucrative partnerships to operate Blizzard games in China (a partnership that was famously paused and then renewed).

A graduate of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Ding was China's richest man in 2003 and remains a tech titan. Beyond gaming, he has diversified NetEase into music streaming (NetEase Cloud Music), e-commerce (Yanxuan), and education (Youdao). He is also known for his eclectic interests, including a high-tech pig farming venture aimed at producing high-quality pork, reflecting his focus on sustainable agriculture and food safety.

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Quick Reads

Early Life and Background

William Ding is a Chinese businessman, the founder and CEO of NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES / HKSE: 9999), one of the world's largest online games companies.

Ding was historically significant in the development of China's internet economy, becoming China's richest man and its first internet and gaming billionaire back in 2003.

  • Core Company: NetEase (Online games).
  • Historical Significance: China's richest man and first internet and gaming billionaire in 2003.
  • Products: Portfolio includes Fantasy Westward Journey, Eggy Party and battle game Justice Mobile.

Career Journey of William Ding

William Ding's career is defined by his foundational role in China's digital economy. His structural achievement is tied to building NetEase into a massive, diversified conglomerate that specializes in online games, including legacy titles like Fantasy Westward Journey and modern battle games like Justice Mobile.

Facing competition from rival Tencent, NetEase has successfully expanded into movies, e-commerce and online music. Ding also has an interest in sustainable agriculture, with NetEase's e-commerce arm Yanxuan selling pork sourced from its own farms.

  • Diversification: Expanded into movies, e-commerce and online music.

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William Ding's Timeline

2003:

Became China's richest man and its first internet and gaming billionaire.

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and CEO.

Ongoing:

Oversees expansion into movies, e-commerce and online music.

Major Business Ventures and Investments

William Ding's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the dual-listed technology giant, NetEase.

  • NetEase (Founder & CEO): One of the world's largest online games companies.
  • Unique Venture: NetEase's Yanxuan e-commerce arm sells pork sourced from its own farms.
  • Sector Focus: Online gaming, e-commerce, and entertainment technology.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle

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Quotes and Philosophy

No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia

  • He is the founder and CEO of NetEase, one of the world's largest online games companies.
  • He was China's richest man and its first internet and gaming billionaire back in 2003.
  • NetEase sells pork sourced from its own farms through its e-commerce arm Yanxuan.
  • The battle game Justice Mobile uses AI to generate storylines.

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Sources & References

This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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