Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba has become a teacher in Japan. Ma has joined Tokyo College, where he will teach about sustainable agriculture and food production.
One of his first public positions since fading from view in 2020, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has accepted a teaching position in Japan.
Ma’s new position will involve conducting research on sustainable food production and agriculture, according to a Monday announcement from Tokyo College.
The former richest man in China, the tech tycoon, would also “share his rich experience and pioneering knowledge on entrepreneurship, corporate management, and innovation” in seminars at the institution administered by the University of Tokyo.
Beginning May 1, Ma will serve as a visiting professor. The 58-year-old is back in the classroom after leaving Alibaba in September of this year. Before helping to start Alibaba, the billionaire spent some time teaching English.
Ma announced in May 2019 that he would return to the classroom following his September 2019 retirement from Alibaba. He claimed at the time that he was going back to his origins since he loved his job.
Ma has returned to the spotlight more than two years after upsetting the Chinese government with a speech in which he lambasted the country’s financial regulatory structure and asserted that Chinese banks were run with a “pawnshop” mindset.
Days later, his fintech company Ant Group’s $37 billion IPO was called off.
An expanded campaign against tech companies in the nation was started after Ant’s IPO was cancelled.
Alibaba’s stock price was under pressure as a result, falling more than 70% from its peak in 2020. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ma’s wealth has declined from a peak of $61 billion in October 2020 to an estimated $33 billion.
Ma, who was formerly a well-known jet-setter, has been hiding away since then, which has led to a lot of intense conjecture about his whereabouts.
Ma was observed in Japan in November 2022, where he spent much of his time socializing at a number of exclusive clubs.
He was observed in Bangkok, Thailand, in January, where he dined at a street food establishment with a Michelin star and witnessed a Muay Thai match. In January, he also appeared in Hong Kong.
Since returning to the school he founded in his hometown of Hangzhou, east China, in March, Ma has been gaining more attention. He was given the honorary title of professor at the University of Hong Kong in April.
He was observed in Bangkok, Thailand, in January, where he dined at a street food establishment with a Michelin star and witnessed a Muay Thai match. In January, he also appeared in Hong Kong.
Since returning to the school he founded in his hometown of Hangzhou, east China, in March, Ma has been gaining more attention. He was given the honorary title of professor at the University of Hong Kong in April.
