Early Life
William Ding was born Ding Lei on October 1, 1971, in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. He grew up with an early fascination with technology. He attended the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, where he earned a bachelor's degree in communication technology.
Rise to Success
Ding founded NetEase in 1997, focusing initially on providing free email services. He revolutionized the market by creating an online portal that gave anyone in China free access to email and the Internet. Ding led NetEase to a successful IPO on NASDAQ in 2000. In 2003, Ding became the wealthiest person in mainland China, marking a significant achievement as the country's first internet and gaming billionaire. NetEase expanded into online gaming, e-commerce, and other ventures under his leadership.
Key Business Strategies
Ding's strategic vision expanded NetEase into online gaming and formed a crucial partnership with Blizzard Entertainment to bring popular games like World of Warcraft to China. Ding has diversified NetEase's business ventures, including pork production in 2012, with a focus on employing technology and environmental sustainability. His low-profile leadership style focuses on long-term strategy and innovation.
Philanthropy
Ding has supported various educational initiatives. Ding made headlines by becoming the first private investor to donate $10 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
