Inside Billionaire Jack Ma’s Humble Lifestyle

The rags-to-riches story of Chinese business magnate Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, is not unknown. He came from a humble background, and he had that urge to go big right from his childhood. As a child, he would go to hotels and offer free city tours to visitors in lieu of English lessons. That was the start of his long and fruitful entrepreneurial journey.

Though he managed to pass school and got into the Teacher’s Institute, it was not easy for him to get a job after completing his education. After trying and searching far and wide for any opportunity, he finally got a job to teach English. Without any prior experience with computers, he nurtured an immense curiosity for it. With a few friends, he started a Chinese internet company where exporters could search for any product they want — he never had to look back after that. Oddly enough, he still maintains a humble lifestyle and is not known for any flashy purchases. Let’s find out how he spends his money!

Private Jet

He did once buy a private jet, nothing less than a Gulfstream G550 which came with a price tag of $49.5 million. Like many affluent personalities and celebrities, Jack Ma mostly used the aircraft for personal use. It was convenient, too, because being such a huge name in the world of business, he needs to travel a lot. Having a private jet helps him do so in his own convenient time. We wonder what kind of customization he has inside the jet – may be a personal bedroom and a living room?

$191-Million House In Hong Kong

A few years ago, the internet was abuzz with the story of Jack Ma’s latest purchase – a $191-million mansion in Hong Kong. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the house is located in the most expensive part of the city – the billionaire enclave. The Peak in Hong Kong is like the South Beach of Miami or Fifth Avenue in New York City. In case, you didn’t know, Hong Kong also happens to be the least affordable city in the whole world. However, Jack Ma admitted that the news was fake, and he didn’t buy such an expensive house, at least not yet. This proves yet again that he is not ready to spend millions just for his personal comfort.

Jack Ma’s Favorite Food

While the rich and the famous look for expensive food like foie gras or Beluga caviar, guess what this powerful billionaire loves to eat? Maggi Mee! It’s a famous brand of instant noodles that regular people love to eat. One of his employees posted a picture of him having these noodles and even mentioned that Jack Ma has been eating like this for the last 18 years. When his $38-billion net-worth can actually buy a few instant noodles manufacturers, he has been happily content with just eating a bowl for his meals.

His Morning Schedule

We all know how successful people have amazing habits the moment they wake up in the morning. Ma is no exception. He wakes up between 6 AM to 7 AM. After working for just half an hour, he spends time with family. He believes, “I always tell myself that we are born here not to work, but to enjoy life. We are here to make things better for one another, and not to work. If you are spending your whole life working, you will certainly regret it.” We can’t agree more!

The Happiest Time In Life

Though becoming a billionaire has changed his life for good, Jack Ma never forgets where he has come from. He has also openly discussed his pre-fame days. When he used to teach English to university students and got paid about $12 a month, he expressed that it was the happiest time of his life. With less money, he felt he had less responsibility but obviously not anymore these days. But he certainly found joy in simplicity.

Aside from being an affluent businessman, he is also a well-known environmentalist and collaborates with various organizations. He has always maintained that having a lot of money has made him think that it’s his responsibility to spend it wisely and never recklessly. He sees wealth as something that people have entrusted in him to use in a good way. That explains his saint-like lifestyle! We are happy that there are still people like him around who restores our faith in simple living!