Who Is Ma Ying-jeou? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ma Ying-jeou was born on July 13, 1950, making him 75 years old in 2025. He served as the President of Taiwan from 2008 to 2016, during which he was known for his firm position on cross-strait relations with China and his efforts to improve Taiwan’s international standing. Prior to his presidency, Ma held various positions in the government and law, notably as the mayor of Taipei. You can read more about his career and achievements on his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 13, 1950 |
| Age | 74 Years |
| Birth Place | Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Hong Kong |
Popularity
Ma Ying-jeou's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Ma Ying-jeou stands at approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighs around 150 lbs (68 kg). While exact measurements are not publicly available, he is known for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which reflects in his appearance.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Ma Ying-jeou is married to Christine Chow, whom he wed in 1976. The couple has two daughters, who are both well-educated and successful in their respective fields. There have been no public reports of any extramarital relationships or controversies regarding his marital status. His steadfast family values are well-respected in Taiwanese society.
Ma's mother was Chin Hou-hsiu, a well-known civil servant. Ho-ling moved to Taiwan during the 1949 Kuomintang retreat but briefly returned to mainland China, where he eventually moved from Chongqing to Hong Kong. In October 1951, Ho-ling once again moved his family to Taiwan, where he worked as a mid-rank Kuomintang official.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Ma Ying-jeou’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million, owing to his successful political career and various investments. Details surrounding his salary during and after his presidency have varied; however, like many former leaders, he benefits from pensions and speaking engagements that contribute to his income.
At the same time, rumors surfaced that former party chairman Lien Chan would run in the presidential election of 2008. The incident may have affected the clean image of Ma and his political future. The next day, Ma admitted one of his aides forged receipts to claim Ma's expenses as Taipei mayor, and apologized for the latest political scandal.
However, Ma argued that he, like most other government officials, regarded the special expense account as supplemental salary for personal expenses undertaken in the course of official duties and that his use of this account was legal.
Career, Business, and Investments
After his presidency, Ma Ying-jeou returned to academia and public speaking. He has been actively involved in promoting cross-strait dialogues and international peace initiatives. He also engages in various business ventures, particularly focusing on educational and cultural exchanges. His investments are generally aligned with his personal beliefs in fostering goodwill and understanding between neighboring countries.
From 1988 to 1996, Ma held office first as chair of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, becoming the youngest cabinet member in the ROC at age 38, and then as head of the Ministry of Justice, where he launched anti-corruption and anti-drug campaigns.
In the 1998 Taipei mayoral election, he successfully ran against incumbent Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
During his mayoralty, he was elected as KMT chairman in 2005 and left the position in 2007 to announce his candidacy in the 2008 Taiwanese presidential election, eventually defeating DPP nominee Frank Hsieh in a landslide majority of 58.45 percent.
Social Network
Ma Ying-jeou is active on several social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, where he shares insights on Taiwan’s political landscape and current global issues. His social media presence has allowed him to maintain a connection with the public and engage with both supporters and critics alike.
On 16 July 2005, Ma defeated Wang by a 72% to 28% margin, a margin larger than anticipated by either camp or news sources, despite Wang receiving a last-minute endorsement by the People First Party (PFP) chairman James Soong, who had retained significant following within the KMT.
Some, particularly the supporters of Wang Jin-pyng, accuse Ma of unfairly implying that Wang is involved in "black gold" and criticized Ma's aides for being rude to Wang during the campaign. After the election, Ma had stated repeatedly that he wishes Wang to remain as first-ranked deputy chairman.
Wang, however, has so far rebuffed the gesture, instead stating that he wishes to serve as a "permanent volunteer." Wang has, indeed, accepted a party post that is incompatible with vice chairmanship, effectively ending the possibility that he would be vice chairman, although after meeting with Wang, Ma had stated that he would "leave the position
open" for Wang.
Ma has also repeatedly stated that he had no plans to resign from the Taipei mayorship, even after he formally took over the chairmanship from incumbent Lien Chan during the 17th Party Congress of the KMT in August 2005.
Education
Ma Ying-jeou attended National Taiwan University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in law. He later pursued graduate studies at Harvard University, obtaining a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree. His academic background has significantly influenced his approach to governance and public service.
After graduating from National Taiwan University, Ma joined the Republic of China Marine Corps and attained the rank of lieutenant. He then studied law in the United States, where he earned a master's degree from New York University in 1976 and his doctorate from Harvard University in 1981.
Ma returned to Taiwan afterwards and began working for President Chiang Ching-kuo as a bureau director and English translator at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei.
