Joseph Tsai
Born 1964 · Age 61
Taiwanese-Canadian billionaire, lawyer, co‑founder and chairman of Alibaba Group, major sports owner and philanthropist (Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, San Diego Seals).
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Life & Career Timeline
Sent to Lawrenceville School (USA) at age 13
At age 13 Tsai was sent to the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey; played lacrosse and football.
Matriculated at Yale University
Enrolled at Yale University in fall 1982; later played varsity lacrosse for four years.
Started varsity lacrosse at Yale
Became a four-year member of Yale varsity lacrosse; lifelong supporter of Yale lacrosse.
Earned BA from Yale University
Received Bachelor of Arts in economics and East Asian studies from Yale College.
Earned JD from Yale Law School
Graduated Yale Law School (J.D.) and served as articles editor of the Yale Law & Policy Review.
Joined Sullivan & Cromwell as tax associate
Began career as a tax associate at the Wall Street firm Sullivan & Cromwell after law school.
Admitted to the New York bar
Officially admitted as an attorney to the New York bar.
Left Sullivan & Cromwell after ~3 years
Departed the law firm after roughly three years to move into private equity.
Joined Rosecliff, Inc. as VP & General Counsel
Moved to Rosecliff, a small management buyout firm in New York, serving as vice president and general counsel.
Moved to Hong Kong to join Investor AB
Joined the Wallenberg family's Investor AB in Hong Kong, responsible for Asian private equity investments.
Married Clara Wu Tsai
Married Clara Wu Tsai (granddaughter of Wu San-lien); the couple has three children.
Quit Investor AB and joined Alibaba founding team
Left a reported $700,000-a-year job at Investor AB to join Jack Ma's founding team at Alibaba; accepted $600/year salary along with other cofounders.
Co‑founded Alibaba Group
Became one of Alibaba's 18 cofounders (the only Western-educated cofounder), and joined as a founding board member.
Established Alibaba's financial & legal structure
Single‑handedly set up Alibaba's financial and legal framework and governance in early company formation.
Met Jack Ma in Hangzhou
Introduced to Jack Ma in 1999; met Ma while working at Investor AB and was struck by Ma and his followers' energy.
Founding member of the Alibaba Partnership
Named as a founding member of the Alibaba Partnership, a key governance group (date approximate early 2000s).
Served as Alibaba CFO/COO and executive roles
Held senior operating and financial roles (COO, CFO, executive vice chairman) and oversaw strategic investments over the company's formative years.
Appointed Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba (since May 2013)
Assumed the position of executive vice chairman of Alibaba Group in May 2013.
Sponsored Hong Kong men's lacrosse team for World Championships
Provided sponsorship to Hong Kong men's lacrosse team for the World Championships in Denver.
Became one of Alibaba's largest individual shareholders (post-IPO era)
Following Alibaba's growth and public listing, Tsai emerged as the company's second-largest individual shareholder after Jack Ma (date approximate post-IPO).
Donated $30M to Yale Law School (Paul Tsai China Center)
Gave $30 million to Yale Law School in honor of his father to support the Law School's China Center, renamed Paul Tsai China Center.
Donation to establish Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale
Via the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation, donated to create the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale.
Largest-ever donation to Lawrenceville School
The Tsais made the single largest gift in the Lawrenceville School's history (June 2017).
Agreed to purchase 49% of the Brooklyn Nets
In October 2017 Tsai purchased a 49% stake in the Brooklyn Nets from Mikhail Prokhorov in a deal valuing the team at approximately $2.3 billion.
Received George H.W. Bush '48 Lifetime of Leadership Award
Awarded Yale University's George H.W. Bush '48 Lifetime of Leadership Award.
Reported closure/continuation of Nets deal
Media coverage in 2018 reported the Nets sale was in process/closing; Tsai's stake acquisition completed in stages.
Public profile increases as Alibaba executive and sports investor
Media coverage highlighted Tsai's pivotal role at Alibaba and emergence as a major sports investor around 2018–2019.
Joined Michael Rubin-led bid for Carolina Panthers
Tsai joined a consortium led by Michael Rubin in March 2018 to bid for NFL's Carolina Panthers; the bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
Established J Tsai Sports as sports investment vehicle (approx.)
Tsai is chairman of J Tsai Sports, through which he holds many of his professional sports investments (vehicle used for Nets/Barclays deals).
Led group buying WNBA's New York Liberty
In January 2019 Tsai headed a group that purchased the New York Liberty from Madison Square Garden Company.
Invested in Premier Lacrosse League
Tsai invested in the Premier Lacrosse League (February 2019) alongside Chernin Group and Raine Group to fund the new league.
Exercised option to buy remaining Brooklyn Nets stake; purchased Barclays Center
In August 2019 Tsai exercised his option to buy the remaining stake in the Nets and separately purchased the Nets' arena (Barclays Center) from Prokhorov for nearly $1 billion.
Became principal owner of Brooklyn Nets and chairman of Barclays Center
By September 2019 Tsai was the owner of the Brooklyn Nets and chairman of Barclays Center; ownership included Long Island Nets (G League) and Nets Gaming Crew.
Public response to Daryl Morey/Hong Kong tweet controversy
On 7 Oct 2019 Tsai published an open letter explaining the Chinese reaction to Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey's pro‑Hong Kong protest tweet.
Invested $10M in G2 Esports (minority stake)
Reported December 2019: Tsai made a US$10 million investment into a minority stake in G2 Esports.
Committed $50M to Lincoln Center / New York Philharmonic
Late 2020 the Tsais committed $50 million to accelerate the acoustical renovation of David Geffen Hall.
Donated medical supplies to New York during COVID-19
In late March and early April 2020 the Tsais donated 2.6M masks, 170,000 goggles and 2,000 ventilators to New York.
Donated $1.6M in medical supplies to UC San Diego
Donated medical supplies valued at $1.6 million to UC San Diego to be shared with regional health care systems.
Pledged $50M to social justice and economic equality (BIPOC causes)
In August 2020 the Tsais donated $50 million to social justice and economic equality initiatives supporting BIPOC causes.
Owner / investor in San Diego Seals (NLL)
Tsai is listed as the owner of the San Diego Seals, a professional indoor lacrosse team; date of acquisition not specified in text.
Donation to establish the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale
In February 2021 the Tsais donated to Yale University to establish the Wu Tsai Institute focused on human cognition.
Announced plan to buy NLL Las Vegas expansion team
In May 2021 reports said Joe Tsai's group was buying an NLL expansion team in Las Vegas (later Desert Dogs).
Las Vegas Desert Dogs franchise awarded; became co-owner
On 21 June 2021 the NLL awarded the Las Vegas franchise; Tsai named as co-owner alongside Wayne Gretzky, Dustin Johnson and Steve Nash.
Launched Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance; pledged $220M
In July 2021 the Tsais debuted the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and pledged $220 million to fund interdisciplinary teams across several research institutions.
Purchase reported: La Jolla family residence focus
Publicly reported that Tsai's family primarily resides in La Jolla, San Diego; Tsai still spends much time in Hong Kong for business.
Led investment in Just Women's Sports
In 2022 Tsai led an investment round in Just Women's Sports, a media company dedicated to women's sports.
Net worth estimate: US$8.1 billion
Forbes estimated Tsai's net worth at US$8.1 billion in 2022.
Purchased penthouse at 220 Central Park South for $188M
In January 2022 Tsai paid $188 million for a penthouse at 220 Central Park South in New York City.
Lincoln Center announces naming: Wu Tsai Theater
On 3 August 2022 Lincoln Center and New York Philharmonic announced David Geffen Hall's naming as the Wu Tsai Theater as part of the Tsais' donation.
Became Chairman of Alibaba Group (Sept 2023)
In September 2023 Tsai was named chairman of Alibaba Group in a leadership reshuffle.
Sold 15% of BSE Global to Julia Koch (approx. $700M)
In 2024 Tsai sold a 15% stake in BSE Global (owner of Brooklyn Nets) to Julia Koch for around $700 million.
Purchased 3% stake in Miami Dolphins
In December 2024 Tsai purchased a reported 3% stake in the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
Ranked #8 on Forbes' Hong Kong 50 Richest ($11.8B)
Forbes ranked Tsai #8 on Hong Kong's 50 Richest in 2025 with an estimated net worth of $11.8 billion.
Facilitated minority stake sale in New York Liberty; valuation record
In May 2025 Tsai facilitated the sale of a minority stake in the New York Liberty, establishing a record franchise valuation of $450 million.
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