Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Chinese basketball star Yao Ming will be joining Britain's Prince William as members of the prestigious Earthshot Prize Council with the goal of protecting and restoring the environment.

Last week, the Duke of Cambridge announced that 50 million pounds ($64 million) will be awarded over the next 10 years in the "most prestigious global environmental prize in history" with the hope it will incentivize change and help repair the planet.

A global team of high-profile leaders from the environmental, philanthropic, business, sporting and entertainment worlds have joined Prince William as members of the Earthshot Prize Council.

The council includes Chinese philanthropist, entrepreneur and UNSDG Advocate Jack Ma and Yao Ming, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and environmentalist.