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Meet China's richest man

Wang Jianlin is worth about €37.5 billion. And he ain’t shy about flaunting it…

WANG JIANLIN, A former People’s Liberation Army soldier who is now a real estate mogul and the world’s largest cinema chain operator, is the richest person in China.

With a fortune of $40.7 billion (€37.5 billion), he’s caught in a riches race with Hong Kong business magnate Li-Ka Shing to become the wealthiest man in Asia.

From the construction of luxury hotel properties to the purchase of a world-famous football club to his grand plans for the future of entertainment, scroll through to get up to speed on Jianlin’s global empire.

From 1970 to 1986 Wang served in the Chinese Army. He credits this time for his unwavering perseverance: “Without those years of experience, I probably wouldn’t have had so much anti-stress capability and so firm a determination”

 

soldiers Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers in Beijing

Wang borrowed $80,000 to get his company Dalian Wanda Group off the ground. He’s been chairman of Wanda Group, now China’s largest real estate developer, since 1988.

 

wang Wang Jianlin

Wanda Hotels and Resorts Co Ltd has opened 71 five star and luxury five star hotels across China to date. Wang has billion dollar investments in properties in Sydney, London, Chicago and Los Angeles. He’s on his way to becoming the world’s biggest owner of five-star hotels

 

resort Wanda Group purchased the Jewel project on Australia's Gold Coast last August. The luxury residence and resort complex is expected to open in 2018

Wanda Group is currently building One Nine Elms, a luxury riverside hotel and apartment building in London that will rise 60 stories and boast views of the London Eye and Westminster Abbey

 

wanda An artist's rendering of the future site of One Nine Elms

Another division of Wanda Group, The Wanda Culture Industry Group, is China’s largest cultural enterprise with an annual revenue of $5.5 billion. It operates in ten arenas including theme parks, performing arts, and film technology entertainment

 

leo Actor Leonardo DiCaprio waves to fans at the opening of Wanda Group's Oriental Movie Metropolis in September 2013

Wanda Plaza, Wang’s trademark property, has over 100 locations in all of China’s major cities, making it the country’s largest department store chain

 

wanda3 Patrons celebrate the opening of Yingkou Wanda Plaza June 25, 2015

Not only does Wanda Group own 150 movie theaters in China, but it owns another 380 locations across the US, Canada, Japan, and other countries. Wang bought the US’s struggling AMC Entertainment franchise for $2.6 billion in 2012

 

amc

“Superstar,” China’s largest “wholesome” karaoke chain is operated by Wanda Group. It currently has 90 locations and expects to open another 40 by the end of the year

 

karaoke A karaoke bar in Wuhan, China

Earlier this year, Wang bought a 20% stake (at $52 million) in Spanish football club Atletico Madrid

 

atleti Wang poses with the team's managing director and president after a signing ceremony in Beijing

Wang has only one son: 27-year-old Wang Sicong, who’s been nicknamed “The National Husband” by Chinese media. He’s made a few outspoken remarks that his father later defended, blaming his son’s “western education.” Sicong is a board member of Wanda Group and chairman of the private investment firm Prometheus Capital

 

wang2 Wang allows his son a 2% stake in Wanda Group

However, many people in China have criticized Wang Sicong for being too obsessed with money, sex, and violence. He certainly flaunts his wealth: Wang Sicong recently posted a photo of his dog wearing two gold Apple Watches (each valued at $10,000)

 

dog

Wang purchased Sunseeker Yachts International in 2013 for $503 million. The UK-based luxury yacht maker’s boats are exclusively featured in the James Bond film series

 

sunseeker Sunseeker's 155 Yacht

Wang owns two Gulfstream 550 private jets (each powered by two Rolls Royce engines) that transport him to and from Wanda Group headquarters in Beijing, China

 

gulfst G550 jet by Gulfstream aircraft displayed at the Singapore Airshow in February 2014 in Singapore

In recent years, the billionaire has become a passionate art collector. He purchased Picasso’s ‘Claude and Paloma’ for $28 million in 2013. In May, he won a $20.4 million bid for a Claude Monet painting

 

art Wang waits in a meeting room at the launch of Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis in September 2013

“Many people come knock at my door, but Wanda is only interested in the big players, and we want control,” Wang told Bloomberg News. He’s currently in talks to buy a large stake in independent film studios Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

 

knock Wang celebrates the debut of Dalian Wanda Group at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2014

- Tanza Loudenback

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    Mute Jules Lucas
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:48 PM

    The impact of this scandal has done wonders for the local village butcher, which we are better off buying our meat from anyway in my opinion!

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Completely agree! Never mind the fact that at least you know what you’re getting is the real deal, it’s much healthier and tastes a hell of a lot better… Makes the extra money spent worth it!

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:01 PM

    I agree. My local butcher is flying. He just bought a new car, he got rid of that old horse he used to go around on.

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:03 PM

    Dammit Figo :-P

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    Mute Dodge Challenger
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Will this horse meat issue ever go away? It’s not that much of a big deal. Not to ruin any appetites but could you imagine the amount of little insects and other creatures that get minced in with the meat supply that we never know about.

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    Mute susanna smyth
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:56 PM

    Burgers are tested for horse meat only. What other nasty could be in there disguised as beef ?

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    Mute Bo11ocks_to_this
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Did anyone else see the article from SA about water buffalo, horse and others found in beef. I’ll try find a link

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:15 PM

    A bit ironic that “Kanter” did the study eh?

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    Mute pat aherne
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:21 PM

    When we were starting our then 18 month on meat (2years ago) my wife decided to get supermarket burgers just in case he did not like them – well to tell you the truth he pretty much threw the burger back at her. I said why not try butcher meat it will taste alot better and healthier for the child. She got a 1/4 pounder and he ate 2/3 of it. Hence even an 18 month old knew the taste of quality !!

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    Mute clareo79
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    Mar 4th 2013, 2:07 PM

    You gave an 18 month old a burger?!

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    Mute mister
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:51 PM

    Interesting article. If I’m reading those stats correctly, does this indicate that ordinary local butchers have not experienced a bounce in trade? And if not, I wonder why?

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    Mute Hippocrateeth
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    Mar 4th 2013, 12:57 PM

    In other news, the number of horses commuting on the Dart has risen by over 800% in the past week. Community watch locals report a growing number of incidences involving horses some described as having ‘brazen attitudes’ and ‘brass balls’ towards concerned travellers waiting on the platforms for their respective trains. In a more striking example of the intimidation by the footloose horses, a 6-pack box of Silverdale frozen burgers was kicked at an elderly man’s head causing the man to curse loudly at the ebullient edible equine. The man was later taken for questioning. A file has been sent to the office of the DPP and a request for legal aid has been sought.

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    Mute Dave Kavanagh
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:18 PM

    Great the media is loving this story and in doing so are systematically destroying one of Irelands core industries. Dont get me wrong I am totally for a free press but some of the sensationalism printed about this scandle (storm in a teacup) in relation to its connection with Ireland has been pure speculation and even when facts where established the Irish connection was still bigged up. Journal well done on being responsible and accurate if only other media would follow your example.

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    Mute Barry McSweeney
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    Mar 4th 2013, 3:22 PM

    If anyone is destroying one of Ireland’s core industries it is those who sold contaminated meat, the officials who refuse to admit that traceability “from farm to fork” is a lie, and the businessmen who refuse to speak publicly about what happened in their factories.
    Burying your head in the sand and “pulling on the green jersey” as you advocate will never work.

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    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
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    Mar 4th 2013, 5:47 PM

    Completely agree with you on this one, Dave!

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    Mute sid
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    Mar 4th 2013, 1:07 PM

    @ dodge

    I figure its a very big deal , nobody has any idea where what horses were used, could have used anything to bolster up the weight

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    Mute АЛЕКСАНДРЪ ХАИШ
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    Mar 4th 2013, 5:21 PM

    “FSAI” IS STILL WORKING ON CONTAMINATED MEAT PRODUCTS ???, WHILE THERE IS POISONOUS MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS RAPIDLY SPREAD ACROSS IRELAND! Disgrace!

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