Wang Jianlin on Why the Wanda Phenomenon Works

(Boston) – The US$ 2.6 billion buyout of cinema chain AMC Entertainment in 2012 and the 45 million euro acquisition of the Spanish soccer team Atletico Madrid in January were just two of many globe-spanning deals in recent years that elevated the Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group and its founder Wang Jianlin to celebrity status.

Wang's star rose even higher in October when he was named China's richest person by the Hurun Rich List, a Shanghai-based wealth tracker, with 220 billion yuan in personal assets – 52 percent above his 2014 net worth.