Wang Jianlin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wang Jianlin
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| 王健林 | |
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Wang in 2016
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| Born | 24 October 1954 Cangxi, Guangyuan, Sichuan, China
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| Education | Liaoning University |
| Occupation | Businessman, investor, philanthropist |
| Organization | Founder and chairman, Dalian Wanda Group |
| Known for | Wealthiest person in China (2015–2017) |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Lin Ning |
| Children | Wang Sicong (son) |
Wang Jianlin (Chinese: 王健林; pinyin: Wáng Jiànlín; born 24 October 1954) is a famous Chinese businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman and founder of the Dalian Wanda Group. This company is one of China's biggest businesses. It is known for being China's largest real estate development company and the world's largest movie theater operator. Wang Jianlin was once the richest person in China.
Wang has also helped as an economic advisor for different governments. He was named an "honorable citizen" of Changchun and an "outstanding contributor" to the city of Dalian. As of May 2025, he is still one of the richest people in China, with a net worth of about US$4.2 billion.
Contents
Early Life and Starting His Career
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Wang Jianlin was born on October 24, 1954, in Cangxi County, Sichuan, China. He was the oldest of five sons. His father was a farmer who fought in the army during the Long March.
When he was just 15 years old, Wang joined the army. He quickly moved up the ranks and became a commander by age 27. He served in the army for 17 years.
In 1986, after leaving the army, Wang started working for the local government in Dalian. Two years later, in 1988, he borrowed $80,000 to take over a small property company. In 1992, his company became one of the first to be publicly traded in China. He became the general manager and changed the company's name to Dalian Wanda.
Building a Business Empire
Wang Jianlin's Dalian Wanda Group grew into a huge company. It owns many commercial properties across China. These include over 160 Wanda Shopping Plazas, luxury hotels, cinemas, department stores, and karaoke centers.
- Becoming a Movie Giant: In 2012, Dalian Wanda Group became the world's largest movie theater owner. This happened when they bought AMC Theatres, a big American cinema chain, for $2.6 billion. They later listed AMC on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Hollywood Connections: In 2014, Wang launched a huge $8 billion project to build a "mini-Hollywood" in the city of Qingdao. Famous Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio even attended the launch!
- Global Properties: Dalian Wanda also bought important buildings and land in other countries. This included the Edificio España building in Madrid, Spain, and land in Beverly Hills, California, to build their American headquarters.
- Sports Investments: In 2015, Wang bought a 20 percent share in the Spanish football club Atlético Madrid. He later sold his share in 2018. In 2016, he also worked with FIFA to start the China Cup, a football tournament for national teams.
- Entertainment Expansion: Wang's company also bought Dick Clark Productions in 2016 for about $1 billion. This gave them the rights to broadcast major events like the Golden Globe Awards. Wanda already owned Legendary Entertainment, which helped produce movies like Jurassic World.
Wang is known for his strong leadership. He expects "iron discipline" at work, and employees are even fined for not following the company's dress code.
Helping Others and Public Service
Wang Jianlin has always been involved in public service and helping others.
- Joining the Party: He joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1976. He has also served as a delegate to the Chinese National People's Congress, which is like China's parliament.
- Leadership Roles: He holds many important positions in various organizations. He is the vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He is also involved with many charity groups.
- Generous Donations: Wang is a big supporter of charity.
- In 2011, he gave $197 million to help restore an ancient temple in Nanjing.
- From 2014 to 2015, he donated $200,000 to help fix the Electric Fountain in Beverly Hills, California.
- In 2017, he gave 20 million Chinese yuan to help victims of a landslide in Sichuan.
- Largest Personal Donation: In 2010, Wang made a huge donation of one billion Chinese yuan (about $156 million) to the city of Nanjing. This money was used to rebuild the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing. This was reported to be the largest single personal donation ever made in China.
Wang believes that business leaders should work closely with the government to understand what is needed for development.
Wealth and Recognition
Wang Jianlin has often been listed among the richest people in the world.
- In August 2013, he was named the wealthiest person in China with a net worth of $14.2 billion.
- By 2016, he was the richest person in Asia, with an estimated $28.7 billion.
- In 2017, he was ranked 18th on Forbes World's Billionaires list, making him the richest man in China with $31.3 billion. However, later that year, Jack Ma of Alibaba Group became the richest.
- In 2020, his wealth decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting his real estate and movie theater businesses.
- As of November 2022, Forbes estimated his net worth at $7.9 billion.
Personal Life
Wang Jianlin is married to Lin Ning. They have a son named Wang Sicong, who was born in 1988. Wang Sicong studied in the UK and is now a board member of the Wanda Group. He also works as an investor.
Wang Jianlin follows Buddhism, but he doesn't consider himself strictly religious. Because of his many years in the military, he lives a very disciplined life. He enjoys collecting art and singing karaoke. He is also known for singing Tibetan and Mongolian folk songs.
In December 2015, Wang bought a house in London for £80 million. In July 2016, he released a book called The Wanda Way. This book shares his ideas on how to manage a big company and includes his business philosophy.
See also
In Spanish: Wang Jianlin para niños
