[huge87]

More context: https://archive.ph/F7WqX

I'd really like to hear an informed take on this, but I think it's interesting the state has so much power over a billionaire. Is it because political/party power > wealth in China?

My Western intuition conflates the two in that wealth generally provides access to power in all its forms, but I can think of a number of times throughout history where the state can requisition personal wealth at will (don't quote me, I'm no history buff).

[yann2]

Niall Ferguson's Square and the Tower - power is all about your network. Wealth can most definately buy you a network quick, but those networks are more fragile than established entrenched ones.