There’s a lot of speculation these days around the rise of the self made Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin, often referred to as “The Chinese Elon Musk”. So is there any truth to this comparison?
Wang is the founder of Wanda Group which he started in 1988, and has gone on to become China’s second largest commercial property company. His company is known for its luxurious multi-use entertainment, retail and real estate complexes, often compared to the shopping malls developed by Musk’s SpaceX.
But it’s not just the similarities in their businesses that have made the comparison. Wang himself is seen to have a similar attitude towards risk taking, innovating and future vision as the tech entrepreneur Musk. His approach to finding solutions has pushed the boundaries in business and technology and demonstrates how the Chinese are drawing ever closer to leading the world on most innovative technologies.
However, experts suggest that while the comparison may seem flattering, it is not entirely accurate. Firstly, because of the differences between their respective businesses: whereas Musk is focused on developing truly cutting edge technology such as electric cars, solar energy and space exploration, Wang is focused on more traditional businesses.
Secondly, Musk’s success comes largely from the scale of ambition and ambition itself. In this regard, Musk has set a much higher bar for himself, whereas Wang’s success appears to have stemmed from a more conventional approach and a less ambitious mindset. Musk has managed to create a number of successful companies from scratch, whereas Wang has built upon another company started by his father.
Thirdly, Musk is a pioneer when it comes to tackling global issues. He continues to explore ways to tackle global warming through his Tesla cars and SpaceX initiatives, as well as being deeply involved in artificial intelligence and other futuristic technologies. Wang’s Wanda Group, while far reaching and successful, has not really gone beyond the boundaries of traditional business.
Comparison in Vision and Values
While their respective businesses differ significantly, there is one similarity between Musk and Wang which stands out – their shared vision and values for a better future. Both men have promoted national technological progress, advocating for sustainable development and encouraging young people to pursue ambitious goals.
For example, Musk’s launch of a Tesla car in China was seen as a move to support environmental improvement initiatives in the country. Similarly, Wang’s initiative of building a large number of malls in China was seen as a move to promote leisure activities, tourism, and consumerism.
In a way, both men have tried to provide solutions to problems in their respective countries, though utilizing different means. This shows that, in some ways, they share a similar worldview – and is perhaps the main factor that has made the Chinese-Elon Musk comparison so popular.
Wang’s Influence and Impact
Regardless of the comparison, it can’t be denied that Wang is an extremely influential businessman, and his success has been an inspiration to many people. His career trajectory and wealth, which is estimated to be around $34 billion, has encouraged many Chinese entrepreneurs to strive for bigger goals, and has become an example of self made success for the younger generations in the country.
Many of Wang’s followers point to his ability to take risks, innovate, and think big as the main factors behind his success. He is seen as a leader who is not afraid to challenge the status quo and look towards the future. His ability to think outside the box and to come up with solutions to complex problems has enabled him to develop and diversify his businesses in ways that weren’t thought possible before.
Wang’s success has also been enabled by favorable government policies and the sheer size of China’s market. As such, his success may have come about in part because of these external factors, which have helped to level the playing field for some Chinese entrepreneurs.
Conclusion
Though the comparison between Musk and Wang is certainly valid in some aspects, the truth is that the two businesspeople have very different backgrounds and ambitions. Musk is a risk taker, innovator and visionary, whereas Wang is more of a traditionalist. Furthermore, Musk’s success has been enabled in part by the sheer size of the markets he has ventured into, whereas Wang has benefited from favorable government policies in his native China.
However, the fact that they share the same vision and values can’t be denied and their success has been very inspirational to many. Wang has been an exemplary self-made man, showing that with hard work and dedication, one can succeed even in the face of adversity. He has encouraged many entrepreneurs in China to think big and take risks, which has had a truly positive impact.
