Jack Ma arrested? Chinese media says Alibaba founder 'embracing supervision'
Ma's disappearance has fuelled speculations that he is either arrested or placed under house arrest. China has a track record of not revealing information on arrests of big personalities, so under 'supervision' could well mean jail

- Jan 5, 2021,
- Updated Jan 5, 2021 12:02 PM IST
After reports that China's most famous billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has been missing in action for weeks, it has come to light that he is 'embracing supervision'. This has fuelled speculations that one of the world's richest men, Ma is either arrested or placed under house arrest. China has a track record of not revealing information on arrests of big personalities, so 'embracing supervision' could well mean jail.
Coinciding with his disappearance is Chinese state-owned media's heated up online vitriol against Ma, which has suddenly increased. After Ma's recent wrangle with China's authoritarian regime over the regulatory issues, Chinese media outlets have desperately tried to change his image from "Uncle Horse" (Ma in Chinese means horse)" to a cruel and money-grabbing "vampire" businessman. He is being posed as the one who loves to exploit the poor in various government-leaning media outlets.
After reports that China's most famous billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has been missing in action for weeks, it has come to light that he is 'embracing supervision'. This has fuelled speculations that one of the world's richest men, Ma is either arrested or placed under house arrest. China has a track record of not revealing information on arrests of big personalities, so 'embracing supervision' could well mean jail.
Coinciding with his disappearance is Chinese state-owned media's heated up online vitriol against Ma, which has suddenly increased. After Ma's recent wrangle with China's authoritarian regime over the regulatory issues, Chinese media outlets have desperately tried to change his image from "Uncle Horse" (Ma in Chinese means horse)" to a cruel and money-grabbing "vampire" businessman. He is being posed as the one who loves to exploit the poor in various government-leaning media outlets.