Meet The Chinese Billionaire Who Asked To Take Selfie With Netanyahu

During Netanyahu’s recent trip to china, a chinses businessman worth an estimated 24 billion dollars, requested to take a selfie with the prime minister.

Prime minster Netanyahu met with many businessman, some of whom are worth in the billions, one of them was Jack Ma, founder of the large ‘Alibaba’ empire, and whose wealth is estimated to be at 24 billion dollars.

On an interview to CBS, Ma shared with the viewers details about his retail enterprise which he built brick by brick. He also answered ‘uncomfortable questions’ he was asked during the interview. When asked if he would provide information about his clients to chinses authorities, Ma answered, “for information on fighting terror, without a doubt I would”.

With an estimated net worth of 24 billion dollars, Ma is considered to be the richest man in china today. The bulk of his wealth was earned through a huge investment his company made in the stock market about two years ago.

Alibaba is the largest internet based seller in China, and is eBay’s fierce competitor.

The Giant retailer has over 100 million customers a day, and by its independents sales it managed to acquire an enormous 22 billion dollars.

Ma also shared about himself and how he got to where he is today, “As a student I wasn’t very good, I failed my university entry exams several times, even before that, I failed many important tests in school”.

I wanted to get a job at the American fast food giant KFC. Twenty-four people got interviewed and only one did not get the job- that was me. I learned my English from tourists who came to china, I was a tour guide for 9 years. I also got turned down from Harvard university no less than 10 times”.

His connection to the Internet he formed while in America in the 90’s. “A friend of mine explained to me the power of a website. At the time, the word china did not exist in the search engine, so we created a site about china, which led to many positive responses of people who enjoyed reading about china. It was then that I understood the power of the network”.

Ma chose Alibaba for its global resonation and together with friends who helped him, he proceeded to sell products online. “I did not want to take money from banks, I wanted to take from customers…”

Regarding China Ma says, “I don’t like to help our government, but if she asks, I help, if the government will ask for help in the war on terror and it will result in the disclosure of our customer’s privacy, I won’t hesitate”.

His bottom line is, “Because people thought that I was crazy I succeeded, if they would have thought that I would succeed I wouldn’t have had a chance.”

Ma finished the interview saying, “Nothing is impossible for anyone, you just have to believe. In our first three years, we didn’t earn a single dollar, and the next two years we only tried to survive.”

As stated, the rich tycoon met with Netanyahu on his recent trip to china and did not hesitate to ask for a selfie with the prime minister.

Ma’s request was graciously granted, and the selfie was taken.

Translated by Eli B.

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