For those rich guys, the decision to sell and leave often has less to do about profit than fear of becoming a fall guy for the CPC’s latest corruption campaign (and let’s face it, they all have plenty of dirt). They all have plenty of dirty. “Retiring” to Vancouver is an easy way out, and might even be encouraged by the local party (e.g. “you should sell your metal scrap business to my brother at a 60% discount and then get out of town...”).

The new generation of entrepreneurs is a lot more guanxi secure than the one that organically grew up in the 80s. They often are or have friends related to those in power, so we won’t see another transition until Xi passes the baton.