- Chinese businessman Guo Wengui has been arrested on fraud charges.
- He’s a critic of the Chinese government and associate of Trumpist Republicans.
- Guo is accused of stealing billions from followers to fund a luxury lifestyle.
Guo Wengui’s life has been likened to a story from a spy thriller.
The controversial billionaire, once one of China’s richest men, has positioned himself as an activist trying “to expose the leviathan Chinese mafia state.”
An ally of Steve Bannon and other pro-Trump Republicans, Guo has also variously portrayed himself as a rapper, online influencer, crypto guru and real estate mogul.
The enigma around the billionaire deepened this week after US authorities charged the property tycoon with orchestrating a billion-dollar fraud.
Much of his background is still shrouded in mystery and Guo’s exact purpose and loyalties are the subject of speculation and conspiracy theories.
Here’s what we know about Guo and his outlandish lifestyle: