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Alibaba Founder Seen off Spanish Island after Fall out with Chinese Regulators (Photos) 


Thu 21 Oct 2021 | 12:10 AM
Taarek Refaat

Alibaba's founder Jack Ma was on the Spanish island of Mallorca where his luxury yacht is anchored, two Spanish newspapers said on Wednesday, on his first trip abroad since he fell out with China's regulators in 2020.

Two Spanish newspapers said, on Wednesday, that the founder of Alibaba was on the Spanish island of Mallorca where his luxury yacht is docked, in his first trip abroad since a row with Chinese regulators in 2020.

The Chinese billionaire has been largely out of public view since he publicly criticized the Chinese regulatory system in a speech last year. His empire immediately came under heavy scrutiny by regulators, which even led to the suspension of Ant Group's $37 billion initial public offering (IPO).

Diario de Mallorca newspaper reported that he was seen on Tuesday in the port of Andratx, buying home decorations from a local store.

The luxury yacht Zen has been moving along the northwest coast of Mallorca for the past few days and was in Andratx on Tuesday.

El Pais newspaper, without citing any sources, said that Ma has been visiting the Spanish Balearic Islands since Saturday, accompanied by several Chinese businessmen and his security responsibility.

According to the Superyacht Times edition, the elegant five-deck, vertically bowed yacht with a length of 88 meters (289 feet) can accommodate up to 16 guests and a crew of 25 people.

Ma, retired CEO of Alibaba in 2019, is a global "traveler" who was not known to stay out of the limelight before the spat with regulators.