# second act

The Waning of a Real‑Estate Patriarch: How Wang Shi’s Personal Drama Exposes a Broader Fall from Grace

Wang Shi, the 75‑year‑old founder of Vanke, has been compelled to rebut marital split rumours as social‑media footage and changes in joint holdings signal a decoupling from his younger partner, Tian Pujun. The personal spectacle mirrors Wang's professional decline since the 2015 Vanke power struggle and failed post‑Vanke ventures, underscoring how attention economies and generational shifts can hollow out the authority of once‑powerful business figures.