A good boss ensures his staff get rewards. As the leader of the world’s largest retail platform and the richest man in China, Jack Ma certainly knows the deal.
Last week, the 53-year-old billionaire entertained his 40,000 employees by imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves at the company’s annual party.
The self-made tycoon is worth £29.3 billion ($39 billion) and is the 15th richest person in the world, according to Forbes.
He has made headlines across China after his performance wowed his staff.
Bust a move: Jack Ma, China’s richest man, appeared in his company’s annual party as a mysterious dancer to entertain his 40,000 employees in Hangzhou, eastern China, last week
Jack Ma (left) impressed his staff and the media with his imitation of Michael Jackson. He wore a costume similar to the one the late star had worn in the Dangerous World Tour (right)
Mr Ma’s dance routine was the opening act of the 2017 Alibaba Annual Party, held on September 9 in Hangzhou, eastern China.
Headquartered in the provincial capital of Zhejiang, the e-commerce giant was celebrating its 18th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, the company rented the largest stadium in the province, the Yellow Dragon Sports Centre Stadium, to accommodate all the workers who had travelled from all over the world for the party.
According to a video of Mr Ma’s performance online, the CEO appeared on the stage on a motorbike while wearing a mask and a dazzling costume.
The costume, said to be handmade by a Hangzhou-based designer, looked similar to one that had been worn by Michael Jackson during late star’s Dangerous World Tour in 1992 and 1993.
Mr Ma’s company, Alibaba, commented on the man’s performance: ‘Tonight, he is Michael Ma’
The 53-year-old self-made tycoon performed in the largest stadium of Zhejiang Province
The ‘mysterious dancer’ then got off his motorbike and walked to the centre of the stage. All of sudden, he bust out his dance moves to Michael Jackson’s 1982 hit, Billie Jean.
He showed off his pelvic thrusts before making an attempt for the moonwalk.
The audience became wild when Jack Ma took off his mask and revealed his identity to his loyal workers.
He then called on all of his partners in the company and as a group they danced to another Michael Jackson’s song, Dangerous.
The performance ended when Jack Ma, his partners and the audience clapped to the beat of Michael Jackson’s 1991 single, Black or White.
After the footage of Mr Ma’s performance was uploaded onto the Chinese social media, the mega-rich businessman, who was once an English teacher, became a hot topic.
Jack Ma, the founder and CEO of the world’s largest retail platform, is worth £29.3 billion ($39 billion) and is the 15th richest person in the world, according to latest statistics on Forbes
While many people said his moves and demeanor appeared awkward, more people applauded Mr Ma’s creativity and willingness to try new things.
One user praised him on China’s Twitter-like platform Weibo: ‘A boss should be so humble in order to entertain (his staff).’
Another person said that the ‘accomplished’ and ‘forever-young’ Mr Ma must be paying his respect to ‘the idol of his youth’.
The Hangzhou local newspaper, Urban Express, commented by saying that the Oscar owes Jack Ma a golden statuette for his stage talent.
Alibaba, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, released pictures of Jack Ma’s performance on Weibo on the same night as it wrote: ‘Tonight, he is Michael Ma.’