Flamboyant Bo Xilai went from being a prisoner during the Cultural Revolution to the young mayor of a booming northern port city and ultimately, an ultra-conservative ideologue in Chongqing.
Media-savvy Bo, 62, was a maverick with a ready charm whose openness meant he always stood out from his peers. He would even talk about his private life in public.
He boosted economic development in the northeastern industrial rustbelt province of Liaoning and cracked down on organised crime in Chongqing.
And speculation was rife that he would be elevated to the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee - its top ruling body - at a key party congress this autumn.
But he was also controversial, especially after moving to Chongqing, where he embarked on a campaign to spread communist ideals harking back to the era of Mao Zedong.
He was also dogged by allegations he used 'gangster tactics' to crack down on criminals.
Analysts say that yesterday's dramatic announcement of his removal as Chongqing party boss means his political career is effectively finished, though he could hang on to his Politburo membership.