At the height of his power, Zhou Yongkang controlled police forces, spy agencies, court systems and prosecution offices across China -- and the domestic security czar wasn't shy in deploying his vast assets to crush dissent and unrest in the name of "preserving social stability." 

During his reign before retiring in 2012, as worsening income inequality and official corruption fueled mass discontent nationwide, Zhou oversaw the domestic security budget swell to surpass that of the two million-strong Chinese military -- the world's largest. 

As a member of the ruling Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee -- China's top decision-making body -- Zhou was one of nine men who effectively ruled the country of more than 1.3 billion people. 

Away from the spotlight, though, Zhou and his family members were reportedly taking advantage of his leadership position to accumulate enormous wealth. The allegedly blatant exchange between money and power, as revealed by China's state media, would eventually prompt Zhou's shocking downfall last summer. 

After months of intense political rumors, the Communist Party's disciplinary arm in late July announced a formal investigation into Zhou for "serious disciplinary violations." On Saturday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported his arrest after the Communist leadership expelled him from the party. 

Zhou's case was sent to the country's highest prosecution authority, paving the way for a criminal trial that would make him the most senior official ever to face corruption charges in the history of the People's Republic. 

Party investigators found the 71-year-old former leader received huge bribes, abused his power to benefit family and friends, and leaked state secrets, according to Xinhua. He was also accused of having affairs with multiple women, and trading power and money for sex. 
What was it bigger than?
to surpass that of the two million-strong Chinese military