a penchant for
penchantは仏語由来で、「（強い）傾向、好み」と意味します。LDOCEには"if you have a penchant for something, you like that thing very much and try to do it or have it often"とあります。記事の成り上がりビジネスマンの場合、思い切って「（悪い）趣味」とし、「世間をあっと言わせる趣味をお持ち」と皮肉たっぷりに訳してもピタッと来そうな気がします。（Shou-VR*）
An eccentric Chinese businessman with a penchant for publicity stunts is seeking to buy The New York Times Company.
Chen Guangbiao, a rags-to-riches tycoon who made millions in the recycling business, said he would fly to New York on Friday to meet with a representative of The Times.
With a net worth estimated at $810 million, Chen is known in China as a philanthropist -- even if his methods are somewhat unusual. To promote environmental causes, for example, Chen has distributed cans filled with "clean air."
http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/02/news/companies/china-new-york-times/index.html?hpt=hp_t4&hpt=ias_c2
