21/01/2024
752 times read
21/01/2024
752 times read
![](https://www.arabtimesonline.com/uploads/imported_images/2024/01/putin-wealth-corruption-1024x576.jpg)
MOSCOW, Jan 21: Despite Vladimir Putin's official claim of an annual salary of $140,000, revelations about the Russian President's reported net worth and lavish lifestyle paint a contrasting picture.
While Putin publicly acknowledges ownership of modest assets, including an 800-square-foot apartment, a trailer, and three cars, persistent rumors hint at a far more opulent reality. Reports suggest Putin's wealth may soar to a staggering $200 billion, with claims originating from a significant investor in Russia during the 1990s, contributing to the enigma surrounding Putin's financial affairs.
At the center of speculations about Putin's affluence is the Black Sea mansion, often dubbed "Putin's Country Cottage." Despite conflicting statements, this property, nestled atop a cliff, is rumored to feature extravagant amenities, including a marble swimming pool adorned with statues of Greek gods, an amphitheater, an ice hockey rink, a Vegas-style casino, and even a nightclub.
The mansion's lavish interior supposedly boasts opulent dining room furniture valued at $500,000, a bar table worth $54,000, and lavishly appointed bathrooms featuring Italian toilet brushes priced at $850 and toilet paper holders at $1,250. According to Fortune, maintaining such grandeur necessitates an annual expenditure of $2 million for a 40-person staff.
Further contributing to the list of Putin's alleged extravagances are reports of 19 other houses, 700 cars, 58 aircraft and helicopters, and a $716 million plane amusingly named "The Flying Kremlin." The president's rumored ownership of a mega yacht named Scheherazade, valued at a staggering $700 million, intensifies speculation about the true extent of his wealth.
Putin's penchant for luxury extends to his collection of watches, featuring the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar valued at $60,000 and a $500,000 A. Lange & Sohne Tourbograph. Notably, these watches alone surpass six times his officially declared annual salary.