Vladimir Putin may officially declare himself to be paid $140,000 a year, but his lifestyle and rumored wealth tell a different story. Although he acknowledges possessing modest possessions such as a trailer, three automobiles, and an 800-square-foot apartment, recurring rumors point to a more lavish reality.
A significant investor in Russia in the 1990s sparked rumors about Putin’s personal fortune, which have since been estimated to be worth an astounding $200 billion.
The Black Sea home, also known as “Putin’s Country Cottage,” is a well-known representation of Putin’s purported affluence, which adds intrigue to the question of his money.
Contradictory reports notwithstanding, the resort is purported to have lavish features like a nightclub, a modern ice hockey rink, a marble pool adorned with statues of Greek gods, an amphitheater, and a casino modeled after Vegas.
The luxurious furnishings in the lavish interior include a $500,000 dining room set, a $54,000 bar table, and bathrooms with $850 Italian toilet brushes and $1,250 toilet paper holders. Fortune claims that maintaining this level of opulence requires an annual staff cost of $2 million.
Putin’s list of extravagant possessions now includes 19 additional homes, 700 vehicles, 58 planes and helicopters, and a $716 million aircraft dubbed “The Flying Kremlin.”
The president is rumored to be the owner of a $700 million mega yacht named Scheherazade, which adds to the rumors about his fortune.
Putin’s purportedly extravagant lifestyle is further enhanced by his collection of high-end timepieces, which includes a $500,000 A. Lange & Sohne Tourbograph and a $60,000 Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar. The cost of these timepieces alone was six times his official yearly income.
