Putin's official financial disclosure claims he earns just $175K a year and owns a couple of apartments and a parking spot, per BI.
This disclosure is part of the formalities required for presidential candidates, a step Putin completed on Monday ahead of Russia's March 17 elections.
According to the document, detailed by The Moscow Times, Putin's assets remain largely unchanged compared to his last disclosure in 2018, and include:
- $753,000, representing six years of his official salary, pension, and other earnings;
- $607,000 in savings spread across several bank accounts;
- A 1,650-square-foot government-leased apartment in Moscow;
- An 828-square-foot apartment in St Petersburg, accompanied by a 193-square-foot garage;
- A parking space in St Petersburg;
- Two classic cars from the 1960s;
- A 1987 camping trailer;
- And a 2009 Lada Niva.
However, these assets are far from reflecting the immense wealth Putin is believed to possess.
Estimating his true wealth is incredibly challenging, even for wealth experts such as those at Forbes.
Investigative reporting by organizations like the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, independent Russian outlet Proekt, and opposition figure Alexei Navalny have suggested vast sums and extensive property portfolios under Putin's likely control over the years.
The most commonly cited estimate comes from financier and Kremlin critic Bill Browder, who suggested Putin's worth to be around $200 billion. If accurate, this would position Putin as the world's third-richest person in 2024, surpassing Jeff Bezos by a few billion.
However, the recent financial disclosure makes no mention of the numerous palaces and superyachts reportedly owned or controlled by Putin.
There's no reference to the secret bunker at his Black Sea palace, nor the heavily guarded woodland palace on Lake Valdai, where his alleged girlfriend Alina Kabayeva is rumored to reside.
