Forbes Israel publishes a ranking of wealthy politicians 2019: This is the fourth time that Forbes publishes the rating, as part of the effort to create maximum transparency of elected officials ahead of the upcoming elections.

The list is headed by the Barkats, Nir who is on the Likud list, with NIS 500 million, and Ilana Barkat, who is on the New Right list, with NIS 460 million.

The two brothers-in-law, whose sources are identical, are worth close to NIS 1 billion.

Most of their wealth was done by the brothers Nir and Eli (Ilani’s husband) in high-tech. The biggest profit was made from an investment in young Check Point – an investment that yielded close to $100 million. The two brothers now hold the controlling interest in Meitav Dash.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has NIS 50 million. Netanyahu gained most of his fortune when he left the political arena after losing to Ehud Barak in the 1999 elections. He then turned to the business market, gave lectures and served as a strategic adviser to BATM and ElectricFuel. In addition, it is estimated that he earned no less than NIS 5 million for his lectures.

Another politician who made his fortune in high-tech is Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who is worth NIS 32 million, after completing an exit in 2005 from the information security company Cyota, in which he was a partner.

Labor Vhairman Avi Gabbai, who is worth NIS 29 million, accumulated his fortune during his years as a senior executive at Bezeq, and has accumulated NIS 52 million in pre-tax capital, which includes bonuses, salaries and options. Of this sum, NIS 15 million was realized in 2010.

Gabbay’s salary at Bezeq was NIS 175,000 a month, and each year he received a bonus of 100% of his annual salary. In addition, in 2010 he received an additional bonus of NIS 1.4 million.

Yair Lapid, who is worth NIS 25 million, accumulated his fortune during the many years he worked in the media. Among other things, he accumulated capital from writing his weekly column in Yediot Achronot, his talk show on Channel 2, and submitting “Ulpan Shishi” on News 2. Lapid also wrote 11 books, and was a requested lecturer and facilitator and served as a presenter for Bank Hapoalim.

Also included in the ranking of former prime minister Ehud Barak with a value of 120 million. He is not running in the election but is deeply involved in political events. Barak is the political figure whose fortune has jumped most impressively in recent years, and now Forbes Israel estimates that it is crossing the NIS 100 million threshold.

A significant part of the jump in Barak’s fortune comes from his recent investment in the cannabis company InterCure, which is worth NIS 30-35 million on paper. In addition, Barak’s investments in real estate have yielded tens of millions of shekels in recent years, along with accumulated capital as a wanted lecturer and consultant and partner in several technological companies.

The richest politicians in Israel (Amounts in NIS):
1. Nir Barkat – 500 million
2. Ilana Barkat – 460 million
3. Ehud Barkat – 120 million
4. Binyamin Netanyahu – 50 million
5. Naftali Bennet – 32 million
6. Avi Gabbai – 29 million
7. Chaim Katz – 28 million
8. Yair Lapid – 25 million

Benny Gantz’s worth is estimated at NIS 8 million. Although the Fifth Dimension that closed down was the company to which he was associated most of all, Ganz was also involved in other businesses. His fortune is derived from a salary he received as a consultant to the satellite dishes company GetSat and as a director in Elron and Amos.

Gantz also held options in Amos, which was sold for NIS 400,000. His wealth also includes the value of his home in the Neve Afek neighborhood of Rosh Ha’ayin.

It should be noted that in calculating the fortune of the former senior officers, the military pension was not included, which for a former Chief of Staff may reach NIS 20 million by the age of 80.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who is running with Naftali Bennett at the head of the New Right party, is estimated at NIS 8 million. Most of Shaked’s fortune comes from her home in the Ramat HaChaiyal neighborhood of Tel Aviv.

Gideon Saar’s fortune, who returned to political life, is estimated at NIS 3 million to NIS 4 million. His fortune includes the value of his residence in the tower on Pinchas Street in Tel Aviv (where he pays a mortgage). In addition, Saar accumulated a small sum when he worked as a consultant and academic staff.

The fortune of those who jumped into the political arena at the last minute; former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi, is estimated at NIS 8 million, including Ashkenazi’s penthouse where he lives in the center of Kfar Saba, as well as capital accumulated as chairman of the Shemen oil drilling company, where he reportedly earned NIS 3 million for almost two years.

Afterward, he was appointed chairman of the insurance agency Gil Vardi, in which his son Itai is a partner. He is also a requested speaker.

Forbes Israel stresses there is nothing wrong with holding large amounts of capital. Rich politicians do not automatically become corrupt, or less good parliamentarians, but they certainly put them in a position where they are much more vulnerable to conflicts of interest – and that is enough reason for their worth to become a public matter.

This is also the rationale behind the magazine’s rating and the demand that politicians fully disclose their wealth and sources.

The ranking of the wealthy politicians is based on an indepth investigative report, together with open information, published among other things in the form of capital statements published by elected officials over the years.

Naturally, investment portfolios of politicians, as well as their bank accounts, are not exposed, and therefore estimates regarding investments are very cautious. On the basis of these and based on conversations with associates and professionals, Forbes Israel can, in most cases, provide a realistic estimate based on existing information.

All politicians were asked to disclose their assets and to refer to Forbes estimates. Most of them refused to comment. Some of them, such as Gideon Saar, Yoav Galant, Yair Lapid and Avi Gabbai, provided general information about their real estate assets.

No politician has openly disclosed to Forbes Israel in full and detailed the sources of his fortune, the report concludes.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)