Benjamin Netanyahu's Net Worth: From Prime Minister To Potential War Criminal!
Benjamin Netanyahu's Net Worth: From Prime Minister To Potential War Criminal!
What is Benjamin Netanyahu's Net Worth?
Benjamin Netanyahu is a prominent Israeli politician with a net worth estimated at $13 million. He has held the position of prime minister on three separate occasions: initially from 1996 to 1999, and subsequently from 2009 to 2021. Remarkably, he was re-elected in November 2022. During the interval between his first two terms, Netanyahu engaged in the private sector before assuming the roles of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. A figure of significant controversy both domestically and internationally, he faced indictment in 2019 on charges including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
Early Life and Education
Benjamin Netanyahu was born on October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel, as the second of three children to secular Jewish parents, Tzila and Benzion. He spent his formative years in Jerusalem, where he attended Henrietta Szold Elementary School. Later, his family relocated to the United States, settling in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania.
During his time at Cheltenham High School, he participated in activities such as chess, debate, and soccer. Notably, one of his classmates was Reggie Jackson, who would later become a Hall of Famer in Major League Baseball and is three years younger than Netanyahu.
After completing high school, Netanyahu returned to Israel to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces. He trained as a combat soldier and served for five years in the elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal, participating in various missions. Following his discharge in 1972, he went back to the United States to pursue studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He briefly returned to Israel to engage in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 before resuming his education at MIT, where he completed a degree in architecture. Netanyahu later obtained a master's degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Although he was in the process of pursuing a doctorate, he paused his studies after the tragic death of his brother Yonatan during Operation Entebbe.
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Career Beginnings
Following his graduation from MIT in 1976, Netanyahu worked as an economic consultant at the Boston Consulting Group for a period of two years. He subsequently returned to Israel, where he established the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute in memory of his deceased brother. From 1980 to 1982, he held the position of director of marketing at Rim Industries in Jerusalem. During this period, he forged relationships with several Israeli politicians, which ultimately facilitated his appointment as the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988.
Leader of the Opposition, 1993-1996
In the late 1980s, Netanyahu made his return to Israel and became a member of the Likud party. During the 1992 Israeli legislative elections, the Likud party faced defeat, prompting a primary election to choose a new leader, which resulted in Netanyahu's selection. Serving as the Leader of the Opposition, he subsequently campaigned for the position of prime minister in the 1996 legislative election. Netanyahu emerged victorious against the sitting prime minister, Shimon Peres, thereby making history as the youngest prime minister in Israel's history.
Prime Minister, 1996-1999
During his initial term as prime minister, Netanyahu engaged in negotiations with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and exacerbated tensions with Jordan by ordering the assassination of Hamas leader Khaled Mashal. He also initiated a series of economic liberalization measures aimed at transitioning Israel towards a free-market economy.
His administration faced significant opposition from the political left and was embroiled in several high-profile scandals related to corruption allegations. In the 1999 elections, Netanyahu and the Likud party were defeated by Ehud Barak and his One Israel party.
Private Sector Career
After his electoral defeat in 1999, Netanyahu stepped back from politics and entered the private sector. He spent two years as a senior consultant for BATM Advanced Communications, an Israeli manufacturer of communications equipment.
Return to Government
In late 2000, following the collapse of Barak's government, Ariel Sharon assumed the role of Israeli prime minister. Encouraged to re-enter the political arena, Netanyahu was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and subsequently served as Minister of Finance. From 2003 to 2005, he implemented significant economic reforms that were recognized for fostering economic growth and attracting record levels of foreign investment. However, tensions arose between Netanyahu and Sharon, particularly over the Gaza disengagement plan, leading to Netanyahu's resignation as Minister of Finance in August 2005.
Prime Minister, 2009-2021
Following Sharon's resignation to establish his new party, Kadima, Netanyahu resumed his role as Leader of the Opposition for Likud, a position he held from 2006 until 2009. Although Likud finished second to Kadima in the 2009 elections, Netanyahu successfully formed a coalition government, thereby securing his second term as prime minister. He subsequently led Likud to victories in the elections of 2013 and 2015.
In 2020, amid ongoing political stalemate between Benny Gantz's Blue and White alliance and Netanyahu's Likud, the two parties reached a coalition agreement that included a rotating premiership arrangement. However, this coalition disintegrated in late 2020, leading to a new election in 2021. In June of that year, Netanyahu was ousted from the prime ministership when Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid established a new government, resulting in his third tenure as Leader of the Opposition.
Criminal Investigations and Indictment
Beginning in 2017, Netanyahu became the focus of criminal investigations concerning allegations of corruption. The charges against him included bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. In November 2019, he was officially indicted, marking him as the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges. Should he be convicted, he could potentially face a cumulative prison sentence of up to 13 years.
Netanyahu has faced scrutiny over alleged war crimes brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. The charges stem from military actions during his tenure, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, which critics claim resulted in disproportionate civilian casualties and potential violations of international law. Netanyahu has vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them politically motivated and biased against Israel. His government argues that Israel acts in self-defense against terrorism. The case has sparked intense global debate, with supporters defending Netanyahu's policies as necessary for national security and critics condemning alleged human rights violations.
Personal Life
Netanyahu's first marriage was to Miriam Weizmann in 1972, with whom he had a daughter named Noa in 1978. That same year, he began an affair with a university student, Fleur Cates, which ultimately led to the end of his marriage to Weizmann. He married Cates in 1981, but their union ended in divorce in 1984. In 1991, he married his third wife, Sara Ben-Artzi, a flight attendant, and they have two sons, Yair and Avner. During the early years of this marriage, Netanyahu was involved in an affair with his public relations adviser, Ruth Bar.
Benjamin Netanyahu's legacy is one marked by significant controversy and division. While his tenure saw notable economic reforms and a firm stance on national security, it has also been marred by allegations of corruption, legal battles, and contentious policies. His indictment on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, coupled with accusations of war crimes, has fueled domestic and international criticism.
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Many view his leadership as polarizing, exacerbating tensions within Israeli society and abroad. Critics argue that his hardline approaches and political maneuvering have undermined democratic norms, leaving a contentious and divisive imprint on Israel’s political and social landscape.
