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Kim Jong Un's Billionaire Lifestyle As The Richest President
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00:00Kim Jong-un isn't just the world's most feared dictator, he's one of the richest.
00:04While North Koreans survive on rice rations, he blows millions on watches, rare booze and luxury feasts.
00:11His main home? A 12 square kilometers palace with an Olympic pool, racehorses, a private cinema and more.
00:19So how does the leader of a broke, heavily sanctioned nation live like this?
00:23Let's break down the hidden empire funding it all.
00:26Inside Kim Jong-un's $5 billion asset empire
00:30With an estimated $5 billion at his disposal, Kim has created what can only be described as a parallel universe of luxury,
00:40where money is no object and extravagance knows no bounds.
00:44At the heart of Kim's empire lies an astounding collection of residences that would make medieval kings weep with envy.
00:52The supreme leader maintains at least 17 palaces and luxury estates scattered across North Korea, each more opulent than the last.
01:01But calling them merely residences would be a dramatic understatement.
01:05These are complete luxury compounds that serve as monuments to unchecked power and unlimited spending.
01:12His primary residence, the Ryongsong Residence in Pyongyang, spans an incredible 12 square kilometers and functions as a city within a city.
01:22Built in 1983 but continuously upgraded with the latest luxuries, this compound makes the White House look like a modest suburban home.
01:31The residence features an Olympic standard swimming pool complete with a giant water slide, multiple banquet halls capable of hosting hundreds of guests,
01:42a professional running track, a shooting range for target practice, horse stables with a dedicated racing track and even a private playground.
01:51But perhaps most telling of Kim's priorities is the compound's 1,000-seat private cinema,
01:57which houses his collection of over 20,000 imported DVDs, a collection that's illegal for ordinary North Koreans to possess.
02:06This cinematic obsession, inherited from his film fanatic father, includes everything from Hollywood blockbusters to Japanese Godzilla movies,
02:16creating a surreal situation where Kim enjoys Western entertainment while his people are forbidden from accessing any foreign media.
02:25The security arrangements alone at Ryongsong reveal the paranoid mindset of a man who knows his wealth is built on oppression.
02:33The compound is surrounded by electric fences, minefields and multiple security checkpoints,
02:39with underground tunnels connecting it to other residences for emergency evacuation.
02:44There's even a private underground train, station and a wartime headquarters with lead-lined concrete walls designed to protect against nuclear attacks.
02:54Because apparently even billionaire dictators worry about job security.
02:59Kim's paranoia about assassination attempts recently led to an expansion of his real estate empire.
03:04In 2022, satellite imagery revealed that eight new luxury mansions were constructed in Pyongyang's secretive Changkwangsan compound.
03:14These additional residences serve a dual purpose.
03:18They provide Kim with more options for where to sleep each night, making it nearly impossible for potential enemies to target him,
03:25while also offering even more luxurious accommodations for his growing appetite for comfort.
03:31But Kim's real estate portfolio extends far beyond Pyongyang's city limits.
03:37His Wonsan villa in Kungwon province has become legendary among the few outsiders who have witnessed its grandeur.
03:44Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who visited this coastal retreat in 2013,
03:50described it as a playground that could rival any billionaire's private resort.
03:55The compound features luxurious cruise ships docked at a private marina, a horse-riding range, a shooting range and elaborate water play areas.
04:04Perhaps most extravagant of all is Kim's private island, which Rodman famously compared to Hawaii or Ibiza, but he's the only one that lives there.
04:13This exclusive retreat features a football pitch, basketball court, multiple swimming pools, party boats and a small water park.
04:21It's essentially a billionaire's playground where Kim can entertain select guests in complete isolation from the outside world.
04:30And more importantly, from his own suffering people, the logistics of maintaining these properties reveal the true scale of Kim's spending.
04:38Each residence requires constant maintenance, security and staffing.
04:43With millions spent annually on imported amenities, luxury furnishings and recreational facilities,
04:48The cost of simply heating and cooling these massive compounds in North Korea's harsh climate would bankrupt most small nations.
04:58Yet for Kim, it's merely the price of comfort.
05:00Kim's transportation needs are equally extravagant, starting with what is arguably the world's most expensive mobile fortress.
05:09His 90-carriage armoured train inherited from his father has been transformed into a rolling palace that makes luxury cruise ships look modest.
05:19The train features dining cars with kitchens serving Japanese and French cuisine, conference rooms for conducting state business and luxurious sleeping quarters with plush pink leather seats and modern white paneling.
05:33The train's security features are equally impressive and terrifying.
05:37The entire convoy is bulletproof and travels with the security detail of over 100 agents, while Mi-17 helicopters and Air Force planes accompany it overhead.
05:48The train's weight from all this armour limits its speed to just 37 miles per hour, meaning Kim's domestic trips take considerably longer than necessary.
05:57But apparently safety and luxury trump efficiency.
06:01Perhaps most controversially, the train is staffed by what North Korean defectors refer to as the Pleasure Brigade, a group of young women selected for their beauty and trained to serve as hostesses and entertainers.
06:14While the exact nature of their duties remains unclear due to the regime's secrecy, their presence on Kim's train highlights the deeply troubling intersection of wealth, power and exploitation that defines his rule.
06:27When Kim does choose to travel by air, he has access to a fleet that would make most airlines jealous.
06:34His primary aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-62M nicknamed Chame-1, has been extensively modified with white leather sofas, rosewood desks, crystal ashtrays and advanced security features.
06:48The jet's 10.00 km range allows Kim to travel anywhere in the world, though he rarely ventures beyond China and Russia.
06:57Kim also maintains a Ukrainian-made Antonovon 148 for shorter trips, complete with customised interiors and luxury amenities.
07:07The maintenance costs for these aircraft are staggering.
07:10experts estimate that maintaining two presidential jets costs approximately $50 million per plane,
07:17which seems particularly excessive given that Kim has made only nine foreign trips since taking
07:23power in 2011. To ensure convenient access to his aircraft, Kim has ordered the construction of five
07:31private airstrips near his various palaces, including a 500-meter runway at his Wonsan
07:37compound. These private runways allow Kim to travel between his residences without using North
07:44Korea's civilian airports, maintaining both security and privacy while adding millions more
07:49to his infrastructure costs. Kim's maritime assets are equally impressive and reveal his taste for
07:56floating luxury. His crown jewel is a Princess 95 Mai yacht worth between $7-8 million featuring three
08:05decks, multiple cabins, dining areas, and entertainment facilities. But this is just one
08:11vessel in what satellite imagery reveals to be an impressive fleet. At his Wonsan compound alone,
08:17Kim maintains at least four cruise ships ranging from 50 to 80 meters in length. The largest,
08:23an 80-meter behemoth, features an Olympic-sized swimming pool with four lanes and four circular
08:29waterslides, essentially a floating water park reserved for Kim's exclusive use. There's also
08:36a 200-foot multi-story party barge designed specifically for entertaining guests, complete
08:42with pools and luxury amenities. The acquisition and maintenance of these maritime assets represent
08:49millions in ongoing costs, from fuel and crew to repairs and upgrades. Yet for Kim, these floating
08:55palaces serve multiple purposes. They provide luxury entertainment venues, offer secure meeting
09:02locations away from potential surveillance, and create powerful propaganda images of a leader who
09:08commands the seas around his nation. What makes Kim's asset empire particularly galling is not just its
09:16cost, but the methods used to acquire these luxuries. Many of these items, from the Mercedes-Benz
09:23limousines to the luxury yachts, were obtained in direct violation of UN sanctions through sophisticated
09:29smuggling networks that exploit global trade vulnerabilities. The same criminal organizations
09:35that facilitate these luxury purchases also enable the regime's more sinister activities, creating a
09:42seamless pipeline from international crime to personal comfort. Kim's billions don't just buy static
09:49assets. They fund a daily lifestyle so extravagant and morally bankrupt that it stands as perhaps the
09:56most obscene example of wealth inequality in the modern world. Living like a god-king, Kim Jong-un's daily life of
10:03extreme luxury. While Kim Jong-un's palaces and vehicles represent the static symbols of his wealth,
10:11it's his daily lifestyle that truly reveals the moral abyss separating North Korea's supreme leader from his
10:17suffering people. Every single day, Kim lives a life so divorced from reality that it reads like dystopian
10:24fiction, funded by a level of expenditure that would be considered excessive even by the standards of
10:30history's most notorious tyrants. Kim's personal spending habits alone tell a story of staggering excess.
10:37Conservative estimates suggest the supreme leader spends over 10 million dollars annually on luxury
10:44goods, but this figure likely represents just the tip of the iceberg. A detailed 2014 UN report provided a glimpse
10:52into the regime's luxury spending, revealing that in a single year, Kim's regime spent 30 million dollars on liquor,
11:0037 million dollars on electronics and 8.2 million dollars on watches.
11:06And this was nearly a decade ago before his spending reached its current levels.
11:11Perhaps nothing illustrates Kim's disconnection from his people's suffering more than his taste for premium alcohol.
11:18While millions of North Koreans struggle to find clean drinking water, Kim maintains a wine cellar that would make
11:25French aristocrats jealous. His collection includes rare French Bordeaux wines, with reports suggesting he once consumed
11:3310 bottles of expensive Bordeaux in a single evening. His alcohol preferences extend to Hennessy Cognac costing up to
11:402,000 dollars per bottle, and premium Johnny Walker whiskey, with the regime spending an estimated 30 million dollars annually
11:49just on imported liquor. Kim's food choices are equally extravagant and ethically troubling. While his people face chronic
11:56malnutrition, Kim dines on imported Danish meat, Iranian caviar, Swiss cheese and Kobe beef. His obsession with Swiss cheese,
12:05developed during his education in Switzerland, has reportedly led to the regime sending officials to
12:11Switzerland to learn cheese-making techniques, though this claim remains difficult to verify given North Korea's
12:18secrecy. The Supreme Leader's personal habits extend to luxury items that cost more than most North Koreans earn in
12:25years. Kim smokes Yves Saint Laurent cigarettes at 44 dollars per pack. A single pack costs nearly a third of the
12:33average North Korean's monthly income of 150 dollars. His watch collection, valued at over 8 million dollars, includes
12:42luxury Swiss timepieces that he frequently gifts to loyal officials as rewards for their service. Kim's family shares in this
12:50lifestyle of obscene luxury, creating a royal court in all but name. His wife, Ri Sol-ju, regularly appears in public wearing
12:59designer clothing and accessories, including Dior handbags worth over 1,500 dollars each, items that cost more
13:07than the average North Korean's annual income. Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, has been spotted carrying a
13:149,500 dollars Christian Dior purse during official visits to Russia, brazenly flaunting luxury goods that
13:22violate international sanctions. Even Kim's young daughter, Kim Joo-ai, lives a life of privilege that
13:30would be unimaginable to her peers. Intelligence reports suggest the child enjoys horseback riding,
13:37skiing and swimming activities that require expensive equipment and facilities that are completely
13:43inaccessible to ordinary North Korean children, who often lack basic school supplies and adequate nutrition.
13:50Kim's entertainment preferences reveal a mind completely absorbed in personal pleasure while his
13:56nation suffers. His passion for basketball, developed during his Swiss education, has led to the
14:03construction of private courts in multiple residences and the famous visits from former NBA star Dennis
14:10Rodman. Kim's 1,000 seat private cinema hosts regular screenings from his collection of over 20,000 imported
14:16DVDs, including American films and Japanese movies that his own people would be imprisoned for possessing.
14:23The Supreme Leader's recreational facilities would make resort owners jealous. He has ordered the
14:29construction of multiple ski resorts, including the Masikryong Resort with its world-class facilities.
14:36Despite the fact that recreational skiing is a completely foreign concept to virtually all North Koreans,
14:44these facilities, costing millions to build and maintain, serve primarily as propaganda tools and
14:50personal playgrounds for Kim and his inner circle. Perhaps most disturbing of all is Kim's systematic use of
14:57luxury goods to maintain political control through what experts call gift politics. Kim regularly distributes
15:05expensive gifts to military officials and party elites, including Swiss watches, designer handbags,
15:12luxury cars, and even luxury apartments. In 2022, he made headlines by gifting a two-story luxury
15:20apartment to Ri Chun-hee, North Korea's famous state TV anchor, as a reward for decades of propaganda service.
15:27This system of luxury rewards serves a dual purpose. It ensures the loyalty of those with the power to
15:34threaten his rule while demonstrating the consequences of defying him. The same officials who receive
15:40Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Swiss watches know that falling out of favor could mean not just the loss of
15:47these privileges, but potentially their lives. It's a sophisticated form of corruption that uses stolen
15:54wealth to maintain a system of oppression. The scale of Kim's daily spending becomes even more shocking
16:00when contrasted with North Korea's economic reality. Recent data suggests imports of luxury goods
16:07surged to $51.92 million in the first eight months of 2024, including $15.3 million worth of watches and
16:17$13.9 million in cosmetics. This represents a massive increase in luxury spending even as ordinary North
16:25Koreans face continued economic hardship. The moral bankruptcy of this lifestyle becomes most apparent
16:32when considering the human cost. While Kim spends millions on imported delicacies and designer goods,
16:3960% of North Korea's population lives below the poverty line, and 70% face food insecurity and chronic
16:47malnutrition. The money Kim spends on a single bottle of cognac could feed a North Korean family for
16:54months, yet he continues to indulge while his people suffer. Kim's international travels, though rare,
17:00showcase his commitment to luxury even when representing his nation abroad. When he does venture beyond
17:07North Korea's borders, he travels with an entourage that includes his armored Mercedes-Benz limousines,
17:13which are flown to his destination or transported on his luxury train. These vehicles, worth over $1 million
17:19each, are shipped internationally in direct violation of UN sanctions. Yet Kim continues to flaunt them
17:27openly during diplomatic meetings. The Supreme Leader's health and grooming regimen also reflects
17:33his luxury obsessions. Reports suggest he maintains teams of personal chefs, doctors and fitness trainers,
17:41all imported or specially trained to cater to his needs. His weight fluctuations and health issues,
17:47closely monitored by international intelligence agencies, are managed through expensive medical
17:53care that contrasts sharply with North Korea's collapsing healthcare system. Even Kim's hobbies reflect a man
18:01completely disconnected from his people's reality. His love of horse riding has led to the importation of
18:07expensive thoroughbred horses, with 138 purebred horses purchased between 2010 and 2019 for $584,302.
18:19These animals, used primarily for propaganda photos showing Kim as a powerful leader, consume resources that
18:27could feed hundreds of families. The technology Kim uses for both personal and official purposes reveals his
18:34complete disregard for his own sanctions policies. Reports indicate he uses Apple computers and other
18:41Western electronics for military communications, despite these items being banned under international
18:48sanctions. This hypocrisy extends to his family's use of luxury smartphones and other consumer electronics
18:55that ordinary North Koreans could never hope to possess. Perhaps most telling of all is how Kim's
19:01lifestyle has evolved since taking power. Sources suggest his annual luxury spending has doubled from $300
19:08million under his father to over $600 million since 2011, indicating that rather than moderating his
19:16appetites as his country faces increased isolation, Kim has become even more extravagant in his spending.
19:24This escalating luxury addiction occurs against a backdrop of increasing international pressure and
19:30domestic hardship. As sanctions tighten and North Korea's economy struggles, Kim's response has been to spend
19:36even more on personal comforts, creating an ever-widening gap between his lifestyle and his people's
19:42suffering. It's a pattern that suggests a man so completely insulated from reality that he cannot
19:48comprehend the moral implications of his choices. The ultimate tragedy of Kim Jong-un's billionaire lifestyle
19:55is not just the money wasted or the sanctions violated, but the human potential destroyed.
20:01Every dollar spent on designer handbags and luxury yachts represents resources that could have been
20:07used to feed the hungry, educate children, or provide medical care to the sick. Instead, these resources have
20:14been systematically diverted to fund the most morally bankrupt lifestyle in the modern world. Kim Jong-un's
20:21transformation from a privileged child into a billionaire dictator represents perhaps the most extreme
20:27example of wealth inequality in human history. His $5 billion fortune, built on the systematic
20:34oppression of 26 million people, funds a daily lifestyle that would have made ancient emperors envious
20:41while his people struggle for basic survival. Creating a system so corrupt and morally bankrupt that it
20:55challenges our understanding of human nature, it's a story that serves as a stark reminder of what happens
21:02when absolute power meets unlimited greed. In the hermit kingdom of North Korea, where the average citizen
21:09earns less than $1,300 per year and millions face chronic food insecurity. One man lives a life of
21:17unimaginable luxury. Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea, has amassed what experts conservatively
21:24estimate to be a $5 billion fortune, making him one of the world's wealthiest political leaders.
21:31But how does a man ruling one of the world's most isolated and economically struggling nations
21:37accumulate such staggering wealth? The story begins not with Kim Jong-un himself, but with a dynasty
21:44built on absolute power and systematic exploitation. When Kim Jong-un inherited the leadership of North
21:50Korea in 2011 at just 27 years old, he didn't just inherit a country, he inherited what amounts to the
21:58world's most profitable criminal enterprise disguised as a nation state. The foundation of Kim's wealth
22:05lies in his absolute control over North Korea's economy, including its mineral resources, raw materials,
22:12and forced labor camps. Unlike democratic leaders whose wealth comes from business ventures or
22:18investments, Kim's fortune is extracted directly from the blood, sweat, and suffering of his own people.
22:24Every ton of coal mined by forced laborers, every gram of gold extracted from North Korean soil,
22:31and every dollar earned through state enterprises flows directly into the Kim family's coffers.
22:37Kim's wealth isn't just stored in Pyongyang's vaults. A 2013 joint South Korean and American
22:44investigation revealed that Kim and his family control over 200 foreign bank accounts spread across
22:51countries like China, Switzerland, Singapore, Russia, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. These accounts,
22:58hidden under pseudonyms and managed through a network of trusted intermediaries, contain hundreds of
23:04millions of dollars in liquid assets. The most sinister aspect of Kim's wealth generation comes through
23:10what experts call Office 39, a secretive government department that operates as the regime's primary
23:18money laundering operation. This shadowy organization allegedly generates up to $1 billion annually,
23:25through a vast network of illegal activities that reads like a criminal's wishlist. Cybercrime,
23:31arms sales, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and human trafficking. North Korea's state-sponsored
23:37hacking groups have become particularly notorious in recent years. These digital pirates have stolen
23:43billions in cryptocurrency and successfully targeted global financial institutions, with proceeds flowing
23:50directly into Kim's personal accounts. The regime's involvement in international arms sales is
23:57equally lucrative, with recent reports suggesting North Korea sold $100 billion worth of ammunition to
24:04Russia, though this figure remains disputed among experts. Perhaps most shocking of all is how Kim
24:10maintains this criminal empire, while presenting himself to the world as a legitimate head of state.
24:16Despite UN sanctions imposed since 2006, specifically designed to prevent luxury goods from entering North
24:24Korea, Kim continues to live in unprecedented luxury. In 2012 alone, North Korea imported $645 million in
24:33banned luxury goods, demonstrating the regime's sophisticated ability to circumvent international restrictions.
24:41The mechanics of this wealth accumulation become even more disturbing when you consider the human cost.
24:48While Kim spends millions on imported French wines and Swiss watches,
24:5260% of North Korea's 26 million citizens live below the poverty line. The contrast is so stark it defies
25:01comprehension. During the devastating 1990s famine that killed an estimated 2 million North Koreans,
25:08the Kim family was spending $25,000 per year per child on Kim Jong-un's elite education in Switzerland.
25:16This Swiss education, which included attendance at the International School of Bern under a false identity,
25:22wasn't just about academics. It was Kim's first taste of the Western luxury that would later define his rule.
25:29Classmates remember a chubby, basketball-obsessed boy who showed little interest in studies but was
25:36fascinated by designer goods and expensive toys. Little did they know they were watching the formation
25:42of what would become one of the world's most ruthless dictators with an insatiable appetite for luxury.
25:49The transformation from privileged heir to supreme leader required more than just inherited wealth.
25:56It demanded the systematic elimination of rivals and the consolidation of absolute power.
26:02When Kim Jong-il died in 2011, Kim Jong-un moved swiftly and brutally to secure his position.
26:09He ordered the execution of his own uncle Yang Song-taik in 2013 and arranged the assassination of his
26:16half-brother Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia in 2017. These weren't just political moves, they were wealth
26:23consolidation strategies, eliminating anyone who might have a claim to the family fortune.
26:28What makes Kim's wealth particularly unique among world leaders is its complete lack of legitimacy or
26:35transparency. While other wealthy politicians may have questionable ethics, their assets are generally
26:41traceable through business ventures, investments or inheritance. Kim's $5 billion fortune, however,
26:48is built entirely on the systematic oppression and exploitation of an entire nation, making him
26:54perhaps the most morally bankrupt billionaire on the planet. The scale of this wealth becomes even
27:01more staggering when you consider North Korea's official economy. With a nominal GDP of approximately $40
27:08billion, Kim's personal fortune represents more than 12% of his entire country's economic output. It's as if a single
27:16individual controlled more than $2.5 trillion in the United States, a level of concentration that
27:24would be impossible in any functioning democracy. But Kim's billions aren't just sitting in bank accounts
27:30gathering interest. Every dollar of this fortune is actively used to maintain his grip on power and fund
27:36and lifestyle so extravagant it borders on the surreal. From palaces that rival Versailles to a fleet of
27:43luxury vehicles that would make a Hollywood mogul jealous, Kim Jong-un has transformed his ill-gotten
27:50gains into a lifestyle that stands as perhaps the most obscene display of wealth inequality in human
27:56history. If you enjoyed this video and want more like it, don't forget to explore the suggested videos on your
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