Bashar Al-Assad Net Worth: The Fortune of Syria’s Leader

What’s Bashar Al-Assad Net Worth?

Bashar Hafez al-Assad, the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba’ath Party, was born in Damascus on September 11, 1965.

With a noteworthy net worth of $1.5 billion, he assumed the presidency following the passing of his father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000.

Hafez had governed Syria for a three-decade period until his demise.

Bashar Al-Assad Net Worth

Bashar al-Assad, once a Syrian physician, now a prominent politician, boasts a net worth of $1.5 billion.

Holding the presidency of Syria since 2000, succeeding his father, he concurrently serves as the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba’ath Party.

Bashar Al-Assad Net Worth
Bashar Al-Assad Net Worth
source: ichef

He ascended to power after the tragic demise of his older brother, who was initially in line for succession but passed away in a car accident in 1994.

Assad commands both the Syrian Armed Forces and the Central Command of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party.

Despite these roles, he is widely condemned for his leadership’s numerous human rights violations, exacerbating the Syrian Civil War and plunging the nation into severe poverty.

In response to his regime’s violent crackdown on civilians, President Barack Obama issued an Executive order on May 18, 2011, imposing sanctions against Bashar al-Assad and nine other officials.

These sanctions included travel bans and asset freezes, aiming to pressure Assad’s government into transitioning to a democratic system that respects the rights of the Syrian people.

Bashar Al-Assad Net Worth

Family Wealth

It is reported that the al-Assad family commands a substantial portion, estimated between 60-75%, of the Syrian economy, leveraging this influence to accumulate considerable wealth.

al-Assad family
al-Assad family
source: upload

Bashar al-Assad himself possesses a personal net worth of $1.5 billion, contributing to the family’s overall wealth, which is estimated to range from $60 to $120 billion.

Their holdings span across a diverse portfolio, encompassing real estate, natural resources, artwork, jewelry, and various other assets

An inquiry conducted by anti-corruption organization Global Witness uncovered connections between Bashar al-Assad’s family and luxury property acquisitions in Russia amounting to $40 million.

These acquisitions, situated in Moscow City, involve individuals within Assad’s close circle, notably the affluent Makhlouf family.

Allegedly, the loans associated with these properties could facilitate the laundering of funds from Syria to Moscow and potentially other regions, bypassing Western sanctions.

Additionally, Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is implicated in these transactions.

Early Life

Bashar al-Assad was born on September 11, 1965, in Damascus, Syria, as the third child of Anisa and Hafez.

Among his five siblings were sisters Bushra and Bushra, and brothers Majd, Bassel, and Maher.

Sadly, the first Bushra passed away in infancy. At the age of five, Assad’s father assumed control of the Syrian branch of the Ba’ath Party during the Corrective Revolution, eventually leading to his presidency.

Consequently, Assad and his siblings had limited interaction with their father during this period.

For his education, Assad attended the Arab-French al-Hurriya School and later enrolled at Damascus University to pursue a degree in medicine.

Career Beginnings

Assad completed his medical degree in 1988 and began his career as an army doctor at the Tishrin Military Hospital located near Damascus.

Four years later, he relocated to London to undergo postgraduate training in ophthalmology at the Western Eye Hospital.

Following this period, Assad was summoned to serve in the Syrian Army.

Political Ascendance

After the tragic death of his elder brother Bassel in a car accident in 1994, Assad emerged as the new presumptive successor to the Syrian presidency.

His father took great care in grooming him for the transition of power, guiding him to join the military to bolster his qualifications.

By 1999, Assad had risen to the rank of colonel within the prestigious Syrian Republican Guard.

Central to his rise was his anti-corruption drive, aimed at neutralizing potential political competitors.

Additionally, Assad assumed the presidency of the Syrian Computer Society, enabling him to shape his public image by disseminating misinformation online to his advantage.

President of Syria

Following his father’s passing in June 2000, Assad ascended to the presidency of Syria; lawmakers amended the constitution to lower the presidential minimum age requirement from 40 to 34, enabling him to take office.

In his capacity as president, Assad also took on the roles of commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and Regional Secretary of the Ba’ath Party.

He secured an additional seven-year term in 2007 through a presidential referendum, which saw no participation from opposition parties or any competing candidates.

The Arab Spring of 2011 saw widespread protests across Syria, with citizens demanding political reforms and the restoration of fundamental civil liberties.

Assad’s response to the demonstrations was to employ violence, orchestrating a severe suppression of the protesters that led to the deaths of over 5,000 civilians.

These actions were a catalyst for the Syrian Civil War.

As a result, the United States, European Union, and a majority of the Arab League demanded Assad’s resignation.

Nonetheless, he inaugurated himself for another seven-year term in 2014 after an election that many regarded as manipulated, and he secured re-election in 2021.

Extensive corruption and severe human rights abuses have marked Assad’s tenure.

Numerous investigations have accused Assad of war crimes, including systematic torture and the use of chemical weapons.

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