political spendthrifts
Monsieur Sarkozy may be enjoying a lavish lifestyle, but his expensive tastes pale in comparison to the habits of some other political leaders.
? SILVIO BERLUSCONI
In 2010 it was revealed that the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi spent €650,000 on antiques, as well as an undisclosed figure for the bed of his political hero, Napoleon Bonaparte.
He also paid €65,000 for jewellery, including specially crafted rings, at more than €1,400 each, for 37 female MPs.
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe pays a lot of attention to his clothes, with a weakness for Savile Row suits.
During a recent spree in Hong Kong, he and wife Grace reportedly blew more than £1m in just two hours. Grace buys Ferragamo shoes "by the container", say sources.
While Charles Haughey was known for his fondness of expensive French wines, the late Kim Jong-il put him in the ha'penny place. The makers of Hennessy Paradis revealed the former leader of North Korea was the world's largest buyer of their cognac, which costs €410 a bottle. 'The Great Leader' spent up to €452,000 a year on his favourite tipple. Hennessy did not, however, offer their condolences to his family.
The former Ukrainian Prime Minister (left), jailed for "abuse of power", loved her collection of Louis Vuitton outfits and handbags.
Mark Aylward
- Mark Aylward
Originally published in
