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Jose Altuve was born to his father Carlos Altuve and his mother Lastenia Linares in Maracay, Venezuela. Jose…

Yuli Gurriel is a professional baseball player from Cuba. He is bilingual and can speak Spanish and English…

Jim Nantz married his wife Courtney Richards in 2012 in Pebble Beach, California, and the couple is blessed…

Michael Kopsa was a Canadian actor who was active in the media scenes for over four decades and acted…

Michael Kopsa was a Canadian voice and character actor who was active in the media spotlight for the past…

What was Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Net Worth?Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the president of the United Arab Emirates, the supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, and the Emir of Abu Dhabi. At the time of his death, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a net worth of $18 billion dollars.Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan died on May 13, 2022 at the age of 73.Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan became the President of the UAE the day after his father’s death, November 3, 2004. As the former Crown Prince, he had effectively been acting as president earlier (since the late ’90s) as his father was in ill health. Khalifa is also chairman of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).Sheikh Khalifa is known for his interest in sports traditional to UAE, chiefly horse and camel racing. He is generally regarded as a pro-Western modernizer. In 2011, Sheikh Khalifa sent in the UAE’s Air Force and Navy to support the anti-Gaddafi forces against Muammar Gaddafi alongside NATO, Qatar, Sweden and Jordan. In January of 2014, Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke and was reported to have undergone an operation, but was said to be in stable condition. Further, on the philanthropic side of things, Sheikh Khalifa founded the Khalifa Award for Education, the UAE Pakistan Assistance Program and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Specialty Institute for Cancer Diagnosis and the Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Pancreatic Cancer Center, funded by the center’s largest grant in the history of its existence.? Compare Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Net WorthEarly Life Khalifa was born on September 7, 1948 in Abu Dhabi born to parents Hassa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates. Khalifa is the eldest son of Zayed. He attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.Political and Leadership CareerKhalifa first become involved in politics and government when his father became the Emir of Abu Dhabi in 1966, at which point he was appointed the mayor of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi at the age of 18. In 1969, Khalifa was appointed the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defense. Under his leadership, the Abu Dhabi Defense Force became the core of the UAE Armed Forces in 1971.When the UAE was established in 1971, Khalifa took on more leadership roles in Abu Dhabi. He became the Prime Minister, head of the Cabinet, Minster of Defense, and the Minister of Finance. Following a reorganization of the Cabinet, Khalifa became the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, under his father.By May of 1976, he became deputy commander of the UAE Armed Forces, only lower in rank to his father. He also became head of the Supreme Petroleum Council in the 1980s, a position which he continues to hold given the amount of power he wields in issues related to oil, natural gas, and energy.When his father became ill in the 1990s, Khalifa began assuming the roles of the president though he did not officially become Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates until November 3, 2004 following the death of his father the day before.Records show that Khalifa had been planning the construction of his palace since 1995, when he had begun buying up acres of land on the Seychelles’ main island of Mahé. Since then, the UAE has provided large aid packages to the Seychelles’ government to bolster their social services programs and military, which is needed to stop piracy off the coasts of the Seychelles. Construction of the palace was set to begin in 2005, after Khalifa had purchased another parcel of lad but there were some problems with the building plans. Authorities in the Seychelles had originally rejected the plans, but that decision was overturned by the cabinet of President James Michel. A month after workers broke ground, the country’s national utility country reported that the proposed palace may pose a threat to the nation’s water supply. Further problems came in 2010 when the under construction palace’s sewage system overflowed and sent rivers of waste through the region, affecting the homes of 8000 residents. An investigation found that Ascon, the building company, had ignored an number of health and building codes. Officials from Khalifa’s government arrived quickly to help resolve the matter and offered $15 million to replace the water piping system in the region as well as payments to the affected households.Meanwhile, Khalifa sought reelection in 2009 and easily won, retaining the office of the presidency for a second five-year term. A couple years later, in 2011, Khalifa sent the United Arab Emirates Air Force to support NATO forces in the military intervention in Libya against Muammer Gaddafi. The same year, the UAE initiated a program to promote allegiance to Khalifa, as well as other Emirati leaders. The program is designed to encourage nationals and residents to register their appreciation and loyalty to the leaders of the Emirates. In August of 2015, Khalifa approved large amounts of food and aid supplies to be given to the people of Yemen through the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation. Almost 8,000 tons of supplies and medicine were sent.Khalifa won reelection in 2014 as well as 2019. In February of 2022, Khalifa authorized a partnership agreement between the UAE and Israel on matters related to healthcare and tourism.Personal LifeKhalifa only is wed to one woman – Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei. Together, they have had eight children – Sultan, Mohammed, Shamma, Salama, Osha, Sheikha, Lateefa, and Mouza.It has been reported that Khalifa owns over $1.7 billion in luxury properties in London. While he doesn’t directly own them, it was reported in the Panama Papers leak that the properties are owned via shell companies in the British Virgin Islands that were managed by the Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.In January of 2014, it was reported that Khalifa suffered a stroke. However his condition was stabilized and he recovered after undergoing an operation.Khalifa is considered to be one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. In 2013, he commissioned the construction of a super yacht, called Azzam, which would become the longest motor yacht ever built at 590 feet. The cost of construction was between $400 and $600 million. He has also received a number of honors from foreign states. He was named an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath by the United Kingdom and was named a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion by the Netherlands.

What was Herman Cain’s Net Worth?Herman Cain was an American entrepreneur and politician who had a net worth of $7 million at the time of his death in 2020. Herman Cain is probably most famous for being a Republican Presidential candidate during the 2012 Presidential election. Herman Cain served in numerous executive positions at various corporations, including the Pillsbury Company, Burger King, and Godfather’s Pizza. He also worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and ran an unsuccessful campaign for United States President in 2012. Cain passed away from COVID-19 complications in 2020 after vigorously opposing and ignoring masking protocols. Herman Cain earned the majority of his fortune as the Chief Executive Officer of Godfather’s Pizza.? Compare Herman Cain’s Net WorthEarly Life and EducationHerman Cain was born on December 13, 1945 in Memphis, Tennessee to Lenora, a domestic worker, and Luther, who worked as a barber, janitor, and chauffeur. He grew up on the west side of Atlanta, where he went to S. H. Archer High School. In the neighborhood of the Bluff, Cain attended Rev. Cameron M. Alexander’s Antioch Baptist Church North. For his higher education, he went to Morehouse College, from which he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics in 1967. Cain went on to attend Purdue University, earning his master of science degree in computer science in 1971.Career Beginnings in BusinessWhile at Purdue, Cain worked full-time as a ballistics analyst for the United States Department of the Navy. After completing his degree, he went to work as a computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola in Atlanta. Next, Cain moved to Minneapolis to join the Pillsbury Company, where he served as director of business analysis in the restaurant and foods group. His biggest position yet came in the early 80s, when he began managing and analyzing 400 Burger King locations in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. Due to his success in this role, Cain was appointed president and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, another subsidiary of the Pillsbury Company. Under his leadership, he closed around 200 restaurants and erased thousands of jobs, restoring Godfather’s to profitability.Federal Reserve BankFrom New Year’s Day of 1989 to New Year’s Eve of 1991, Cain served as chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Omaha Branch. Following this, in 1992, he became a member of the board of directors of the overall Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. From 1992 to 1994, he was deputy chairman; he then became chairman, a position he held through 1996.Further Business CareerAfter leaving Godfather’s Pizza in 1996, Cain moved to the Washington, DC area and became CEO of the National Restaurant Association. His lobbying work for the group resulted in many connections with Republican politicians and lawmakers. Under Cain’s leadership, the Association lobbied against progressive, common-sense causes, such as increasing the minimum wage and imposing smoking regulations. Among his other business endeavors, Cain sat on the board of directors of such companies as Nabisco, Whirlpool, and Reader’s Digest.Political CareerCain became increasingly involved in political activity beyond his lobbying work. In 1996, he served as a senior economic adviser for Bob Dole’s presidential campaign. Four years later, Cain briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination himself. In 2004, he ran for the US Senate in Georgia, but lost in the primaries. Cain went on to become a notorious Tea Party activist, showing up at many of that extremist group’s rallies in 2010. The year after that, he officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election. One of the most high-profile and infamous policies of Cain’s campaign was his “9-9-9 Plan,” a new tax plan that would have placed most of the country’s tax burden on the working poor.Not long after announcing his presidential run, Cain was accused of sexual harassment by two women, who cited an incident dating back to Cain’s tenure as CEO of the National Restaurant Association. More women came out with allegations later on. Partially as a result of this, Cain’s poll numbers dropped significantly, and in December of 2011, he officially suspended his campaign.Media AppearancesFrom 2008 to 2011, Cain had his own talk radio show called “The Herman Cain Show,” which ran on Atlanta’s WSB. After the show ended, he continued working at WSB providing daily commentaries on current events. Later, in early 2013, Cain took over Neal Boortz’s radio talk show on the Westwood One Radio Network; it was eventually dropped in 2016. Also in 2013, Cain became a contributor on the Fox News Channel.Personal Life and DeathIn 1968, Cain married Atlanta native Gloria Etchison; they had two children named Melanie and Vincent.Cain was diagnosed with colon cancer and metastasis to his liver in 2006. Following surgery and chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission. Later, in 2020, Cain ran into more serious health trouble after he attended a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the COVID pandemic. He was seen at the event without a mask and interacting with others also not wearing masks. Shortly after this, Cain tested positive for COVID, and was admitted to a hospital in Atlanta. In July, he passed away at 74 from complications of the virus.

What is Darrell Issa’s Net Worth?Darrell Issa is an American businessman and politician who has a net worth of $460 million dollars. When he was in office, Darrell Issa has been the richest member of Congress. He earned his fortune as the founder and former CEO of a company called Directed Electronics INC. which at one point controlled 60% of the American car alarm market. He then invested wisely in real estate in the San Diego area.Darrell Issa serves as the US representative for California’s 50th congressional district. Before this, he represented districts in the San Diego area, and chaired the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.? Compare Darrell Issa’s Net WorthDirected ElectronicsBefore becoming a politician, Darrell was the CEO of Directed Electronics, a California-based manufacturer of branded automobile security and convenience products. DEI pioneered the concept of creating a loud noise when a car was disturbed. One of Directed Electronics’ signature anti-theft system was called the Viper car alarm.With Viper, when someone got too close, a speaker built into the car would play the words “Protected by Viper. Stand back” or “Please step away from the car.” Sales in the company’s first year topped $1 million. In the company’s fourth year, Directed Electronics had revenue of $14 million. By 1999, the year Darrell decide to sell DEI, sales were $60 million per year. In 1999, Darrell sold his stake in DEI to a Florida-based private equity firm called Trivest.Early Life and EducationDarrell Issa was born on November 1, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio as the second of six children of Martha and William. He is of Lebanese-American descent on his father’s side and of German and Czech ancestry on his mother’s side. When he was 17, Issa dropped out of high school to enlist in the Army, where he became an EOD technician. He eventually earned a hardship discharge when his father had a heart attack; subsequently, he got his GED certificate. In 1972, Issa was arrested twice, first for stealing a Maserati and second for carrying a concealed weapon. He pleaded guilty to the latter charge and received six months’ probation and a fine.For his higher education, Issa went to Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, where he majored in business administration. He then went to Kent State University, where he enrolled in the ROTC. From 1976 to 1980, Issa served in the Army Reserve. After that, he served on active duty. Shortly before his discharge, he was once again indicted for stealing a vehicle, although the case was dropped shortly after.Career Beginnings in BusinessFollowing his departure from the military, Issa and his wife borrowed $50,000 from family to invest in the electronics manufacturer Quantum Enterprises. Issa then took control of one of the company’s clients, Steal Stopper, and turned its struggling fortunes around. Soon, Steal Stopper was making car alarms for Ford and Toyota. However, just as it was achieving success, the company’s factory and offices caught fire, destroying nearly all the inventory.As car theft became more common in the US in the 80s, Steal Stopper was able to regain its value; it took on new clients including BMW, General Motors, and Rolls Royce. In 1985, Issa sold the company to a home alarm manufacturer. After this, he co-founded Directed Electronics, which creates car security products such as Viper car alarms and accessories. From $1 million of sales in the company’s first year, Directed Electronics grew to $14 million in sales by 1989. In his other business endeavors, Issa is the CEO of Greene Properties, a real estate investment company with holdings in the North County of San Diego.Start of Political CareerDue to his involvement in consumer-electronics trade groups, Issa increasingly became active in politics. Soon, he became one of California’s most prolific campaign contributors to Republican candidates. In 1996, he chaired a successful campaign to pass California Proposition 209. Two years later, Issa ran his own campaign for elected office when he sought the Republican nomination for the US Senate against incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer. Ultimately, he lost the nomination to California State Treasurer Matt Fong.US House of RepresentativesIn 2000, Issa ran for California’s 48th congressional district; he finished first in the primary, and went on to win the general election against Peter Kouvelis. After redistricting two years later, Issa’s district became the 49th; he was then reelected, beating Libertarian Karl Dietrich. He was further reelected in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2018, Issa announced he would not run for reelection. The next year, he announced his run for California’s 50th congressional district; he subsequently went on to win the general election.Oversight CommitteeIssa became chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in 2010. In this position, he was adamant about investigating President Obama, as well as WikiLeaks and the Food and Drug Administration. The Watchdog Institute later published a report asserting that Issa’s investigative team included members with connections to industries that would profit from his investigations. Additionally, the advocacy group American Family Voices filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics against Issa, claiming that he repeatedly abused his Oversight Committee authority to inappropriately interfere in dealings with Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. More controversy came in early 2021, when Issa and other Republicans enlisted others to vote for them while they attended the CPAC. The Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint with the House Committee on Ethics as a result.Political ViewsDuring the 111th Congress, Issa voted with the majority of House Republicans 95% of the time. In 2016, he endorsed Donald Trump, and by 2017, had voted in accord with his positions 100% of the time. Later, following the Republican attack on the capital on January 6, 2021, Issa voted to reject the certification of Pennsylvania’s electoral votes. He also voted against the impeachment of Trump and against the creation of an independent commission investigating the capitol attack.Among his other positions, Issa advocated for the intervention in Yemen in 2015. He supports repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and defunding Planned Parenthood. Issa is also against LGBTQ rights.Personal LifeIn the 70s, Issa wed his high-school sweetheart, Marcia Enyart. The pair later divorced. Following his discharge from the military, Issa married Kathy Stanton in 1980. They reside in the San Diego, California suburb of Vista.

What was Richard Nixon’s Net Worth?Richard Nixon was an American politician who had a net worth equal to $15 million at the time of his death (adjusting for inflation). Richard Nixon was the 37th president of the United States, a position he held from 1969 to 1974. Many significant events occurred during his time in the White House, including the end of the Vietnam War, the first manned landing on the moon, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. Famously, Nixon’s second term ended early following the Watergate scandal, when he became the only US president to resign from office.He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and reelected in 1948. In 1950 he was elected to the Senate. Nixon was Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate in the 1952 election. He served as vice president for eight years and narrowly lost to John F. Kennedy for President in 1960. During his Presidential term he ended the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973. He visited the People’s Republic of China in 1972 and opened up communications. Nixon also initiated the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union. He fought cancer and illegal drugs, enforced desegregation, implemented environmental reforms, and reformed healthcare and welfare. Nixon was re-elected by a large margin in 1972. His second term resulted in the Watergate scandal. In lieu of being impeached he resigned from office and was pardoned by his successor Gerald Ford. Nixon authored nine books and traveled the world during his retirement.? Compare Richard Nixon’s Net WorthEarly Life and EducationRichard Nixon was born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California to Quaker parents Hannah and Francis. He had four brothers named Harold, Donald, Arthur, and Edward. Nixon grew up poor on his family ranch, which ultimately failed in 1922. Subsequently, the family moved to Whittier. There, Nixon attended East Whittier Elementary School. As a teen, he went to Fullerton Union High School, where he played junior varsity football and participated on the debate team. Nixon eventually graduated from Whittier High School. He went on to attend Whittier College, where he played basketball and continued his prowess as a great debater. Nixon graduated with a BA in history in 1934, and then went to the Duke University School of Law, from which he graduated in 1937.Career Beginnings and Military ServiceAfter being admitted to the California bar in 1937, Nixon started practicing with the Whittier law firm Wingert and Bewley. The next year, he opened his own branch in La Habra. Later, after moving to Washington, DC in 1942, Nixon landed a job at the Office of Price Administration. However, dissatisfied with his role, he decided to join the US Navy. Nixon was first assigned as an aide to the commander of the Naval Air Station Ottumwa, and then to Marine Aircraft Group 25 and the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant, and finally lieutenant commander. Nixon was relieved of active duty in 1946; seven years after that, he was promoted to commander in the US Naval Reserve.Start of Political CareerIn 1946, Nixon was elected to the House of Representatives. He first achieved national recognition two years later, when his work on the Alger Hiss spy case cemented his already solid reputation as a leading anti-Communist. With this newfound attention, Nixon was elected to the Senate in 1950. He went on to become the running mate of Republican presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower, for whom he served eight years as vice president.First Presidential and Gubernatorial RunsNixon launched his first campaign for US president in 1960. Due in large part to the debut of televised debates, which had the effect of highlighting his shabby appearance, he narrowly lost to John F. Kennedy. Two years later, Nixon ran for California governor, but lost to incumbent Pat Brown.Presidential Election and First TermIn 1968, Nixon made another run for the presidency. During that turbulent period in the United States, he represented himself as a beacon of stability, appealing to socially conservative people who disliked the era’s countercultural movement. Ultimately, Nixon won the presidency, beating Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace in a close race.During his first term, Nixon made great efforts to establish diplomatic relations with China. He also visited South Vietnam, and began to withdraw American troops from the war. However, Nixon also authorized attacks on Laos and Cambodia. In 1973, American involvement in Vietnam officially ended, as did the military draft. Among his other achievements, Nixon ended the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the USSR; enforced desegregation of Southern schools; created the Environmental Protection Agency; and launched a concerted effort to find a cure for cancer.Second Term and WatergateIn 1972, Nixon beat George McGovern and was reelected as president in one of the largest landslide victories in the nation’s history. In the beginning of his second term, he ordered an airlift to resupply losses incurred by Israel in the Yom Kippur War, which resulted in an oil crisis in the United States.Nixon’s second term was ultimately cut short by the Watergate scandal. Earlier in 1972, before his reelection, he had ordered five men to break into the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate complex to sabotage his opponents. Nixon had also used a clandestine taping system to record his conversations in the Oval Office. By late 1973, with more information coming out about the scandal thanks to reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, Nixon had lost most of his political support. On August 9, 1974, facing the inevitability of an impeachment and removal from office, he resigned as president.Later YearsFollowing Watergate and his resignation, Nixon was eventually issued a pardon by his successor, Gerald Ford. He went on to live for nearly 20 years in retirement, during which time he wrote ten books, including his memoirs, and went on a series of international trips to rehabilitate his image as an elder statesman.Personal Life and DeathIn 1940, Nixon wed high school teacher Pat Ryan; they had two daughters named Tricia and Julie. The two remained together until Pat’s death from lung cancer in 1993. A year later, Nixon suffered a major stroke at his New Jersey home; after being taken to the hospital, he went into a deep coma. He passed away at the age 81. Nixon and his wife are interred on the grounds of the Nixon Library.Real EstateIn 1969, Richard paid $1.4 million, the same as $11 million in today’s dollars, for a 5.5-acre property in San Clemente, California. He sold the property in the 1980s for an undisclosed amount. In 2015, the buyer put the home on the market for $75 million. He did not ultimately sell the property even after reducing the price a number of times. Here’s an aerial photo and video tour of the home:

What is Alexander Lukashenko’s Net Worth?Alexander Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who has an alleged net worth of $10 billion. Like Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko has denied being extremely wealthy and instead insists he is a modest public servant with a modest public servant’s net worth. As we detail later in this article, there have been accusations dating back to at least 2006 that Lukashenko has enriched himself to the tune of billions of dollars hidden in bank accounts in Switzerland or Dubai. He denies these allegations.Alexander Lukashenko has served as the leader of Belarus since 1994. As the head of an authoritarian government, he has called himself Europe’s “last dictator,” and has become notorious for rigging his country’s elections and violently suppressing dissidents. As a result, Lukashenko is not recognized as the legitimate Belarusian president by the US, UK, or EU.? Compare Alexander Lukashenko’s Net WorthEarly Life and EducationAlexander Lukashenko was born on August 31, 1954 in the Kopys settlement of what was then the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. He was raised by a single mother named Ekaterina who worked various jobs, including on a railway, at a flax factory, and at a construction site. For his education, Lukashenko went to Alexandria secondary school, and later graduated from the Mogilev Pedagogical Institute. He went on to study at the Belarusian Agricultural Academy, graduating in 1985.Career BeginningsFrom 1975 to 1977, Lukashenko served in the Border Guard as an instructor with the Western Frontier District. Following this, he led an All-Union Leninist Young Communist League chapter, and then joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. From 1980 to 1982, Lukashenko served in the Soviet Army as a deputy political officer.After his time serving in the military, Lukashenko became the deputy chairman of a collective farm. A few years after that, he was promoted to director of the Gorodets state farm and construction plant in Shklow. Later, in 1990, Lukashenko was elected as Deputy to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus. Due to his reputation for being tough on corruption, he was subsequently named interim chairman of the Belarusian parliament’s anti-corruption committee, a position he held until 1994.Leader of Belarus, Part 1In early 1994, a new Belarusian constitution enabled the country to have its first-ever democratic presidential election. Lukashenko went on to win the first round with 45.1% of the vote and the second round with 80.1%. One of his first actions as leader was to call a referendum to create a Union State between Belarus and Russia. This was met with much dispute, and in 1996, deputies of the Belarusian parliament signed a petition to impeach Lukashenko. However, a new referendum was issued, and Lukashenko was able to amend the constitution to prevail. He subsequently assembled a new parliament of those who had proved their loyalty to him. In the late 90s, Lukashenko took control of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus, and fired the entire leadership. He also began denouncing foreign governments for conspiring against his country.In 2001, Lukashenko was reelected. A few years later, he made a televised address announcing plans to abolish presidential term limits, which was ultimately approved. Lukashenko was then reelected in 2006. This time, opposition groups were vocal in their protests, and held large-scale nightly demonstrations in Minsk. The OSCE declared that the election had failed to meet the standards of a free democratic election.Leader of Belarus, Part 2The 2010 Belarusian presidential election was a particularly tumultuous and violent one; on the day of the election, two opposition candidates were severely beaten by police, while opposition protestors tried to storm the main government building. Numerous opposition candidates, protestors, and members of the media ended up being arrested, with Lukashenko ultimately winning reelection. Consequently, the EU renewed its travel ban to prohibit Lukashenko and over 150 of his associates from coming to EU nations. Despite all the pushback, Lukashenko held on to power for a fifth term starting in 2015. During this term, he significantly advanced military relations between Belarus and Russia, and fired various officials on account of alleged corruption.Lukashenko began his sixth term in the summer of 2020, sparking mass protests all throughout Belarus. Additionally, members of the European Parliament sent out a joint statement saying that they did not acknowledge Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus; they were soon joined by the UK, US, and Canada. In 2021, Russian security services claimed to have thwarted an assassination attempt on Lukashenko, and two suspects were detained at his behest.Personal Wealth/Wikileaks RevelationsAccording to cables released by wikileaks, in 2006 US diplomats believed that Alexander Lukashenko was the richest citizen in Belarus with a personal net worth that was at least $9 billion. The cables went on to claim that Lukashenko is the richest of all the oligarchs in Belarus citing a report that ranked the richest people. Speaking of a list that showed the 50 richest people in Belarus, the diplomat bluntly stated:”Those listed had the opportunity to enrich themselves, and evidence indicates that many did so.”A documentary produced by Poland-based opposition news service NEXTA claimed to highlight some of Lukashenko’s vast personal luxuries. The film claimed that the Belarusian dictator has allegedly spent hundreds of millions of dollars on extremely luxurious personal mansions, private plans and Rolls-Royces and Maybachs.In response to the video, during a factor tour, Lukashenko denied being Belarus’ richest citizen with many palaces:”I want you to understand: I have been working as president for a quarter of a century, and if there were already some billions, as they say, or palaces, I would have already been torn to pieces from all sides. I did not steal anything from my state, I did not take anything.”The film claimed that Lukashenko spent $250 million building his palace in Minsk and owns approximately 17 personal residences. The video has nearly 7 million views as of this writing:PoliciesEarly on in his leadership, Lukashenko expressed a desire to keep many industries under government control, improve citizens’ social welfare, and overall to recover the Russification policies of the Soviet era. Under the guise of this, he has consolidated his power through numerous autocratic decrees and rigged elections. Moreover, Lukashenko is known to violently crack down on political dissidents, often subjecting them to torture, sexual assault, and various forms of psychological abuse, as well as murder. In early 2021, the EU Observer reported that Belarusian secret services had planned to assassinate dissidents abroad, as well.In international relations, Lukashenko led concerted efforts to establish a Union State with Russia. However, relations between the countries have significantly eroded due to political and economic tensions. Despite this, Lukashenko still allowed Russian forces to invade Ukraine from his country’s territory in 2022. Overall, Lukashenko promotes an authoritarian state; he has named Hitler’s Nazi Germany as a model for the government of Belarus.Personal LifeIn 1975, Lukashenko wed his high school sweetheart Galina Zhelnerovich; the couple had a son named Viktor later that year. In 1980, they had a second son named Dmitry. Although still married, Lukashenko and Zhelnerovich have been estranged from one another since the former became president in 1994. From an extramarital affair, Lukashenko had another son named Nikolai in 2004.