According to a new list made by economic portal Napi.hu’s journalist Péter Szakonyi, OTP leader Sándor Csányi is the richest person in Hungary. Csányi is followed by PM Orbán’s friend Lőrinc Mészáros and Docler Group owner György Gattyán. István Tiborcz, the PM’s son-in-law, also made it into the top 100 for the first time.
According to this latest edition, Csányi’s wealth amounts to Huf 360 billion (Eur 1.1 billion), and this the 18th time he has headed the list. The assets of the PM’s fast-emerging ally and childhood friend, construction mogul Lőrinc Mészáros, are estimated at Huf 296 billion (Eur 939 million). Mészáros even once attributed his success to the PM: “That I have been able to come so far, God, luck and the person of Viktor Orbán have certainly played a role.” György Gattyán’s Huf 280 billion puts him in third place. Gattyán is now the owner of Docler Group and amassed his wealth thanks to his adult-content streaming site, LiveJasmin.
Interestingly, a few months ago, Forbes‘ Hungarian edition reported that Csányi lagged behind Mészáros in 2018. However, in March, the prestigious business weekly’s American edition still deemed Csányi the richest Hungarian in the country.
As Napi.hu notes, there were five newcomers to the list and among them, István Tiborcz, Viktor Orbán’s son-in-law, is ranked the highest (32nd). He is also the youngest in the top 100, only turning 33 in June. His wealth is estimated at Huf 35 billion (Eur 111 million) thanks to his real estate development businesses. He and his former company Elios Ltd. made headlines as the EU’s anti-fraud authority (OLAF) found several irregularities and evidence pointing to organized crime in connection with public contracts to replace streetlights in several Hungarian municipalities. The Hungarian police ended up dropping the case.
Following Controversies, Govt Gives up on EU Money for Elios Projects
And the most influential is…
The top 20 on the list of Hungary’s most influential figures has been rife with government officials and govt-linked businessman in recent years.
Not surprisingly, PM Viktor Orbán heads the list followed by Csányi and Mészáros. Then comes Central Bank (MNB) Governor György Matolcsy, Cabinet Chief Antal Rogán and Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér.
Aside from Csányi, representatives of the classic business world – such as WizzAir CEO József Váradi, Videoton and Ikarus CEO Gábor Széles and cargo transport giant György Wáberer – typically fall outside of the first 20 places.
In the featured photo: Viktor Orbán, Lőrinc Mészáros, Sándor Csányi and MOL leader Zsolt Hernádi watching a Hungarian football game. Photo by Tibor Illyés/MTI