Photo: President Vladimir V. Putin may be wealthy, but the trappings of his office are even richer. Pool photo by Sergei KarpukhinVladimir Putin: The Russian President’s 'Life Of Four Yachts And 58 Aircraft’ -- The Telegraph
Vladimir Putin once compared ruling Russia to being a “galley slave”, but four yachts that come with the job, not to mention palaces, aircraft and a wealth of luxury perks help explain his refusal to quit the presidency, leading critics said on Tuesday.
Listing 58 planes and helicopters and 20 homes with opulent fittings worthy of the tsars, not to mention 11 watches which alone are worth several times Putin’s annual salary, a report published under the ironic title “The Life of a Galley Slave” by opposition leader Boris Nemtsov denounced a “blatant and cynical challenge” to millions of Russians barely managing to survive.
The Kremlin, which has long portrayed the 59-year-old president as a man of simple tastes and a liking for popular sports and active outdoor pastimes, did not immediately comment.
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Update #1: "Galley slave" Putin savours yachts, planes, palaces, critics say -- Reuters
Update #2: For Putin, Report Says, State Perks Pile High -- New York Times
My Comment: What can I say .... but life for some is very good.