"Forbes Israel" ranks Minister of Galilee and Negev Development Silvan Shalom as Israel's richest politician, with a fortune estimated at NIS 150 million. Most of these assets actually belong to his wife, Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes, who owns 12% of Yediot Communications Ltd., the owner of Hebrew daily "Yediot Ahronot" and other enterprises.
Minister of Justice Yaakov Neeman is in second place, with a fortune of NIS 100 million, which he made as a founding partner of Israel's largest law firm, Herzog Fox & Neeman.
Minister of Defense Ehud Barak is in third place, with a fortune estimated at NIS 56 million. Kadima MK Meir Sheetrit is in fourth place. Deputy Minister for Senior Citizens Lea Nass is ranked fifth, with a joint fortune of NIS 45 million with her husband, Dr. Shlomo Nass. She is the only woman on the list.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in sixth place, with an estimated fortune of NIS 41 million, made from lectures and various business interests. He and his wife reside in the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, and own a penthouse in the Rehavia neighborhood of the capital, worth NIS 7-8 million, and a house in Caesarea, worth NIS 10-15 million.
Yair Lapid has a fortune of NIS 22 million, eighth on the list of Israel's richest politicians. "Forbes Israel" says that he made his fortune from his media businesses, lectures, and his books.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 12, 2012
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