Buzescu is the capital of Gypsy millionaires

In Romania, near Bucharest, there is one of the richest cities in the world — Gypsy Buzescu. There are about 800 houses in it, each worth from 2 to 30 million dollars. This is Beverly Hills No. 2 — the capital of gypsy millionaires.

In this issue you will find photos of the life of millionaire Gypsies in Romanian Buzesco from National Geographic magazine, as well as photographs by photographer Sebastian Couvelier.

The "king" of Romanian Gypsies Florian Cioaba (he inherited the title from his father) has up to 50-80 million euros per year. About 300 families belong to his Koldash clan, and at least half of them have houses worth from 3 million euros.

The total income of the "king" and his clan is approaching 300-400 million euros per year. It consists of the offerings of ordinary Gypsies to the general public (deductions — up to 5-10% of criminal and semi-criminal income), cigarette smuggling from Romania to Western Europe, hotel business and trade.

A similar pattern is observed among the Gypsy "elite" and other countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Even in impoverished Moldova, the Gypsy "baron" Artur Cherar and his clan have up to 20-40 million euros a year. And in Kosovo clan of "baron" Nejmedin Neziri — up to 100 million euros per year (mostly Kosovar Gypsies trade in Germany and Austria).

Like most of the rest of the "elite" of Eastern Europe, these Gypsies deliberately demonstrate a luxurious lifestyle, literally bathing in gold (up to 55 kg of gold was spent on the interior decoration of the house of the Gypsy "king" of Romania Florian Cioaba). Of their super-profits, only crumbs fall to the "cattle", and even then mostly for some dirty deeds. The super-luxury of the "elite" and the people subordinate to them do not cause indignation: secretly, most of the lower classes dream that someday they will also be able to become the owner of the golden toilet bowl and the "right of the first night".

The millionaire gypsies of Eastern Europe are an ideal example for libertarians. We have achieved everything ourselves, without the help of the state. They don't pay taxes, but they don't demand anything from the authorities either. They live in complete freedom — from the prejudices of marriage legislation, with weapons, etc. "The Gypsy straightened his shoulders" — probably, Ayn Rand today would call her book-manual about the ideal life of a libertarian.

National Geographic magazine told about the life of millionaire Gypsies in their world capital — the Romanian city of Buzescu. This locality is located 80 km southwest of Bucharest, its population is 5 thousand people. About 800 houses have been built in Buzescu, each costing from 2 to 30 million dollars. In general, the value of all this real estate of Gypsy millionaires is estimated at $ 4 billion.

Like their counterparts from the Russian Ruble, Gypsies from Buzescu does not pay any taxes to the state, formally being considered unemployed or owners of companies with a zero balance. There is, however, one exception — their villas are considered unfinished, and therefore are subject to a small property tax, usually 200-300 euros per year.

One of these millionaire gypsies by the name of Parachiv tells how he became a rich man. After the establishment of capitalism in Romania in 1989, the main trade of enterprising Gypsies was the purchase of ferrous and non-ferrous metals (interestingly, the same accumulation of primary capital was noted in Russia). "You had to be a fool not to build yourself 5 villas after the revolution of 1989!" says one of the millionaires named Nikolai Marin.

Well, and then the Gypsies who made their capital engaged in other businesses — for example, the smuggling of cigarettes to the rich countries of the European Union.

As in In Russia, the first thing the nouveau riche began to show overconsumption. Expensive cars, palaces, gold. But there is one difference between millionaire gypsies and Russian rich people - today they are siphoning money not from their own country, but from rich European states. Gypsy-Romanian nouveau riche make money in France, Italy, Spain. And these capitals are invested in their homeland — in Romania. Whereas Russian nouveau riche, on the contrary, prefer to pump money out of Russia and invest them in palaces in London or on the Cote d'Azur.

Gypsy millionaires from the Romanian Buzesco work in shifts: 3-4 months in Western Europe, then home for a couple of weeks (or forced return to weddings, funerals, baptisms of loved ones and relatives). Therefore, most of the palaces in this town are filled with children, old people and women.

One more thing is interesting. Most of the relatives of the rich remain faithful to traditional crafts. Many of them raise pigs, poultry and horses in the backyard of palaces, women sew quilts, old men are engaged in coinage and tinker copper dishes.