Assad’s Luxurious Escape: Cars Left Behind in Damascus
Footage has emerged showcasing the extravagant lifestyle of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The video, verified by ABC News, reveals a garage within the presidential palace in Damascus filled with high-end vehicles. This discovery comes after rebel forces took control of the capital.
A still from a video of the abandoned garage of the presidential palace in Damascus, images showing for the first time Bashar Al-Assad’s wealth.
Obtaining the video, the person filming points to the expensive cars — which include Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins — and says incredulously, “Were we even living? Watch this my dear … we are not in Dubai!”
The collection includes models like a Ferrari F50, a car of which only 349 were ever produced, with one having sold for over $5.5 million at auction earlier this year. This glimpse into Assad’s wealth stands in stark contrast to the struggles of the Syrian people.
Assad’s departure on Sunday, after rebels advanced into Damascus, ended his 24-year rule. Rebel forces looted the palace and government buildings. Russian media reports that Assad and his family are now in Moscow, after being granted political asylum by President Vladimir Putin.
Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wife Asma prepare to vote at a polling station near Damascus.
The true extent of Assad’s wealth is hard to determine, but a 2022 State Department report estimated the family’s net worth to be between $1 billion and $2 billion. This is believed to be spread across various accounts, real estate, and corporations. At the same time, the United Nations Refugee Agency reports that 90% of Syria’s population lives below the poverty line. Almost 13 million face food insecurity, creating a significant disparity between the former leader’s lifestyle and the reality faced by many Syrians.
