Kim Jong-un net worth

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has a reported net worth of $5 billion.
Kim Jong-un was born in a dictatorial dynasty to supreme leader Kim Jong-il (1941-2011) and opera singer Ko Yong-hui, presumably in North Korea, on January 8, 1982 or 1983, or July 5, 1984; and is the grandson of North Korea’s founder Kim Il-sung.

Reportedly educated in Switzerland (1991-2000), the NBA-obsessed Michael Jordan fan returned home to acquire a degree in physics from Kim Il-sung University and graduated as an army officer from Kim Il-sung Military University (2002-2007).

How did he make his billions?

Destiny saw a power swing when Kim Jong-nam, Jong-un’s eldest half-brother, fell out of favour with their father due to a political gaffe in 2001. With Jong-un’s elder brother Kim Jong-chul considered unsuitable, Jong-un was made to stand for elections to the Supreme People’s Assembly on March 8, 2009, besides being given a mid-level position in the National Defense Commission and the title “Yŏngmyŏng-han Tongji” (Brilliant Comrade).
Despite no military experience, Jong-un was made a daejang (four-star general) in September 2010, appointed Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission and included in the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party.
January 2011 witnessed the reported purging of nearly 200 sympathisers of O Kuk-ryol (Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission) and Jong-un’s uncle-in-law Jang Sung-taek.
Following his father’s death on December 17, 2011, Jong-un became Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army.
In April 2012, Jong-un was elected First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (the earlier General Secretary post being buried with his father). He also became Chairman of the Central Military Commission, presidium member on the Politburo Standing Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and the Chairman of the National Defence Commission.
He was then awarded the highest active military rank, Wonsu (Marshal), in July 2012. The only rank above it is Dae Wonsu (Grand Marshal, held by Jong-un’s grandfather and awarded to Jong-il posthumously).
Although, officially, Jong-un (commander of the armed forces) is one-third of North Korea’s governing triumvirate—alongside Pak Pong-ju (Premier heading the government) and Kim Yong-nam (Parliament Chairman handling foreign relations)—Jong-un claims final authority.
In 2013, martial law was declared in North Korea. Same year, Forbes adjudged Jong-un the 46th most powerful Person in the World. He was ‘unanimously’ elected to the Supreme People’s Assembly on March 9, 2014.
More executions were ordered, end of 2013 and early 2014, which included Jong-un’s uncle Sung-taek, his family and his sympathiser O Sang-hon (a deputy security minister). In 2017, Jong-nam, the exiled half-brother of Jong-un, was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Jong-un himself survived an assassination attempt by an alleged collaboration between the CIA and South Korean National Intelligence Service, in 2017.
Jong-un’s fortune includes a $35 million ski resort, golf courses, race horses, a $7 million luxury yacht, $10 million worth of watches, a fleet of armoured limousines ($1 million each), many rare cars, a Mercedes-Benz 600 luxury sedan, Disney-type theme parks, 17 palaces and an island worth around $100 million.