Saturday, May 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

The Pope’s Surprising Net Worth: How Francis Out-Riched A King While Living Like A Monk

He wore plain robes, lived in a guesthouse, and still had a bigger bank balance than Belgium’s King Philippe.

[Image: Flickr]

Pope Francis has died following a stroke on Easter Monday, sending shockwaves through the Catholic world and leaving millions of mourners clutching their rosaries, or at least pausing their Easter egg hunts.

Now, as the Vatican scrambles to plan his funeral, royals and global bigwigs are dusting off their best black suits to attend. Aside from the velvet-lined pomp usually associated with the papacy, did you know Francis was richer than actual royalty?

Yup, that’s right. While wearing humble robes and preaching simplicity, the Pope was secretly packing more wealth than Belgium’s King Philippe. Don’t let the sandals fool you.

Sure, the papal gig comes with perks: palaces, priceless art, and a front-row seat to centuries of tradition. But Francis wasn’t here for the flex. Instead of shacking up in the Apostolic Palace like his predecessors, he chose the far more modest Casa Santa Marta.

The place normally hosts visiting clergy, but Francis made it home, and fittingly, that’s where his body lay before being moved to Saint Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday. No grand send-off from a golden throne, just how he liked it.

Despite his frugal lifestyle, estimates put his net worth at a cool £16 million (which is close to R400 million), mostly from assets tied to his office like cars, property, and papal drip (yes, even the robes count), per Hello! Mag:

As Pope, he was able to draw a yearly salary of £384,000 (R9,4 million); however, to live his modest life, the late pontiff actually turned this down. It’s believed that he would donate this money to separate funds and trusts.

Francis was a Jesuit, a member of the order that basically swears off wealth to follow Christ more authentically. He’d been walking the walk long before the white robes, famously rejecting financial gifts and cushy church stipends.

He even turned down the traditional golden ring worn by previous Popes, instead choosing to have a less expensive gold-plated ring. Classic Francis – holy man, anti-bling icon, despite what those weird AI images of him once suggested.

The late pontiff’s wealth has been disputed, with some sources saying that due to his lifestyle, he passed away worth less than £100. From millions to pennies, sounds like the Vatican’s version of a financial thriller.

But here’s the real tea: With an estimated net worth of £16 million, the late Pope was actually worth more than Belgium’s King Philippe, who is believed to be worth just £10 million. Imagine out-riching a literal king while living in a guesthouse.

But before we start a Vatican vs Monarchy wealth-off, keep in mind the Belgians have a bit of a safety net. The Belgian royals receive generous support from the state, with many of their expenses covered by the government. Their Civil List, which covers these funds, is believed to be worth £9.5 million.

And while other royal families make bank off their real estate portfolios, the Belgians are locked out, their palaces are owned by the state or the Royal Foundation. Which sounds fancy, but also kind of like being rich and grounded at the same time.

Still, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will be showing up to pay their respects. They were the first royals to confirm that they would be attending the Pope’s funeral, which is due to be held on Saturday.

Even if he’s no longer with us, Francis is still out here making royals (and heaven knows, all those billionaires) look like they’ve got catching up to do.

[Source: Hello! Magazine]