Here’s how much Jair Bolsonaro, the controversial former president of Brazil sentenced to 27 years in prison for an attempted coup and other crimes, earns.
Brazil recently wrote an unprecedented chapter in its political history: former President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison by the Supreme Court for attempting to subvert the democratic order following his electoral defeat three years ago. This verdict makes him the first former Brazilian president to be found guilty of a coup attempt, marking a point of no return in the fight against authoritarianism in the country.
The conviction, which came after a lengthy trial, has sparked domestic political controversy and international tensions, with the United States criticizing the decision and threatening sanctions. Despite this, President Lula—who also threatened to retaliate against Trump—and the Court have upheld the sentences.
For Jair Bolsonaro, therefore, yet another new chapter begins in a controversial story of power but also of wealth. Here, then, is who the former president of Brazil is and how much he earns, now facing an unprecedented sentence.
Bolsonaro and the 27-year prison sentence
We were talking about the historic sentence: Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for orchestrating a coup attempt after his defeat in the 2022 elections.
The Court found that Bolsonaro had led a conspiracy to prevent the inauguration of the elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, using an "armed criminal organization" to undermine the country’s democratic institutions.
The charges therefore include attempting to subvert the democratic order, participating in a criminal organization, and damaging public property. The sentence was issued by a majority, with only one judge dissenting, which leaves open the possibility of appeals.
Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, has declared himself the victim of a political "witch hunt" and has announced—obviously—his intention to appeal the sentence. Despite his conviction, he has also expressed his intention to run for the 2026 presidential elections, although he is ineligible until 2030 due to a previous Supreme Court decision that had already declared him ineligible for abuse of political power and misuse of the media during his presidency.
The biography of the former president of Brazil
But this is only the latest chapter (for now) in an "intense" life, if you want to call it that. Born on March 21, 1955, in Glicério, in the state of São Paulo, Jair Bolsonaro is the son of Italian immigrants: his maternal grandparents were from Tuscany, while his paternal grandparents were originally from Veneto and Calabria. Raised in a family with European roots, he developed a strong sense of national identity and an interest in politics and the military from a young age.
After completing high school, he graduated from the Agulhas Negras Military Academy, the most prestigious in Brazil, where he embarked on a military career as a paratrooper. During the 1980s, he served in the army and gained notoriety for his conservative views and criticism of the management of the armed forces, which led to his arrest in 1986 for writing an article criticizing low military salaries.
His political career began in 1988, when he was elected as a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro. He was subsequently elected to the federal parliament, a position he held for seven consecutive terms. During this time, he gained notoriety for his nationalist, conservative positions and his criticism of the traditional political system. In 2018, he decided to run for president of Brazil as a representative of the Social Liberal Party, achieving a historic victory with 55.5% of the vote in the second round. His campaign was based on promises to fight corruption, strengthen security, and promote traditional values.
During his presidency (2019-2023), Bolsonaro adopted right-wing policies in various areas, including the environment, health, and the economy. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly controversial, with accusations of negligence and downplaying the severity of the health crisis, which led to over 300,000 preventable deaths. Furthermore, his environmental policies have been criticized for encouraging deforestation of the Amazon and weakening environmental protection regulations.
In 2022, he sought re-election but was defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round. His defeat sparked protests among his supporters, culminating in the storming of the seats of power in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. Despite accusations of involvement in organizing these riots, Bolsonaro has always denied any responsibility. But the story didn’t end there.
In February 2025, he was charged with personally planning the attempted coup to overturn the election results and participating in an armed criminal organization. After seven months, he was sentenced.
Currently under house arrest, Bolsonaro has declared himself the victim of political persecution and announced his intention, as anticipated, to appeal the sentence.
Jair Bolsonaro’s Salary (Formerly) and Net Worth
During his term as President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro earned an annual salary of approximately 56,185 euros, a modest figure compared to that of other G20 world leaders, but one that reflected the economic reality of the South American country. However, by the end of his term, his personal wealth had increased significantly from the approximately 350,000 euros he declared in 2018, the year of his election.
According to official declarations in 2022, Bolsonaro owned assets worth a total of over 2.3 million reais, equivalent to approximately 400,000 euros, including five properties (four in Rio de Janeiro and one in Brasilia), vehicles, bank accounts, and financial investments.
In addition to these declared assets, it was discovered that Bolsonaro had received gifts of considerable value during his term in office. An investigation by the Federal Police revealed that jewelry and other gifts received from Persian Gulf royal families, estimated at 6.8 million reais (approximately 1.14 million euros), were used to finance personal expenses, including money transfers to foreign accounts. Additionally, another set of jewelry, including a white gold Rolex watch, was valued at 500,000 reais, equivalent to approximately 89,000 euros.
These assets have been the subject of legal disputes, with Brazilian authorities accusing Bolsonaro of embezzlement and misappropriation of state assets. His defense argued that the gifts were diplomatic in nature and not intended for personal gain, but investigations have raised questions about the legitimacy of the acquisitions.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Il patrimonio di Jair Bolsonaro, l’ex presidente del Brasile condannato a 27 anni di carcere
