An investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Government Accountability Project found that between 2005 and 2019, the five sons of Kurdistan’s former president, Masoud Barzani, purchased at least 31 U.S. properties, including mansions and commercial real estate, with a total value exceeding $100 million.
The OCCRP reports that the Barzani brothers used offshore companies, some named after Pirates of the Caribbean characters, to conceal their ownership of US real estate and luxury assets.
According to the OCCRP article, leaked financial records show that more than $11 million for these purchases came from Golden Eagle Global (GEG), allegedly controlled by Mustafa Barzani, and about $18 million came from Ster Group, which leaked documents describe as being under the control of Masrour Barzani, now the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Notable U.S. properties cited include a $10.2 million chateau-style mansion in Virginia, the five-acre Great Falls mansion “Casa Divina,” bought for $5.6 million in 2013 and sold for $6.25 million in 2022, and a Miami Beach building housing a CVS pharmacy purchased for $18.3 million. The latter was acquired by Masrour Barzani three months after he became Prime Minister in 2019, according to the OCCRP.
The report also describes extensive spending on luxury items, including a $340,000 Ferrari, high-end designer goods such as a $50,000 watch, Arabian horses, and large American Express “Black Card” expenses, a credit card reserved for American Express’ wealthiest clients.
Lawyers for KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, approached by the OCCRP, rejected any wrongdoing and said he had a “fervent commitment” to anti-corruption, and that it was reasonable for him to protect his privacy. They did not reply to questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The article further notes a significant disparity between the Barzani family’s wealth and the average income in Kurdistan, where per capita earnings are just over $500 a month or about 6 percent of the US monthly average.
OCCRP – Mansions, Horses, and Designer Bags: How the Ruling Family of Iraqi Kurdistan Splurged in the U.S.
