Murder of Ján Kuciak

George Soros hands control over his family's philanthropy to son Alex, after giving away billions and enduring years of antisemitic attacks and conspiracy theories

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Friday, June 16, 2023
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Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros is handing control of his US$25 billion holdings, including his Open Society Foundations, to one of his sons, Alexander Soros.

Key Points: 
  • Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros is handing control of his US$25 billion holdings, including his Open Society Foundations, to one of his sons, Alexander Soros.
  • Baseless conspiracy theories have at times clouded his legacy as one of the world’s biggest donors to causes like higher education, human rights and the democratization of Europe’s formerly communist countries.

Success followed early hardship

    • After World War II, he moved from Budapest to the United Kingdom, where he studied at the London School of Economics while working part time in low-wage jobs.
    • By the 1990s he had amassed a fortune and established himself as one of the world’s most important financiers.
    • But his dedication to philanthropy and his support for political freedom are what brought him the most attention.

Deep-pocketed philanthropy

    • Soros’ first philanthropic foray was in 1979, when he funded scholarships for Black students in apartheid South Africa.
    • In the 1980s, he helped promote the exchange of ideas in Communist Hungary by funding visits of Hungarian liberal intellectuals to Western universities.
    • The broad goal of much of Soros’ philanthropy is to support tolerant societies with governments that are accountable and allow everyone to campaign, protest, donate to candidates they like or even run for office themselves.
    • But his fortune would have been far larger had he not given some $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations since 1984.

Antisemitic conspiracy myths

    • Soros’ wealth and influence have also made him a target of numerous conspiracy theories.
    • Such baseless accusations often target his Jewish heritage, invoking hatemongering and centuries-old antisemitic tropes.
    • As I explained in a book chapter about nationalism and populism, U.S. conspiracy theories have hounded Soros for years as well.
    • National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre accused Soros of planning a socialist takeover of the U.S. in 2018, evoking antisemitic myths from the early 20th century about a Jewish-Bolshevik plot.

A complex legacy

    • As is true for all billionaires, the Soros family fortune helps perpetuate a system of income inequality and concentrated political influence in the hands of the world’s wealthiest people.
    • When megadonors of any political preference make big donations to a candidate or party, their gifts can shape the agenda and distort democratic processes.
    • It’s still not clear how Soros’ son aims to put a stop to the demonization of the family’s philanthropic work.

Highlights - Petition on the investigation of the murder of the Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak - Committee on Petitions

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Murder of Ján Kuciak, SLOVAKIA, Tibor Gašpar, Direction – Social Democracy

At the meeting of 20 February, the Members will discuss a petition on the investigation of the murder of the Slovak Journalist Jn Kuciak and his fiance Martina Kunrov, which happened in February 2018.

Key Points: 

At the meeting of 20 February, the Members will discuss a petition on the investigation of the murder of the Slovak Journalist Jn Kuciak and his fiance Martina Kunrov, which happened in February 2018.

Highlights - Alleged financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance in Slovakia - Special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 14, 2019
Financial crime, Murder of Ján Kuciak, Marián Kočner, Death, Government of Slovakia, Crime

On 24 January 2019, the TAX3 Committee will hold a hearing on Alleged financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance in Slovakia.

Key Points: 
  • On 24 January 2019, the TAX3 Committee will hold a hearing on Alleged financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance in Slovakia.
  • Investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his partner Martina Kusnirova were shot dead in February in what was the first targeted killing of a reporter in the country's history.
  • Mr Kuciak, who was 27 at the time of his murder, had been investigating alleged financial crimes and tax frauds.
  • The Committee has invited to this hearing the Slovak General Prosecutor's Office, the Financial Directorate of Slovakia, and an investigative journalist.