$12 million is said to have disappeared from Usain Bolt’s account, and Angela Merkel’s wallet was stolen: a list of famous thieves.
Usain Bolt, Kim Kardashian and Angela Merkel: They didn’t like to share their wealth. Imago (Image composition Berliner Zeitung)
Jamaican super athlete Usain Bolt was allegedly cheated out of around $12.7 million. The sum had disappeared from the account of the eight-time Olympic sprint champion at the Jamaican investment company Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL). On the former account of millions there would only be a manageable 12,000 US dollars today.
This was announced a few days ago by the 36-year-old’s lawyer, Linton P. Gordon, of the Associated Press news agency. The Financial Regulator has placed SSL under “enhanced scrutiny” from multiple agencies, including the Jamaica Police Fraud Squad. The company is now suspected of cheating its customers.
But the record athlete is far from the only celebrity who has been cheated or stolen in the past. Other VIPs also had to unintentionally share their wealth. From the (former) super couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen to the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. A list of famous thefts:
Tom and Gisele: When there were still sparks between the two.Imago
1. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen
The former dream couple seems to have fared much worse than Usain Bolt: Tom and Gisele would have lost $70 million on the crypto exchange FTX. The American football player owns 1.1 million FTX shares, the Brazilian model around 680,000. In late 2022, FTX’s cryptocurrency went through a severe crisis, and in early November, the exchange’s founder and previous CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, filed for bankruptcy.
Around $30 billion vanished in a few hours – including a good part of Brady’s and Bundchen’s fortune. Particularly ironic: the couple had recommended FTX together several times in various Super Bowl commercials. Then it was still: “FTX, are you in?” Now the two of them consider 2022 to be an unforgettable year. Unfortunately, in a negative sense: after losing millions, they also divorced in October.
Soccer legend David Beckham with his wife, designer Victoria Beckham.Imago
2.David and Victoria Beckham
This dream couple is still together and has been happily united for 23 years now. Nor was it much that British football legend David Beckham and his wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, were stolen. However, there was probably a big shock: On a cold February evening in 2022, a masked thief snuck into the Beckham family’s $48 million residence.
When the 17-year-old son of the family, Cruz, returned home, he noticed a smashed window in one of the bedrooms and promptly alerted dad David. The two then searched the London villa, but there was no trace of the uninvited guest. Victoria and ten-year-old daughter Harper waited in a room in the mansion, shaken. The masked burglar took thousands of dollars worth of designer goods and electronics. In fact, he couldn’t get hold of it.
Ferrari racing driver Charles Leclerc: Here he still had his Richard Mille watch.Imago
3. Charles Leclerc
Formula 1 racing driver Charles Leclerc did not have the same luck in misfortune. Although for the 25-year-old Ferrari driver, money is probably the least of his worries: the Monegasque earns around $12 million a year, around $33,000 a day. Leclerc proudly flaunted his $320,000 Richard Mille RM 67-02 watch model – and then one day it was gone. In April 2022, the pilot was in Viareggio, Italy, where the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was due.
One evening the racer was surprised by fans on a dark street. In the chaos between taking photos and writing autographs, a thief managed to get the precious watch off Leclerc’s wrist. Local media even reported an unsuccessful pursuit that the 25-year-old is said to have attempted with his Ferrari. Since then, the Monegasque has missed the collector’s item – but Leclerc would still prefer not to wear a cheap Casio like the Barcelona legend Gerard Piqué.
Superstar Kim Kardashian shortly before the robbery.Imago
4. Kim Kardashian
This incident attracted international attention. Although the American megastar Kim Kardashian was affected, the scenario took place in what is probably the most romantic city in the world: Paris. Kardashian stayed there in 2016 at the Hôtel de Pourtalès. A luxury hotel, just behind the Parish Church of La Madeleine.
For days, Kardashian had been uploading photos to her social media of her wearing various fashion items and jewelry during Paris Fashion Week. The robbers could also have found the reality star based on the photos, it was said at the time – and they could have seen what was up for grabs at Kardashian. At around 2:30 a.m., five men disguised as police officers stormed the building and threatened the concierge.
According to media reports, Kardashian was tied up and locked in the bathroom. Meanwhile, the burglars snatched two smartphones and jewelry totaling around $10 million; including a $4 million ring that Kardashian previously confidently showed off to her Instagram fans. Fortunately, no one was injured in this robbery. And even the shock has gradually given way to shopping desire for Kim Kardashian: This year the superstar started with the auction of a new piece of jewellery; the “Attallah Cross” once worn by Princess Diana for just under $186,000. This is a pendant set with diamonds and amethysts.
Angela Merkel now prefers to keep an eye on her purse.Imago
5.Angela Merkel
She should not be missing from this list: Angela Merkel, the former German Chancellor. Not much was stolen from her, but the stress afterwards was particularly great. After the incident, Merkel had to reapply for an identity card, driver’s license and EC card. Her wallet was stolen in February 2022 while shopping in a Berlin delicatessen supermarket. There was also cash in the wallet.
Curious: Merkel was accompanied in the supermarket by at least one bodyguard from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). It must therefore have been all the more difficult for the pickpocket to seize the loot. According to the Bild newspaper, the wallet was in Merkel’s handbag, which was attached to her shopping trolley. Despite this incident, Ms. Merkel is said to still like to go shopping in person – but she is said to always carry her wallet with her.