The wealthiest Hungarian appears to be spending New Year’s Eve in Hawaii – photos

The wealthiest Hungarian, Lőrinc Mészáros, is reportedly spending the final hours of the year in Hawaii with his wife, Andrea Várkonyi. Mészáros is a close associate of Prime Minister Orbán, and it is claimed that he amassed a large portion of his wealth after Orbán’s Fidesz party came to power in 2010, enabling him to secure a string of public contracts.

Mészáros and Várkonyi in LA and Hawaii

According to Ákos Hadházy, an independent MP, Várkonyi and Mészáros were seen shopping on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, often described as the world’s most expensive street. Hadházy wrote that the former gas mechanic’s wife was dressed in Dior garments worth HUF 3 million (approximately EUR 7,800).

He further stated that the couple travelled to the United States on a private flight (OE-LOT) from Budapest Airport and returned to Budapest by helicopter (OE-XWY) from Budaörs Airport. Hadházy estimated the total cost of the flights at at least HUF 60 million (around EUR 156,000).

According to 444.hu, Mészáros and Várkonyi later travelled to Hawaii and were observed heading to a Four Seasons hotel on the afternoon of 30 December (photos received by the outlet can be viewed in the original article). Booking data cited by Népszava suggests that one room at the hotel costs around EUR 2,002 per night. The hotel is located in a holiday resort approximately 27 kilometres from Honolulu. Temperatures there range between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius, although the sky is reportedly cloudy.

What’s the real issue with the wealthiest Hungarian?

A tycoon like Lőrinc Mészáros, Hungary’s wealthiest businessman, could ring in New Year’s Eve anywhere in the world. So why are so many Hungarians angered by his lavish celebrations?

The outrage stems from how he is believed to have built his fortune: acquiring public contracts allegedly riddled with overpricing, with substantial profit margins seemingly flowing directly to him.

Hungarian media outlets have repeatedly exposed these controversial deals, alleging that Mészáros secured them solely due to his close relationship with Prime Minister Orbán. As a result, many observers – including MP Ákos Hadházy in his viral post – view Mészáros’s extravagance as being funded by taxpayers’ money.

One frequently cited example is the Mészáros Group’s Christmas party, where international pop star Ricky Martin was flown in as the big surprise guest. Cheers with our money?

Read also:

• Lőrinc Mészáros’s wealth grows in a year by as much as the annual budget of several Hungarian cities
• PM Orbán’s friend, the wealthiest Hungarian, Lőrinc Mészáros, may buy top Austrian football club

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