Idi Amin Net Worth

What is Idi Amin's Net Worth?

Idi Amin was a Ugandan military dictator who had a net worth of AT LEAST $100 million, though it's extremely difficult to peg the amount of wealth that was plundered and stashed in bank accounts during his reign of terror.

Idi Amin served as the ruler of Uganda from 1971 until he was deposed in 1979. During his reign, he conducted countless human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, political repression, and rampant corruption, earning him the sobriquet "The Butcher of Uganda."

Early Life

Idi Amin Dada Oumee was born on May 30, 1928, in Kampala, Uganda, as the third son of a Lugbara mother and a Kakwa father. When he was four years old, his parents divorced, and he was subsequently brought up by his mother's family in a rural farming town. Amin reportedly worked as a goat farmer while living with his mother's relatives. In 1940, he moved in with his maternal uncle in Bombo. Midway through the decade, he moved back to Kampala and took a number of odd jobs, including doorman and concierge assistant at the Grand Imperial Hotel.

King's African Rifles

In 1946, Amin joined the King's African Rifles, a regiment of the British Colonial Auxiliary Forces. Originally an assistant cook, he rose to the rank of lieutenant and participated in Britain's battle against Somali rebels. Amin subsequently fought against the Mau Mau rebels in Kenya in 1952. That year, he was promoted to corporal, and in 1953 he became a sergeant. In 1959, Amin reached the highest possible rank for a black soldier in the King's African Rifles and returned to Uganda. After Uganda became independent from the United Kingdom in 1962, Amin stayed in the Ugandan Army and eventually rose to the rank of Deputy Commander of the Army in 1964. He was soon named Commander of the Army.

Keystone/Getty Images

Military Dictatorship

Discovering that Uganda president Milton Obote, with whom he had a highly strained relationship, was planning to arrest him on account of mismanaging army funds, Amin launched a military coup d'état against the Ugandan government in early 1971. The coup was successful, and Amin installed himself as president under military rule. He went on to reign with extreme brutality over an impoverished nation, conducting rampant human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings, political repression, and all manner of corruption. Amin was supported by various other totalitarian regimes, including those in Libya, the Soviet Union, and East Germany.

In 1972, Amin forcibly expelled Uganda's Southeast Asian population, and in 1975 he became the chair of the Organisation of African Unity. As his reign continued, Amin became more erratic while ramping up his persecution of ethnic minorities and political dissidents, causing increasing social unrest. Between 100,000 and 500,000 people were reportedly murdered under his regime. In 1978, Amin tried to annex the Kagera Region of Tanzania, which caused Tanzanian troops to invade Uganda. With the aid of rebel forces, the Tanzanian Army was able to capture Kampala and depose Amin in 1979.

Exile

Following his ousting from power, Amin went into exile. Soldier of Fortune magazine offered a $10,000 bounty in gold for anyone who could provide information leading to his live capture. Amin lived in exile in Libya until 1980, and then briefly in Iraq. He finally settled in Saudi Arabia, where the Saudi royal family gave him sanctuary and a subsidy for keeping away from politics. In 1989, without being authorized by the Saudi government, Amin left exile and went to Zaire with one of his sons; his aim was to mobilize a rebel force to seize back power in Uganda. However, he was immediately recognized at the airport in Zaire and was promptly arrested. After much rigmarole and tensions with various governments, Amin was allowed to go back to Saudi Arabia on the condition that he never again take part in political or military activities. He remained in the country until his passing.

Personal Life and Death

Amin was married to at least seven women during his lifetime, three of whom he divorced. His wives included Malyamu, Kay, Nora, and the 19-year-old Sarah Kyolaba. With Kyolaba, Amin had four children. Overall, he reportedly had as many as 60 children, with at least 40 being official.

In July of 2003, Amin's fourth wife, Nalongo Madina, reported that Amin was in a coma caused by kidney failure. He was on life support in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia until his family chose to disconnect him, resulting in his death on August 16, 2003. Amin's body was interred in Ruwais Cemetery in Jeddah without ceremony.

Who's Richer?

Idi
Amin

Compare!

Muammar
Gaddafi