István Tiborcz, the son-in-law of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has denied allegations that his growing fortune is linked to his proximity to political power. In an interview with the Financial Times, Tiborcz insisted that he is “a businessman, not a politician,” and that public attention is solely due to his relationship with the prime minister. “I became interesting only because I’m the PM’s son-in-law,” he said.
Comparisons to Kushner resurface amid business expansion
Observers have drawn parallels between Tiborcz and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump. Both men have developed large business empires while staying formally outside the political arena but within the inner circles of power. As Hungarian analyst Péter Krekó noted, “What Trump did in using family in business and politics, Orban is now doing too.”
Tiborcz gained public attention in the 2010s over a scandal involving his former company Elios, which won lucrative state contracts for street lighting. Following that controversy, he stepped away from state-funded projects and founded BDPST, an investment holding that has since grown significantly. Despite this pivot, critics argue that his firms have continued to benefit from favorable conditions, citing his familial ties as a key factor.
Public anger grows over elite wealth in struggling Hungary
Tiborcz’s growing fortune comes at a time when Hungary faces economic hardship, including record-low consumption levels among EU countries. In this climate, Tiborcz has become a symbol of elite privilege. Opposition leader Péter Magyar joked that in Budapest, “all luxury hotels belong to the same person” — and even schoolchildren know his name.
While Orban insists that he does not interfere in private business, the wealth of his inner circle — including Tiborcz and longtime ally Lőrinc Mészáros — continues to raise eyebrows. Meanwhile, Tiborcz’s family is preparing to move to the United States, where his wife Ráhel will pursue her studies.
BDPST, Tiborcz said, is now expanding aggressively in Poland, Romania, Serbia, and the US, with ambitions to become one of Europe’s leading investment firms.
