Czech Billionaires as Politicians

This article analyzes the very rich Czechs who have stood for elected office. It identifies two ideal types—one motivated more by business interests and another more by duty and hobbyism. These motivations are related to the clarity of their ideology, prior interest in politics, and the kind of political career they pursue. More generally, the recent emergence of billionaires in Czech politics appears to be connected with the rise in corruption and public dissatisfaction with elites and has in turn encouraged populist tendencies.