How Viktor Orbán’s son-in-law capitalised on tax breaks to dominate Hungary’s rich list!

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's son-in-law has amassed a significant fortune in recent years. What factors have contributed to his remarkable financial success? Check out our article for more details!

István Tiborcz, Orbán’s son-in-law, has seen his wealth soar thanks to tax breaks tied to the BDPST Group, which have dramatically sliced his tax obligations.

Following a significant law passed in 2017, the BDPST Group has enjoyed tax relief amounting to approximately 30 billion HUF (EUR 74,058,690.00) over the past five years, which has been transformative for Orbán’s son-in-law Tiborcz’s financial standing. After debuting on Hungary’s rich list in 2019, Orbán’s son-in-law has since tripled his net worth, reaching the 19th spot among Hungary’s billionaires in 2023, according to 24.hu.

Ráhel Orbán and István Tiborcz Orbán's son-in-law
Photo: Instagram / rahel_orban

BDPST Real Estate Distributor Ltd: A profitable core

At the centre of this wealth accumulation is BDPST Real Estate Distributor Ltd, the flagship company of the BDPST Group. Between 2019 and 2023, the company reported an impressive profit of HUF 48.4 billion. From this amount, Orbán’s son-in-law, Tiborcz and other owners collected HUF 5.5 billion (EUR 13,578,306.50) in dividends, while paying minimal or no corporate tax over the years. BDPST Ltd. employed tax incentives and legal frameworks to keep its tax bill strikingly low, a strategy also extended to its affiliated companies.

The real key to BDPST’s tax savings is a 2017 amendment allowing companies to double-count renovation expenses for historic buildings when calculating tax deductions. Thanks to this policy, introduced by the Orbán government, Tiborcz’s company acquired historic properties and funded their renovations with substantial loans, some sourced from the state-owned Hungarian Development Bank. These manoeuvres have kept BDPST’s tax obligations so low that it has effectively avoided corporate tax altogether.

Reaction from the TISZA Party

Péter Magyar, leader of the TISZA Party, has openly condemned this arrangement, accusing the Orbán government of creating what he describes as a “tax haven” for Tiborcz. He argues that Orbán’s government has effectively embedded loopholes in the law to benefit Tiborcz’s companies, further supporting his enterprises with state-backed loans. Magyar went so far as to liken their operation to “Al Capone in kindergarten,” suggesting this issue could prompt significant political shifts by 2026.

Péter Magyar in the European Parliament
Photo: FB/Magyar Péter

What happens to Orbán’s son-in-law’s wealth?

According to Szabad Európa, Ráhel Orbán and István Tiborcz married in 2013 on a grand estate in Fejér County, located in the picturesque Tükröspuszta, on the border of Bicske and Csabdi. Since then, the Tiborcz family has embarked on a property acquisition spree, buying multiple plots, including a forest and various fields. Recent contracts reveal that Tiborcz and his father, Dr Sándor Tiborcz, acquired a total of 19.6 hectares of land—both farmland and forest—in August and September 2024, valued at HUF 75 million (EUR 185,167.28). With this latest acquisition, the Tiborcz family now owns at least 340 hectares in and around their Tükröspuszta estate.

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3 Comments

  1. What MUST be totally understood, and be the PRACTICE – of ALL Hungarians, who are DISATISFIED with the state of our country at this time, that is in Financial & Economic – Infrastructure = CHAOS – our Fight – our CHALLENGE must be built upon speaking, communicating in our OBJECTIONS our Disapprovals directed at the Orban led Fidesz Government – that are Truth’s and Fact’s that have supportive Documentation, or Evidence – that legally, could be presented – provided used tabled, in a Judiciary environment – to substantiate claims, on the subjects – we as tax paying citizens, under DEMOCRACY – have a RIGHT – by “due process” to voice, as a course of action, bought on and against, this Orban led Fidesz Government of Hungary.
    Democracy – we know of Orbans “aggression” to bring about the Distillation of DEMOCRACY in Hungary.
    We know – that the Press, the Judiciary, being able to Rule by Decree – that the Orban – Fidesz Government, has a HOLD over the citizens of Hungary and to there REQUIREMENT – engage there Power & Control – using it enforcing it as they PLEASE.
    Hungarians can’t – with the state the rapid on-going CHAOS broadening in Hungary – we can’t be AFRAID nor FEARFUL.
    We MUST in a togetherness – in SOLIDARITY Grow, and Grow – in SUPPORT of each other – and that our Challenge to the Orban – Fidesz Government is BUILT on – Truth & Facts.
    This article – if it is FACT and TRUTH – let it be, EXPOSED published – “thrust” out into the Public domain, of Hungary, that HIGHLIGHTS – practices Legally undertaken or practices, that are Not – challengeable under Law’s of Taxation – Company & Personal Laws of Taxation.
    REMEMBER – we Hungarians have been FAILED.
    It WORSENS but PEOPLE Power through SOLIDARITY – supporting each other – we can FORCE change and “rid” ourselves, of this Orban – Fidesz – DEBT RIDDLED” mounting in DEBT Government – and hopefully – personally and as a country – have a FUTURE,

  2. Omygod, the guy did everything by the book and got rich, so let’s hate on his father-in-law!

    Jesus Aitch…

    We’ve heard of the Trump Derangement Syndrome; the Orban Derangement Syndrome is, at once, just as funny and sad.

  3. @michaelsteiner – “did everything by the book”? You must have missed his OLAF investigation? Where our Politicians eventually made the investigation of Mr. Tiborcz company go away by paying Elios instead sending the bill to the EU, as intended? You will enjoy this more detailed read into the matter:

    https://english.atlatszo.hu/2021/09/17/hungarian-ngo-wins-lawsuit-in-the-european-court-of-justice-olafs-elios-report-must-be-made-public/

    And this one, for a bit more nepotism and misuse of power:

    https://english.atlatszo.hu/2019/05/11/this-is-how-authorities-sabotaged-the-fraud-investigation-against-orbans-son-in-law/

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