Even if you have never heard of Jose Mujica, you are going to want to read our list! He is known as one of the most humble and austere presidents to have ever lived. He is forever embedded in the history of Uruguay, and the entire world, for that matter.
Here is our ranking of the 10 most interesting facts about Jose Mujica, the world’s poorest president of his time. Read on and discover how this odd political figure measures up to others in the world. Learn about his family life, his financial life, and his fascinating past. He is quite the character!
Facts about Jose Mujica
1 He Comes from Humble Beginnings
His father filed for bankruptcy and his mother was dirt-poor.
2 He is of European Ancestry
Among his bloodlines are family traces to the Basque country in Spain, as well as Italy.
3 He Has a Few Nicknames
Around the world he is known as the “pauper president” and the “world’s humblest president.”
4 He is a Serious Giver
He donated about 90% of his money to charities and served people.
5 He is Left-Wing
He entered the 2009 run for President as part of the left-wing Broad Front coalition.
6 He Served in Other Government Positions
From 2005 to 2008, he was the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries in Uruguay.
7 He Served Time in Jail
While fighting with the Tupamaros, he was sent to prison for 13 years back in the 1970s and ‘80s.
8 He Once Fought in Guerrilla Warfare
He was part of the Tupamaros, an urban guerrilla group in Uruguay.
9 He Was Uruguay’s 40th President
He served as the Latin American country’s president from 2010 to 2015.
10 He is OLD
And by old, we mean he is an octogenarian.
1 1 – Loves Flowers
Mujica and his wife plant and harvest chrysantheums, which they sell.
José Mujica: The Poorest President
Uruguay’s President José Mujica lives in a ramshackle farmhouse and gives away 90% of his salary. In this story from Dateline, you can learn about his remarkable life story.
Image credit: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
I’m Natalie Garcia and I started this website to share my love of trivia, facts and fun knowledge tidbits. We cover things like celebrity gossip, historical facts, tv shows, world leaders and just odd and random fun things. I started this site to have some fun with my hobby and share some useful information with you, our community. Please feel to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form. And if you have suggestions for things to write about, please shoot me a message!