José Mujica
The 77-year-old recently admitted to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he donates almost all of his presidential salary, making him the poorest, or, as Univision pointed out, most generous president, in the world.
El presidente explained he receives $12,500 a month but keeps only $1,250. The public servant told the newspaper, "I do fine with that amount; I have to do fine because there are many Uruguayans who live with much less."
He and his wife - a senator who also donates part of her salary - live in a farmhouse in Montevideo. His biggest expense is his Volkswagen Beetle, valued at $1,945.
Perhaps not surprisingly, under the former guerrilla fighter, who was elected in 2010 as a member of the left-wing coalition, the Broad Front, the country has become known for being one of the least corrupt on the continent.
Mujica has no bank accounts and no debt, and he enjoys one thing money can't buy: the companionship of his dog, Manuela.
The Uruguayan is not the first president to donate his salary. U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who came from wealth, donated his salary when in office, as did President Herbert Hoover. Hoover, who grew up poor, decided to never accept money for public service, so he could not be accused of corruption.
Ron Paul offered a logical US Version
Which of course the press ignored. He would take a salary at the lowest level that would not lose to him/wife/family the SSA Benefits they'd worked their lives for.
Not that it would have made a difference. . . unless, EVERYONE started running for office un such platforms, guaranteed in advance.
Who wouldn't vote for such a true public servant, IF they knew that truth. (Big "IF" there.)
R.C.