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The History of the Late José Mujica, the Poorest President in the World

José Mujica was born on May 20, 1935, in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. His parents were very poor, originally immigrants from Italy who settled in Uruguay.

As a young man, he joined the Tupamaros guerrilla movement, which fought against the Uruguayan government forces.

During that struggle, government soldiers captured him and imprisoned him for 14 years, from 1973 to 1985. Out of those 14 years, he spent two years locked in a well, where food was lowered to him while he stayed inside.

He was released in 1985 when Uruguay transitioned to a democratic system.

After his release, he and some of his comrades formed a political party called the MLN-T, aiming to gain power through democratic means—abandoning the use of weapons.

Under this party, he was elected as a Member of Parliament, later becoming a Senator, and eventually the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. He contested the presidential election in 2009 and won with 53% of the vote.

He was sworn in as the President of Uruguay on March 1, 2010.

Why is he called the poorest president in the world?

From the moment he was sworn in, he declared that he would donate 90% of his monthly presidential salary—around €10,000—to charity or the needy. He kept only €1,000 for himself, stating it was sufficient for his needs.

The house he lived in was a farmhouse, similar to the temporary huts farmers use on their land to avoid constant travel. Mujica lived in such a house, which wasn’t even his—it belonged to his wife, Lucía Topolansky. Unlike in many African countries where presidential residences are heavily guarded by armed soldiers, only two police officers guarded Mujica’s home.

Every morning, since his house was outside the city, he drove himself to work in an old Volkswagen Beetle and returned in the evening—no sirens, no motorcade.

If you didn't know his car, you'd never guess he was a president. Surprisingly, he never stopped farming—the work he and his wife did before he became president continued even after his presidency.

Many media outlets visited his home, asking why he chose to live in poverty despite his position. His answer was always the same: "I am not poor. I simply don't need a luxurious life." He often gave the example of an average worker in Uruguay earning €900 a month and managing just fine, so he saw no reason to keep more than that.

He believed life was about three or four things: love, compassion for others, family, and friends.

To him, money was not a worry—he believed he'd leave it behind when he died, so it was better to keep what he needed and give the rest to those in need.

He often reminded people that he spent 14 years in prison, two of those in a well, and even before his arrest, he lived for over 10 years without a mattress—just sleeping on a mat. So to him, the €1,000 he kept each month was more than enough.

These are some of the reasons why people say José Mujica was the poorest president in the world.

Yet, he governed effectively, like any other president. During his time, Uruguay experienced significant progress—especially a reduction in corruption, thanks to the example he set.

Under his leadership, Uruguay's reputation grew across Latin America and even within the United Nations, where the country became known for its strong contributions.

During Mujica’s presidency, Uruguay was the second-highest contributor to the UN in Latin America after Brazil.

Death

Mujica passed away on May 13, 2025, just a week before his 90th birthday, at his farmhouse in Rincón del Cerro, outside Montevideo. His death was announced by Orsi. The Uruguayan government declared three days of national mourning.

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