Which billionaires and politicians wear cheap watches

Watches are one of the few accessories that business men can afford to wear. Therefore, public figures usually do not skimp on expensive stamps. However, among the rich and influential there are fans of very modest accessories, the cost of which varies from $10-200. In our gallery you can find watches by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Asia's richest businessman Li Ka-shing, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, Presidents Francois Hollande and Barack Obama, Pope Francis and other well-known businessmen and politicians.

Roman Abramovich, private investor





Polar M61, $100

In August 2012, Roman Abramovich appeared in a London court wearing a Polar M61 watch for £93. Many were surprised by the choice of the billionaire. The Polar brand is known for its heart rate monitors and heart rate monitors, such watches are preferred by athletes to monitor their heart rate. Abramovich was later seen in the Polar M61 at the stadium and on vacation. Like his Western counterparts, the businessman sometimes combines sports watches with business style. Sympathy for the brand is shared by Oleg Deripaska, who was also photographed several times in a Polar watch.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft



Casio, $10

During an interview with Politico in 2014, the founder of Microsoft was asked what kind of accessory he had on his wrist. He replied, "Only a ten-dollar watch." Bill Gates has been photographed more than once in elementary Casio. The watch of a man with a fortune of $79.2 billion is worth if not $10, then a maximum of $20. Only once did a more expensive watch appear on the billionaire's wrist. During an event dedicated to the Swatch Paparazzi smartwatch, which Swatch launched in 2004 together with Microsoft, Gates appeared with a prototype of the new model on his wrist (the project was not a resounding success).

Prince Harry of Wales also wore Casio watches (the G-Shock line) in his youth, but when he grew up, he changed them for the authoritative Rolex.

Lee Ka-shing, owner of Cheung Kong Group and The Hutchison Whampoa



Seiko, $50

The richest man in Asia has a fortune of $33.3 billion, owns a Sunseeker yacht and a Gulfstream 550 aircraft. But the businessman prefers simplicity in clothes, and he proudly told reporters that for many years he wore Seiko watches for $50. Ka-shin changed his favorite old Seiko to Citizen only a few years ago.

Lloyd Blankfein, CEO, Goldman Sachs



Swatch, $100

Financier Lloyd Blankfein, included in Forbes' list of the world's most influential people in 2014, is a fan of Swatch. He has several models of the brand, including silver and black watches, each costing no more than $100. Blankfein easily combines affordable watches with formal style. The American press even nicknamed Blankfein a hipster banker.

Hans Rausing Sr., heir to Tetra Laval



Timex, $40

Sweden's second-richest man has a fortune of $12.5 billion, and Hans Rausing owns a 900-acre estate in Sussex, Britain, and a solid collection of vintage cars. But in some matters, the billionaire demonstrates a fair amount of frugality. He gets a haircut from a village barber, demands a retirement discount on event tickets, and wears a cheap Timex watch.

Stephen Schwartzman, CEO of Blackstone



Swatch

Financier Stephen Schwartzman was able to spend $3 million on his sixtieth birthday party, but he is frugal in his choice of watches. Shvartsman comes to business meetings in a business suit and black and white plastic Swatch. These are not the only Swatches in the businessman's collection, he also has a color model.

Chuck Feeney, Founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies Casio



Casio

The Irish-American businessman is known for his huge donations to charity (his foundation has already given away $6.2 billion). Chuck Feeney spends very moderately on himself. The billionaire does not have his own house and car, and he wears plastic Casio for $ 15. As Feeney himself says: "If I can find out the time with a watch with a five-year-old battery for $15, why would I bother with Rolex?"

François Hollande, President of France



Swatch Quaterman, €85

The favorite watch of the previous French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was the Patek Philippe. Socialist François Hollande, on the other hand, wears a Swatch Quaterman for €85 (a stainless steel model with a leather strap). Of the other major politicians who wore Swatch, it is worth remembering the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Nick Hayek Jr., CEO of Swatch



Swatch

Swatch founder Nicholas Hayek Sr. wore watches of his own brand. It is logical that the current CEO of Swatch, Nick Hayek, also has an extensive collection of the brand - from laconic and colored to the latest "smart" Touch Zero One. Hayek was especially proud that other watch magnates also wear Swatch watches. In an interview, Nick Hayek said that "the boss of Patek Philippe (Thierry Stern - Forbes) skis in the Swatch Chrono."

Barack Obama, President of the United States



Highgear Enduro Compass, Jorg Gray JG6500, $210

For a long time, Barack Obama's favorite watch was the Tag Heuer Aquaracer. However, in 2007, the Secret Service gave Senator Obama a Jorg Gray JG6500 chronograph for his birthday for $210. Since then, he has not parted with this watch - he wore it to the inauguration in 2009, posed for the covers of The Economist and Time. Jorg Gray even released a special edition in honor of Obama. The President of the United States also has a very economical watch for leisure - the Highgear Enduro Compass sports watch for $70.

George W. Bush Jr. and Bill Clinton, former presidents of the United States



Timex

The American watch classic Timex (the company has existed since 1854) enjoyed special favor with US presidents. Bill Clinton preferred the plastic electronic Timex Ironman (about $40), a model that he began wearing when he was the governor of Arkansas. Although, after leaving the presidency, Clinton changed Timex for much more expensive watch brands.

George W. Bush also loved the Timex, namely the $50 Indiglo model with a dial and leather strap. Now, the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Texas sells a Timex Indiglo gift watch with the American flag on the dial and Bush's signature on the back of the watch, a replica of the one he wore for many years ($59).

Pope Francis



Swatch

The current head of the Catholic Church promotes modesty. Restraint applies not only to the Vatican's policy, but also to the pontiff's way of life. Pope Francis wears simple white robes and a metal cross from his Argentine "Bishop of the Slums" period. Therefore, journalists were not surprised when they identified simple black plastic Swatches on Pope's wrist.

John Bogle, Founder of Vanguard Group



Gift with company logo, $14

Legendary investor John Bogle received his cheap watch as a gift from a shareholder in 1995. Bogle then opened the package and saw a watch with the Vanguard Group logo, his name and the phrase "Still on Watch" engraved on the dial. The businessman knew that he could not accept a gift worth more than $50, so he checked the cost of the watch, it turned out that it cost $14. The watch is still with him.

Mitt Romney, U.S. presidential candidate in the 2012 election



Nixon, $200

During the 2012 presidential race, Mitt Romney was spotted wearing a black watch that was not quite usual for a politician - a stainless steel Nixon Private SS ($200). The brand is popular mainly among surfers, as the watch is waterproof to a depth of 100 m. Romney has a house in La Jolla, California, located near the ocean, this area is a very popular place for surfing. The politician bought a new watch in one of the surfer shops near his house.