Yasser Barzani appears in Monaco with high-end Lamborghini

According to sources, the person in the widely shared video is not Yasser Barzani, but a French national. However, the similarity in ear shape suggests it could still be Yasser.

MANACO,—A video showing Yasser Barzani, a grandson of former Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, driving an expensive Lamborghini in Monaco during the Eid al-Adha holiday has triggered outrage across Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, where public sector workers are still waiting on delayed wages.

Yasser Barzani, son of a commander of KDP peshmerga militias, Mansour Barzani, appeared in the video behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle reportedly worth around $800,000.

The timing of the footage—shared widely on social media—has intensified criticism against the ruling elite, as the region remains gripped by a prolonged salary crisis.

Many government employees in Kurdistan earn no more than $500 a month, when paid on time.

The clip was filmed in Monaco, a wealthy European city-state known for attracting billionaires and celebrities. The setting added to public frustration, with online reactions questioning how members of the ruling family can afford luxury items while basic needs remain unmet across the region.

The video’s release coincided with ongoing protests in cities throughout Kurdistan, where thousands have demanded overdue salary payments and relief from deteriorating economic conditions.

Some sources claim that the individual featured in the widely circulated video is not Yasser Barzani, as initially believed, but rather a French national.

Economic reports have repeatedly listed the Barzani family among the richest political dynasties in Iraq and the broader Middle East.

The family has large holdings in oil, telecom, real estate, and hospitality—both in Kurdistan and internationally. Properties and companies tied to the family are located in various countries across Europe, U.S. and the Middle East.

Sources say Yasser Barzani is not alone in living a lavish lifestyle overseas. Other sons and grandsons of the late Kurdish figure Mustafa Barzani are reported to maintain luxury properties abroad while ordinary Kurdish citizens continue to face financial hardship.

Yasser Barzani — son of Mansour Barzani and grandson of Masrour Barzani — is seen driving his luxury Lamborghini in Monaco on June 5, 2025. Photo: Screengrab from social media video via iKurd.net.

The family’s financial empire has drawn criticism for decades, with many pointing to their longstanding control over the region’s economic and political systems. International and local observers have documented a network of economic interests closely tied to their political influence, often operating without transparency or accountability.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by the Barzani family, has dominated political life in the autonomous region since the 1990s.

Massoud Barzani, while no longer in office, remains a powerful figure. His son Masrour Barzani is currently the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region, and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani serves as president.

Yasser Barzani, son of Mansour Barzani , 2022. Photo: Yasser’s fb

The ruling family is often referred to by critics as “Kurdish oligarchs” due to their extensive influence and control over regional resources. Accusations of corruption and nepotism have persisted, particularly around oil revenues and public funds.

In a separate case from September 2014, leaked documents obtained by iKurd News suggested that Idris Nechirvan Barzani—the son of the Kurdistan Region’s president—was indirectly linked to the acquisition of a Porsche 918 Spyder supercar valued at $1.86 million through a closely connected company.