Yannis Varoufakis: The Marxist Ex-Finance Minister of Greece Wants $60,000 for Speeches Outside of Europe (and Business Class Flights)

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Gregory Pappas

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Yannis Varoufakis: The Marxist Ex-Finance Minister of Greece Wants $60,000 for Speeches Outside of Europe (and Business Class Flights)

Want to book Yanis Varoufakis to speak at your next event or conference? Well, if you’re an organization outside of Europe, the speech by the self-professed Marxist will set you back £40,000. That’s about $60,000 if you haven’t clicked your UK pound to dollar conversation app yet to figure it out yourself.

And that’s not all, according to a story in Greece’s Proto Thema newspaper. Varoufakis also requires “business class travel, accommodation, airport and ground transfers, meals and incidentals”.

The newspaper cited an email it received from a booking agent at the London Speaker Bureau, which claimed to represent Varoufakis, who at the time did appear on their speakers list in the “Politicians” category but has since been removed. The newspaper did capture a screenshot— apparently before Varoufakis’ name was removed from the list.

Screenshot from Proto Thema (originally from London Speakers Bureau)
Screenshot from Proto Thema (originally from London Speakers Bureau)

If you’re in Europe, don’t fret— the rates to hire the ex-finance minister for your gig are much lower. Mr Varoufakis will speak anywhere inside Europe for $5,000 (£3,000) – and he will give a university lecture for $1,500 (£1,000).

The London Speaker Bureau declined to confirm or deny whether these were indeed the fees that Mr Varoufakis was charging. “The speakers always tailor the payment depending on the nature of the event, the duration and the travel required,” said a spokesman in London to the newspaper in Greece. “Mr Varoufakis was a senior person in the Greek government and he would clearly command an attractive speaker fee. At the moment, he is very much in demand.”

The newspaper in Greece didn’t mince their words.

“The man who contributed to the Greek economy’s catastrophe by obstructing talks with international creditors and leading the country to capital controls is making a mint,” Proto Thema wrote.

The newspaper report didn’t say whether Mr. Varoufakis would speak in one of his signature colorful shirts that he was known to wear on the floor of the Greek parliament or during his many international appearances.

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