Just how extravagant is Fidel Castros lifestyle?
As a member of the Cuban dictators inner circle, Juan Reinaldo Sanchez, stood side-by-side with Fidel Castros for 17 years as a bodyguard. SEE ALSO: My…
Fidel Castro aboard MS Berlin North German Lloyd cruise ship in Havana harbor. Left to right: First Officer Ernst Hankiewicz, captain’s daughter Marita Lorenz and Fidel Castro. A new book reveals the dictator has lived a life of luxury far from the austere measures his socialist revolution advocates. (AP/Photo) 1959
As a member of the Cuban dictators inner circle, Juan Reinaldo Sanchez, stood side-by-side with Fidel Castros for 17 years as a bodyguard.
SEE ALSO: My life and time with Fidel Castro
Based on his vast, first-hand experience of Castros prodigal habits, extravagant diversions, and befitting eccentricity, Sanchez published a memoir titled, The Secret Life of Fidel Castro, this past Wednesday. The book touches upon the core contradiction at the heart of Castros personality:
While portraying himself as a humble revolutionary, the former dictators lifestyle could just as well have serve as inspiration for Martin Scorseses Wolf of Wall Street.
So, without ado, here are 10 facts you most likely didnt know about Fidel Castros luxurious and reprehensible lifestyle:
1. Owns at least 20 luxury homes.
Fidel Castro’s childhood home in Biran, Cuba.The house and grounds, while maintained like an historical site, are not open to the public. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
2. Owns an 88 ft. yacht named Aquarama.
Fidel Castro owns an 88 foot yacht named Aquarama. This file photo shows vessels at the Monaco Yacht Show. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
3. The yacht is powered by four torpedo boat motors, which were a gift from Soviet president Leonid Brezhnev.
Fidel Castro, right, greets Soviet Secretary General Leonid Brezhnev, at Havana Airport as Brezhnev arrived for a one-week official visit, Jan. 29, 1974. Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko is at left. (AP Photo/TASS)
4. Controls the operations of a gold mine in the Isle of Youth
Fidel Castro controls the operations of a gold mine. (AP Photo)
5. Exhibits two imported elephant tusks from Angola in one of his homes.
Fidel Castro exhibits two large elephant tusks from Angola. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
6. His vacation home in Cayo Piedra includes a dolphin and turtle lagoon.
Fidel Castro keeps a lagoon with Dolphins and turtles for his own entertainment in Cuba. In this FILE photo a boy looks on at Dolphins in Cuba’s aquarium. (Rinaldo Wurglitsch/Flickr)
7. Is the proprietor of duck hunting preserve called La Deseada in Pinar del Río.
Fidel Castro enjoyed weekends on a duck hunting preserve in Pinar del Rio called La Deseada.
8. Had a rooftop bowling alley built for him in Havana by his former lover, Celia Sanchez.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro is shown with his almost constant companion and private secretary Celia Sanchez, who left her home and job to join Castro in the mountains when his revolution was young, shown 1960. Castro is divorced and has a 10-year-old son. (AP Photo)
9. Amongst his usual entourage of ten bodyguards, two would always have the same blood type in case of emergency.
Fidel Castro has an entourage of ten bodyguards. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
10. Owned two more yachts besides Aquarama II; one of which served as a floating hospital.
Castro also controlled other large yachts, including one equipped as a floating hospital. (AP Photo/Juventud Rebelde)
SEE ALSO: Fidel Castro: The Cuban Missile Crisis real winner
