What is Naftali Bennett's Net Worth?
Naftali Bennett, an influential Israeli businessman and politician, boasts a net worth of $10 million. In 2019, his financial disclosure reported his assets to be between $9-10 million. On June 2, 2021, Bennett signed a coalition agreement to succeed Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's Prime Minister, serving until 2023.
Early Life
Naftali Bennett was born on March 25, 1972, in Haifa, Israel, to American immigrants from California. His grandparents emigrated from Poland to California in the 1920s. At the age of four, Naftali's family relocated to Montreal due to his father's job, returning to Haifa and then moving to New Jersey when he was in second grade. They finally settled back in Haifa when Naftali was ten.
Military Service
Bennett was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1990, where he served as a company commander in various theaters of war. He continues to maintain his reserve status.
Education
After completing his service in the IDF, Naftali earned a law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Career
Business Ventures
In the late 1990s, Bennett moved to New York City to embark on a business career. In 1999, he co-founded Cyota, an anti-fraud software company. He served as CEO and oversaw its acquisition by RSA Security for $145 million. He later became CEO of Soluto, a cloud support company, which was sold to Asurion for $130 million in 2013.
(Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Politics
Naftali Bennett began his political career around 2006. In 2013, he was elected to the Knesset, Israel's legislative body, renouncing his US citizenship upon election. Bennett was re-elected in 2015 and became Defense Minister in 2018.
In May 2021, Bennett and fellow party leader Yair Lapid announced a coalition government, ending Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure. On May 30, Bennett confirmed his plan to serve as Prime Minister until 2023, after which Lapid would succeed him.
Political Stance
Bennett is known for his hardline stance against Palestine, advocating for the annexation of occupied West Bank territories by Israel.
Personal Life
Naftali Bennett is married to Gilat, a pastry chef who identifies as religiously secular. The couple has four children. While Bennett practices Modern Orthodox Judaism, his family maintains a balance between secular and religious lifestyles.
