Cuban Writer Demands Transparency on 'Socialist Millionaires'

On Sunday, Cuban writer, journalist, and researcher Leonardo Depestre Catony took to Facebook to issue a comprehensive critique demanding public transparency regarding the identities and origins of the fortunes amassed by individuals he refers to as "socialist millionaires." These are Cuban residents who have accumulated significant wealth within a system that is constitutionally defined as socialist.

Born in Remedios, Villa Clara, in 1953, Depestre Catony is a member of the Union of Journalists of Cuba and has contributed to various media outlets and authored several books. His post draws a stark comparison between two eras: before 1959, when the Cuban press publicly identified major capitalist property owners, and today, where such transparency is absent for the new beneficiaries of the system.

Questioning the New Wealthy Elite

"Before 1959, the names and possessions of Cuba's wealthy elite were publicly known, as well as the approximate value of their fortunes. The press disclosed everything—they were 'the exploiters of the capitalist system.' Now, we only hear about the fortunes of Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and other magnates, information which is irrelevant to us. But we are never informed about the substantial fortunes of the new Cuban socialist millionaires residing on the island, of whom there are quite a few, and who do concern and affect us," Depestre Catony wrote.

The writer's demand is clear: "We want to know their names, the scope of their fortunes, and especially how they acquired them because it wasn't through work, as they practically have never worked."

The Luxurious Lifestyle of the Few

Depestre Catony paints a picture of the opulent lifestyle of this elusive elite: "They reside in lavish mansions, drive expensive cars, dine in the most upscale MiPYMES (by the way, who truly owns these businesses?), and then, regardless of whether they pay the bill, they might take a private flight to Varadero or another paradise."

The question about the true ownership of the most profitable MiPYMES is not just rhetorical. Reports have indicated that a portion of the business ecosystem that emerged after these entities were legalized in 2021 is dominated by elites tied to the state or military regime.

Financial Discrepancies and Public Rights

According to internal GAESA financial documents from 2024, later analyzed by the Miami Herald, the military conglomerate reported about $17.894 billion in current assets as of March that year, with approximately $14.467 billion held in bank accounts or financial institutions controlled by the group itself.

Depestre Catony invokes the people's sovereignty as the basis for the right to know: "Let us not forget, the true sovereign is not a nation's government; the true sovereign is the people. And that people wants and deserves to know who the 'new exploiters under socialism' are, because the vast majority of this population lives in poverty, misery, and even destitution."

This portrayal aligns with data on Cuba's current situation. According to a 2026 report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) and the Social Rights Observatory Cuba, extreme poverty has reached 94% of the island's residents. Analysts also note that inequality has been steadily worsening.

Even Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged in July 2026 that the legalization of the dollar in the 1990s created social inequalities. That same month, he expressed concern over the growth of private capital in Cuba. The president has reiterated that the government's new 176 economic measures—distinctly capitalist in nature—are intended "to defend and advance in socialist construction."

Depestre Catony leaves no room for ambiguity: "Anyone who possesses this information and withholds it is simply complicit." He concludes with a powerful statement: "Enough abuse against the people."