Everyone knows about harmony in the relationship of the Macron couple. The French president practically does not part with his wife, who is 25 years older than him. But it's worth giving credit to Brigitte Macron: the 65-year-old Frenchwoman looks not only youthful, but very stylish (read also How Brigitte Macron Challenges Age: Anti-Age Therapy from the First Lady of France). Many are interested in how much the beauty of its first lady costs France? The French Chamber of Accounts in the annual report on the budget of the Elysee Palace gave an answer to this question.
According to the report, the amount of a renewable annual contract with an unnamed hairdresser is 62.4 thousand euros, with one of the clauses of the contract specifying that the specialist's services are available directly at the Elysee Palace. It is especially noted that for public and official events and photo sessions, Brigitte Macron also uses the services of the president's hairdresser-make-up artist.
Observers remind that last year Emmanuel Macron was harshly criticized when it became known that in the first three months of his tenure as president, he spent 26 thousand euros on makeup and stylist services. Then the presidential aides promised to cut costs, and we can assume that the promise has been fulfilled.
The Times notes that Macron's beauty spending may seem overwhelming compared to the expense of former British Prime Minister David Cameron (£ 90 for a haircut and styling) for this article. However, by French standards, they are rather modest: for example, Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande did not skimp on a hairdresser, giving him 118,740 euros per year (the services of a makeup artist were paid separately and cost 72 thousand euros). But Hollande's friend Julie Gaye paid for the hairdresser's services at her own expense.
It will not be superfluous to mention here that Madame Macron's spectacular outfits (more in detail - “The first stylist in France: who dresses Brigitte Macron”) cost almost nothing to French taxpayers, because Brigitte's clothes are rented by the best French design houses (in particular, the LVMH holding). Brigitte has a personal fashion consultant, but his services are paid privately (presumably a bonus from her beloved Louis Vuitton brand). Despite the fact that the first lady does not have the status of a statesman as such, 4 specialists work in her personal office, and 7 people open 1,800 letters that Brigitte receives in a year. At the same time, office maintenance costs about 440 thousand euros per year.
However, as noted by British observers, French presidents have always preferred to live and work on a grand scale, and Macron does not change tradition. In particular, 822 people currently work in the Elysee Palace, and the car fleet consists of 151 cars.
Photo: Getty Images
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