René Benko is now doing the laundry

Noble Wardrobe

“The debtor has a very extensive wardrobe, which largely consists of high-quality branded goods,” writes insolvency administrator Andreas Grabenweger in his fifth report. “With regard to the provision according to Section 5 Paragraph 2 of the Insolvency Code and against the background that the debtor receives his own income through his work at Laura Asset 2018 Eins GmbH, the insolvency administrator – after consultation with the insolvency court – initially has these items of clothing “Have an inventory taken by an expert for the purpose of valuation.” Postscript: “The debtor ultimately allowed this – after initial resistance”.

The report on the estimated value of the luxury clothing should be available soon. This wardrobe is also likely to be auctioned off at the end.

To explain: The insolvency regulations stipulate that “nothing is to be left to the debtor, but the insolvency administrator, with the consent of the creditors’ committee, must grant the debtor and his family what is essential for a modest lifestyle”. The debtor is also not to be supported from the crowd “as far as he is able to earn money through his own work to the best of his ability”.
René Benko is employed and, according to his own statements, earns 3,700 euros net per month.

Repayment demanded

But the insolvency administrator also terminated René Benko’s rental agreement. So in late autumn 2023, the ex-entrepreneur made the decision to move from the luxury villa Schlosshotel Igls in Innsbruck to the modern house on Innsbruck Höhenstraße, which the family used until 2021. The landlord is RB Immobilienverwaltungs GmbH & Co KG, which belongs to the Laura Private Foundation of the Benko family. René Benko and his wife have each signed a rental agreement for this purpose. The rental costs were set at 7,500 euros per month.

“René Benko also agreed to make an advance payment of four years’ rent, a total of 360,000 euros,” according to a report from the insolvency administrator. This amount was paid in October 2023.

The insolvency administrator ended the tenancy, but that of Benko’s wife remained unaffected. At the same time, the insolvency administrator asked the landlord to repay the advance payment. The landlord’s lawyer rejected the claim as not justified. He wants to approach the insolvency administrator with a suggestion.

Expensive furniture

If no agreement is possible by the end of the set deadline in mid-October, the insolvency administrator will sue. He is also checking whether he can reclaim a 120,000 euro deposit for the furniture for the Höhenstraße villa. The furniture order that René Benko is said to have originally carried out was later taken over by Benko’s mother. The investment in the interior was probably more than 200,000 euros net.

Handover requested

His insolvency administrator also wants to collect Rene Benko’s hunting weapons. During a house search in June 2024 in the luxury villa in Innsbruck-Igls, the economic and corruption public prosecutor’s office had 15 hunting weapons (some of them extremely expensive), including three extremely expensive double-barrel shotguns from the Holland & Holland brand confiscated. The insolvency administrator has submitted an application for handover to the WKStA.