'Homeless billionaire' becomes honorary Seoul citizen

Nicolas Berggruen, left, poses with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon during a ceremony at Seoul City Hall, Thursday, after receiving a certificate of honorary Seoul citizenship. / Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

Nicolas Berggruen, 54, a businessman with American and German citizenships who is widely known as the “homeless billionaire,” has become an honorary Seoul citizen.

He was awarded a certificate of honorary Seoul citizenship by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon at Seoul City Hall Thursday. Afterward, the two had a roundtable discussion about city governance and related issues.

Berggruen is the founder and president of Berggruen Holdings, a private investment company, and the Berggruen Institute, a think tank related to governance issues.

He was nicknamed “the homeless billionaire” because he lives in hotels and does not own a home. His fortune is estimated at $1.56 billion.

“His visit to Seoul this time will help bolster the partnership between Seoul and the Berggruen Institute,” Park was quoted as saying in a press release.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon awards an honorary Seoul citizenship certificate to Maricon, the head of the Philippine Department of Tourism Korea, at his office, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Philippine Department of Tourism Korea