2 days ago
Israel Spent $470,000 on PMs’ Grooming and Official Expenses
Israel released records showing how much public money was spent on prime ministers’ grooming and official duties.
The records cover January 2019 through August 2026.
The total was about $470,000.
Most of the hair and makeup spending was connected to Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu.
Spending increased sharply after Benjamin Netanyahu returned as prime minister in 2023.
The largest yearly total was recorded in 2025.
Trips to Washington, DC, produced some of the biggest individual bills.
A transparency group asked for the records, but officials hid the names of stylists and makeup artists because they cited state-security concerns.
Israel spent about $470,000 on prime ministers’ hair, makeup and official representation between January 2019 and August 2026.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu accounted for about 90% of the hair and makeup expenses.
Hair and makeup spending rose from about 84,000 shekels in 2022 to 311,000 shekels in 2023.
The highest annual spending was recorded in 2025 at approximately $111,000.
The data was released after a Freedom of Information petition, while stylists’ and makeup artists’ names were withheld for state-security reasons.
- Who
- The records concern Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid; the Movement for Freedom of Information sought their release.
- What
- Israel disclosed spending on prime ministers’ hair styling, makeup and official representation expenses.
- Where
- The expenses occurred in Israel and during official foreign trips, including visits to Washington, DC.
- When
- The spending covered January 2019 through August 2026, and the information was released after a petition filed in December 2025.
- Why
- The records were released in response to a Freedom of Information petition seeking details about public spending.
Transparency and Accountability
Official and Security Considerations
Use of public money
Transparency and Accountability
Hiddai Negev of the Movement for Freedom of Information said public figures must use public money accountably and cannot treat it as personal money.
Official and Security Considerations
The records describe expenses associated with official representation, including clothing and hosting costs, but the articles do not provide a detailed response from the Prime Minister’s Office defending the totals.
Release of records
Transparency and Accountability
The Movement for Freedom of Information criticised the Prime Minister’s Office for repeatedly releasing public-spending information only after court petitions.
Official and Security Considerations
Authorities released the spending data after the petition but withheld the names of hairstylists and makeup artists, citing state-security reasons.
Key facts
- Total spending
- About $470,000, or approximately Rs 4.49 crore, between January 2019 and August 2026.
- Hair and makeup share
- About 90% of the hair and makeup expenses were linked to Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu.
- 2022 spending
- About 84,000 shekels when Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid served as prime ministers.
- 2023 spending
- About 311,000 shekels on hair and makeup, with total spending of approximately $103,000.
- Highest annual total
- Approximately $111,000 in 2025.
- Largest single bill
- About $13,500 during Benjamin Netanyahu’s four-day Washington visit in February 2025.
- Representation expenses
- Approximately $134,000 for Benjamin Netanyahu, $19,000 for Naftali Bennett and $2,600 for Yair Lapid.
Sources
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