Greek-American billionaire John Catsimatidis revealed that he had an offer from the third biggest party in Greece to become president of the country.
Speaking to Page Six he said: “I got a call from the third-largest political party [in Greece] that wants to nominate me to be president of Greece.” He quipped, “I’m honored, but I’m busy enough in New York!”
He did not specify when the offer was made and by which party. The third biggest parliamentary party in Greece is socialist Pasok, but all opinion polls suggest that it has climbed to second place, leaving leftist Syriza behind.
Greece will select a new president to succeed Katerina Sakellaropoulou in 2025.
“I’m an American,” he told Page Six. “I came here at 6 months old,” jokingly adding, “I can be president of Greece, but I can’t be president of the United States.”
Mayor of New York run?
According to a source in the New York Republican Party via Page Six, the city’s five-county chairmen favor Greek American billionaire John Catsimatidis to run for mayor of New York if incumbent Mayor Eric Adams resigns over allegations of bribery from Turkish and other foreign donors, and a new election ensues.
The Greek-American billionaire told Page Six of a mayoral run: “I am digesting it . . . I want New York City to do well . . . We just want to have the city make a comeback.”
He added frankly: “You know what I’m most scared of? I might win.
This week, Catsimatidis was invited by Donald Trump to watch the Election Day returns at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. But the billionaire was busy broadcasting from WABC radio till 6 a.m.
“I was at WABC doing a national broadcast,” he said. “We had 100 people in studio all night long,” he told Page Six.
From humble beginnings to billionaire: The life and career of Catsimatidis
Catsimatidis — who is the 702nd-wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $4.1 billion, per Forbes — was born on the Greek island of Nisyros on September 7, 1948. He came to the United States with his parents when he was six months old. The family moved to West Harlem, where Catsimatidis grew up.
Catsimatidis’ father had been a lighthouse operator in Greece but worked as a busboy in New York.
He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1966. He received a congressional nomination to West Point, but chose to study electrical engineering at New York University instead.
In the past he had expressed interest in investing in Greece, including buying the Hilton hotel, located in central Athens, offering the amount of 93 million euros.
As he notes on his personal site, he has now lived the American dream. He is a firm believer in giving back to the community and has been a strong supporter of the Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years.
He serves on the Board of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, and over the years served in a variety of volunteer positions in the Greek Orthodox Church.
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