Inside the Lebanese Christian Elite: 'The Switzerland of the Middle East' | Super-Rich Documentary 

Whether you live in Beirut or London, Kabul or Stockholm if you are wealthy life is different for you. A wealthy person living in a poorest country enjoys life more than a poor person living in richest country.

This is from 2019! Banks have gone bankrupt. Majority of population lost most savings. These rich pp either lost wealth or some involved in looting banks. But things have changed a lot in 4 years for the worst.

I want people to realize the gentleman who stated his mother stayed in Lebanon was one if the most decent women on earth. Besides stopping all recking balls from taking historic building down, she fought for the environment and she was 100 years ahead of her time. She was alive until 2020 when the explosion damaged Beirut, and building, homes, and historic landmarks that survived the civil war, were damaged severely. She had extensive damage to her family home, and sadly she was injured, which led to her death. I don’t think anyone could ever be like her again.

Lebanon is such a beautiful country. My grandfather was living in Lebanon during the '60s, and always talked about this beautiful country which was famous for its beauty, nightlife and sophistication ❤

Bro I'm a Lebanese Christian and absolutely never experienced any of this XD!

It is so sad. An old beautiful and rich Beirut has been destroyed. Many people Have lost a lot. Especially, younger Lebanese have lost opportunities to enjoy life. It is just sad.

These people do not represent Lebanese or Christians within Lebanon. I watched this with an open mind but honestly found it extremely off-putting. First and foremost, they spoke everything but their mother tongue throughout the doco, that in itself is pretentious. Arabic is such a rich and beautiful language, the expression and description it offers is second to none, so why not use it?!? Secondly, they live in a bubble! If this was released in 2019, Lebanon was entering into its biggest financial crisis to date, and there is no way on Earth these people with their millions and therefore connections, didn't know it was coming. I didn't sense any compassion, empathy or humility in anything they said. I understand these people are of the "elite" kind (totally loathe that word, but will use it for want of a better term), but they have proven money doesn't buy class, only groupies who want to snap up a piece of what they have so they put them on pedestals. Yuk!

"The Banking Sector is very strong here in Lebanon" 2019. Dec2019. The Banking Sector collapses !!

All the love to Lebanese Christians who turned Lebanon for a while into a beacon of joyfulness, freedom, culture, refinement, elegance, music, fashion, arts, dance, technology and education ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Please re-post with the sound rectified. It’s worth it. Fascinating documentary

As a LEBANESE/AMERICAN myself, we migrated ALMOST 50 years ago due to the war, let me tell you, it is not that easy to leave behind your home and your land, seeking for a new future! Especially after leaving this beauty we all watched.thank you for putting this video together, Truly my heart brakes seeing how LEBANON evolved, and what was the reason for all these wars. I remember as a child growing up, First when the syrians took over, then the Palestinians came along to rule our land, as the civil war ravaged Lebanon. As i always wondered, these people ran away from the king of Jordan,for sure it is a strategic spot on the map for them,and i couldn't just connect the dots. Once i remember wishing all syrians death, asking God to ruin their country as they ruined our country,after the killing of one of my cousins at a syrian barricade, simply for his name, and No one dared to get close to his car to even check if the was alive, Was a true horrific scene, simply for his name. As what followed were the Palestinians that took over many homes without even asking or knocking at the door, today what we seebin the news is this Iranian like militia, that extended feom Iran, to Iraq, to Syria and Lebanon, ending up in YEMEN. I believe this is the true issue of the geopoliticall delema, as the gears are shifting form the West to the East. I truly dont know if we ever going to see LEBANON in it's former Glory. Only with Democracy that could be achieved, DESPITE the religious leaders, trying hard to destroy its past as it's future. I wish all LEBANESE living abroad peace joy and love!. I cannot write my religion Nor my faith in God, as that i keep secret in my heart, but i hope the new generations could find some books to read, only to understand where all these Lebanese troubles started. Peace 🇱🇧🇺🇸

Former World Richest Man, Carlos Slim Helu is Mexican tycoon of Lebanese descent. 🇲🇽

Only one Christian majority country in middle East, now goes minority 😢

did any of them ever pay any taxes??? any property tax? income tax? happiness tax? labor tax? 20 Indians tax?

9:40 "..... In Lebanon they don't know how to make nice bows." ~ Rich people's problems in the middle of poverty and hyper inflation....... 🙄

Lebanon should be a Christian state for minority religions, Lebanon should be weary of Iran and Hezbollah.

nice editing , the way you film it is nice and has underlying critique

It would be an equally "interesting" documentary if you made another one narrating how these people amassed their wealth enabling them to maintain such "interesting" lives.

This came off as a hit piece on Islam.

I lived in the Lebanon in the 60s and early 70s. I love the country and its beauty. But someone, non corruptible, needs to take charge and restore its former glory. Good luck to my second home! ❤

Nice content

Someone said that bank sector in lebanon is really strong 😂

What a shame that the video file for this film was corrupt, because intermittently throughout the film the sound stops working. It would have been very interesting had it not been for that.

My great grandfather and his relatives were Greek catholic/ Antiochian Christians from marjayoun Lebanon,

Lebanon has one of the prettiest natural landscapes on Earth !!! Its natural setting is made up of a wonderful mediterranean sea's shore ,mountains and gorgeous natural woodlands with heavenly -looking LEBANESE CEDARS !!! One of the most spell-bindingly -looking trees on the EARTH !!! The only unlovely thing in Lebanon is the street uncleanliness ! The lebanese streets ,mostly are so full of filthy household stuff ,not so filthy as in India ,but are not as clean as they should be in a contemporary country . Otherwise all is wonderful in Lebanon ,food ,villas ,native dwellers ,who are a blend of Phoenicians and Arabs ,but are more good-looking than the arabs of other arab countries. Yes ,everything is wonderful there besides the street uncleanliness and the needless warlikeness.

really cool video, a lot of good work

Where is the credit for the sound track? Can anyone help?

There living in the past. So old fashion. But a beautiful country no doubt

They are sooo fake and ridiculous

It sounds like you are touting a religion so called christianity as "elite," insinuating Islamic way in the same country as inferior? That begs the question, if Jesus and Miriam, just next door to you in holy land, would have approved that kind of "christian" life of today or did they teach pious life that Muslims in general live by or aspire to live?

Interesting

35:40 which old hotel is that?

Nice documentary movie... But I didn't know which elite family was it???

Woah. Was that Omar Khorshid on guitar 1t 14:55?

Interesting film, the director knows how to make space for the audience to step into and form their own opinions. Not an easy feat! But would have liked to have seen a bit more context and background story of the characters. Outside of Lebanon people will be confused as to who these people are.

A land of deep contradictions. The ordinary people who continue to suffer in Lebanon have nothing in common with the parasitical elite. Regardless whether they are Christians or Muslims.

"war or not war, good life goes on."

Beirut has been the 'Paris of the Middle East' for decades.....

Rich people in Beirut have some secrets... their currency collapsed but they are still rich,how ?

wait , did he say the banking system is still very strong 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The song in the begining is awesome, i think its a french dj.

LOVE the fact cristians and muslims can live together and be happy

Cant wait to go back😍🇱🇧

Alright. money can buy happiness even in war-torn places. I presume that wealthy individuals in Syria or Ukraine also live extravagant and happy lives. How about the majority poor population? Is anybody interested in their story? Whether it is Christian (where I belong), or Muslim?

Not surprised that the most famous Haute Couture designers are Lebanese. ❤

Always watching ur videos from makati city Philippines

Thanks to the christians for making lebnon look like a tourist destination.

These people may have the material comforts of life. But they are living in their past glories. The queen of Iran?!? 😂 In 2023, no one gives a damn about her or any celebrity or royalty. Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, King Charles, etc will all go the way the Queen of Iran, Queen Elizabeth, etc. No one will remember them after 2-3 generations. And that’s for the most important historical people. The lighting and colour tone of this film is so dull and old school. It has a sad feel.

Obsolete and superficial

it was all going soo well until u know what happened

Ils ont une classe incroyable, ces vampires!!!

Lebanon is a curious, enchanting place. I remember Macron's post-explosion visit when he offered half a billion dollars IF the money didn't go to the failing ruling class government. So this movie will sit dubiously in my mind til I read more about it tomorrow. You couldn't find more symmetrical, beautiful faces in any other country _(concluded while watching protests during the pandemic)._

Would also recommend "Beirut: The Last Home Movie"

Inflation rate, exchange rate, interest rate, GDP, GNP, GDP per capita, and blah blah, are all nonsensical macroeconomic indicators. I don't believe in the study of macroeconomics anymore, because it tends to misguide the common man in the street. Lebanon is a failed state and its economy is in tatters. Now who would believe that Lebanon which has a truncated financial system, a currency which has become worthless, electricity outages which the country has not seen before, and so many other problems, is also a place, where the wealthy top 5% of the population, continue to live like Aristocrats and Oligarchs. This documentary should be shown as a case study to all students of Development Economics.

That’s what makes Lebanon so special, God bless Lebanese people

Gone With The Wind

The film seems half finished

I DIDN'T HEAR A WORD OF ARABIC , MUST BE WE ARE SOMEWHERE IN THE EUROPE/ LATIN AMERICA

This elite is not only Christian. In fact the richest people in Lebanon, and not very newly so, happen to be Muslim.

This documentary is filmed in 2015!!

What are the income sources of these rich Lebanese? How are they able to stay just as rich when the common people lost all their savings and have to rely on donations even for food, medicine etc?

There is a very confusing mixture of accents, some sound British, others French and some I don't know what

Audio starts again at 11:22

Sure… no comments. What’s Beirut like now?

My dream country 🌷

Great documentary but no mention of the name of the people nor the name of the places frustrating .like who built the race course what s the name of the family. 😮

They all seem to be lovely, elegant people. But lol, the amount of botox :))

Visited there as a pre-teenage with parents in ‘74. Always thought I will live there. Then the war happened, then the life. Never came back. Mais c’est la vie, non?

very sad..

Where is this lovely location? so I can go and visit but pay ofcourse

More Lebanese live in Brazil than in the Lebanon.

By the way, families who constitute the "elite" in Lebanon are made from all religions. And now the economic crisis is touching everybody. If you are a tourist, and bring american dollar, you can be considered "elite".

ليه الصوت قطع

I find it a little strange that no where in the entire video did I spot or hear birds outside 🤔🤔🤔 didn’t see not one bird . Besides the captive peacock

For me these ppl look silly

If one's filthy rich, dont forget the poor and needy of diverse cultures. This is your sacred responsibility to society

Wow - what's the superb music behind the beginning of this????????? Please anyone!

A country that is locked between something- means a country that has no access to a sea

You rich people do you think about the poor people ? I am not Lebanese, but my in laws are.

SubhanAllah great documentary

......life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fools, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poors...

I understand things have changed since Lebanon's financial crisis began but it is worth noting that Christians seem to do better in life than Muslims. Why is that????

Very ill-informed. The wealthiest people in Lebanon are not Christian

Interesting film, but who was that belly dancer ???!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This reflects the currpoted state in Lebenon, where minorities hold authority and resources because of inherited colonialism and imperialism like support of foreign countries. Unfortunately, when you see the majority in a country is suffering of poverty and homelessness while religious minority is holding the power and resources, this is not a normal state my friend. The normal state should be the religious majority is wealthier than the minority. For example imagine Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos were Muslims and / or Hindu, not Christians(not the religious or ethnic majority). Also, imagine if the Christian majority in the US is poor and the other minorities like Asian , muslims, and Hindu holds the resources and power. How would the situation be ?. What would be the normal state ?. Is it right for the demographic minority to hold authority and resources in a country over the demographic majority ?

Money matters

But rich Muslims live same life, why continue to identify and divide this country into religious sects, while intermarriage is so much increasing between different religions,

Preserve!

Beirut could’ve been one of the most budding, culturally rich and beautiful places in the region, but it’s been destroyed by a series of senseless civil wars that ate at the country for decades. What a crying shame.

Big. Love. To. Lebanese. People❤️❤️❤️❤️✝️🙏🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲. Love. Very. Much❤️

locked between syria and Palestine

This is kind of sick…

What they really planing Sell at a restaurant its coke N fast food they are reffering to meth

First of all, the documentary is made to show how ridiculous and burlesque most of these people are. It's not made to show their prestige but only to make fun of them. Second, you are right when saying that these people life is in total contradiction with the Christian faith. The film tries to show this contradictions by showing sequences in churches directly after the sequences with a belly dancer for example. Third, like many people said it in the comments, they don't represent the Christians of Lebanon. Actually , they don't even represent the "rich" Christians of Lebanon. Moreover, lebanese muslims too has an economical "elite" and some of its members are as much decadent and ridiculous as the people we see in this video. Some people said in the comments that these people are responsible of the terrible economical/political crisis in Lebanon but that's not true. They have no/very limited political influence. However, they clearly got advantaged by the system in lebanon with nearly no tax for the riches, no social garanties paid by the employer, low wages ... Finally, to be fair, some of the people presented deserve respect because they are good businessmen/protect heritage...

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19 - KJV

🙏✝️🌏 3 billions solidarity

The elite Lebanon is not of interest thus far. Looking for the historic features and villages my ancestors left behind in 1900 ish. Excellent video though!

The documentary itself is nice but photography is bad quality there is also often no subtitles when they speak spanish and often no sound at all. Very low budget documentary. A pitty!

This isn't just the lifestyle of Christians - this is the lifestyle of the ruling classes/wealthy... I am sure it is the same in most countries regardless of religion - Lebanon is a modern country for many although you may have strata of society that is religious and may live in that manner on a daily basis.

I hate when people put religion labels