Need for security

Benko: An assault rifle and several bodyguards

Officially insolvent: Signa founder Benko during an appearance before the Innsbruck court(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

The passionate hunter René Benko had not only registered three fine firearms from an exclusive Carinthian manufacturer in his gun passport from 2019, some of them even with "engraving and plenty of gold inlays" ...

The real estate speculator, whose Signa Group was responsible for by far the biggest bankruptcy in the Second Republic, has evidently been plagued by a heightened need for security for some time.

This is indicated, for example, by position 1 of the official document in which the 47-year-old Tyrolean last registered nine weapons.

Signa founder René Benko(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Benko's firearms pass(Bild: zVg)

Insight into the firearms pass(Bild: zVg)

"FW/ STEYR / AUG Z / .223 Rem. / SAZ 0393"
 This is the semi-automatic civilian version of an assault rifle, as used by the Austrian Armed Forces. The manufacturer: Steyr Arms. The weapon is available for private use in various special editions ("Ich gelobe", "Jagdkommando") and with a 9-round magazine; in Austria, it is only sold to Austrian end customers with a gun ownership card or gun pass. The price: between 3000 and 5000 euros, depending on the version.

High monthly expenditure
Security was a top priority at Benko. In recent years, the financial juggler has always surrounded himself with security personnel who have accompanied him at every turn. Even in the jet and on the yacht. Several security companies were hired for this purpose. The financial outlay for this was considerable: just under 44,000 euros in June 2023, just under 29,000 euros in July 2023.

René Benko is now known to be insolvent and is also personally confronted with claims worth billions. There are still rumors from Benko's circle that he continues to surround himself with bodyguards.