Evert Santegoeds wonders whether BNNVARA is happy that their new figurehead Khalid Kasem turns out to be a pawnbroker. “That is quite a special affair,” he says.
Khalid Kasem may present himself as the new figurehead of BNNVARA, but does that all go together with his real estate hobby? The presenter appears to collect rental properties in and around the capital. “That is quite a special affair,” notes Privé editor-in-chief Evert Santegoeds at the desk of Show news.
A bit controversial
It’s uncomfortable, Evert thinks. “Khalid also attracts widespread attention, because what is the case? It turns out he has a lot of houses in his name. That is always a bit scary at BNNVARA, a bit controversial. Many people have an opinion about that. Dick on the left, fill on the right.”
More pawns than principles? It just might be possible. Evert: “He collects houses and that is really surprising news for an outspoken left-wing figure like him, who does not hide his political preference at BNNVARA.”
Multimillionaire
Real estate agent Leslie de Ruiter speaks in a program item and confirms the discovery about Khalid. “Yes, Khalid is a real estate millionaire. Of course it’s incredible. He has been collecting properties for years and his real estate portfolio now consists of approximately eight properties.”
Those properties are worth millions of euros. “Khalid has bought eight properties in the best places. The majority are located in Amsterdam, one in Amstelveen and one in Hoofddorp. He only recently bought the latter for 650 thousand euros. (…) If he buys two more and is above ten, he will be joining the big boys.”
Secret hobby
Evert finds it a bit uncomfortable, especially now that there is a national discussion about high rents in the private sector. “There is a lot of mortgage on it, but of course we were not familiar with this hobby of his. I don’t know if there will be a lot of excitement about that.”
At BNNVARA? “Yes. It is generally not a pleasant activity for people.”
Very rich Jeroen
Colleague Bart Ettekoven wonders whether this is a problem for BNNVARA. “But doesn’t Jeroen Pauw also earn a lot of money? He also has houses in Malaga and Curaçao and in Amsterdam? I don’t think they make a big deal about that at BNNVARA.”
Evert thinks there is a difference. “These are his own and these appear to be for rental…”
And Khalid is cashing in nicely with that. Convinced socialist right up to the door of his real estate empire…