Colombia's superrich pack their bags amid the rise of the left: The country is wonderful if you have one foot out the door'

A number of wealthy Colombians have become concerned about the economic direction of the country after four years of leftist government. They describe fears of collapse driven by reforms to pensions, labor, and healthcare, along with increased government debt used to pay interest and shift burdens to future administrations. One wealthy heir says he expects imported goods and luxury items to become far more expensive, and he worries about maintaining his standard of living. To reduce uncertainty around upcoming elections, he pursued permanent residency in the United States through a national interest category for exceptional talent, paying a nonrefundable fee. After approval, he reports higher income, saving, and investments aimed at building retirement security in Colombia.

"Paranoia has gripped some Colombian billionaires after four years of President Gustavo Petro's leftist government. Arturo Ramos, 30, says the country is headed for an economic collapse. Everyone in Latin America has gone bankrupt because of the delusion that they can spend more money than they have, says this heir to a business empire, who prefers to remain anonymous. He fears a decline in his standard of living."

"He fears a decline in his standard of living. I probably won't have to sell the house or stop paying the staff or the driver. But a designer shirt, a bottle of whiskey, a trip to Europe, or any other imported product would become ten times more expensive, he says. So, faced with the possibility of the left holding onto power in the upcoming presidential elections, he made a decision: to leave the country."

"He hired a lawyer who helped him apply for permanent residency in the United States under a national interest category granted to individuals who can demonstrate exceptional talent. He paid $38,000 (about 145 million pesos), with no possibility of a refund if his application was rejected. He was successful and now feels more at ease. My life plans can't depend on an election."

"The architect now earns 21 times more than he did in Colombia he prefers not to disclose the amounts and, he says, he's saving 25%. He invested in a startup and the stock market, and is preparing another investment to acquire a fleet of trucks. All of this, he says, will give him a financial cushion when he decides to retire in his home country. He wants to secure an income of $1 million a year."

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