Richest candidate ranking includes businessman who funded Toffoli's jet trip

Luiz Pastore (PL), a candidate for senator in Tocantins, Brazil, has emerged as the wealthiest contender in the current elections, declaring a personal fortune of R$677.74 million to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Pastore's wealth places him at the top of a ranking of the richest candidates, though the list is not yet final as not all candidacies have been processed by the TSE. He is the richest politician running for the Senate in this campaign, according to an analysis by Estadão using data submitted to the electoral justice system. Even after excluding billionaire assets and candidates who reported errors in their declarations, Pastore remains the most affluent.

Adding to the intrigue, Pastore owns the private jet that flew Supreme Court Minister Dias Toffoli, along with the lawyer for a director of Banco Master, to Lima, Peru, in November 2025 to watch the Libertadores final. Coincidentally, Toffoli became the rapporteur for the "Caso Master" in the Supreme Court on the same day. He later recused himself from the case following internal controversy at the STF regarding his involvement and participation in a company that conducted business with the banker Daniel Vorcaro's brother-in-law.

Pastore, a businessman and chairman of the board of Grupo Ibrame, a metallurgical company, is known in Brasília's political circles but has largely operated behind the scenes. "I am a businessman, and I am putting my assets at the disposal to provide knowledge, so I can work for entrepreneurship and for the businessmen of Brazil. Very few people are working for this," Pastore told Estadão. His wealth has grown significantly, from R$453.6 million in 2022 when he was a substitute candidate for senator in the Federal District, marking a 49% increase in four years. Previously affiliated with MDB since 1986, Pastore switched parties and electoral domicile to run with PL in Tocantins, stating, "I am 77 years old, I was twice a substitute senator for Espírito Santo, and I decided that now is the time I must dedicate myself to the fourth most important state in the Union."