He has been a civil servant all his life.

(His wife comes from money, but that's kept separate, supposedly)

In the 70s, he bought a ruin in Corrèze (Chateau de Bity), got his very own government to declare it a "Monument Historique", and, presto, all renovation work was paid for by the State.

Then he got the Croix Rouge or some similar organsation to buy the land around it (supposedly to build a retirement house) and keep it unbuilt so that his view would not be spoilt.

Despite having access to fond secrets (government cash, used to pay for secret services in untraceable ways, but also used as petty cahs to improve the pay of minister and their assistants), he has taken the habit of ultra luxurious holidays in Maldives, Morocco etc paid by people like Hariri (the billionaire former prime minister of Lebanon, killed last year in a bombing) or the King of Morocco or various corporate friends.

And that's of course on top of all the kickbacks from compnaies to finance political parties, and of the use of Paris's massive tax wealth when he was mayor to pay for lots and lots of goodies, including plenty of jobs and free appartments to friends and their kids, lovers, and obligés.

It's all documented, proven. Just read Le Canard Enchainé every week. Sometimes, it forces them to give up an appartment, or some of the shadier deals. But the good life goes on.

(And it's not everybody. De Gaulle is famous for paying himself for pastires when he brought his grandkids to the Elysée on week-ends)

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes