The Church is a savvy investor. It owns stakes in companies like Microsoft, Shell, and even the fashion brand Bulgari. Yes, the same church that condemns greed has a diversified stock portfolio. Capitalism and Catholicism: an odd couple.
In the U.S. alone, the Church’s assets are estimated at $170 billion when you include universities, hospitals, and charities. That’s bigger than the GDP of some countries. Want a funny detail? The Archdiocese of New York once owned part of the Chrysler Building. Heavenly real estate, literally.
The Weirdest Assets
Here’s where it gets quirky. The Vatican owns a stake in a pasta company. Yes, the same people who bless the Eucharist also have fingers in spaghetti production. Eat your prayers.
They also own a telephone exchange system from the 1980s that’s still in use. And a massive farm in Italy called the Tenuta di Castel Gandolfo—the Pope’s summer residence—that produces wine, olive oil, and honey. Talk about a side hustle.
What Is The Roman Catholic Church Worth - Infoupdate.org
