Oddities

Town suddenly inherits more than 10 million USD from strangers

TB (summary) January 16, 2025 16:12

The town of Thiberville in Normandy (France) has just received an inheritance of more than 10 million USD from a person who has never set foot there.

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Town Hall in Thiberville, Normandy. Photo: Havang

Mr. Roger Thiberville in Paris (France) passed away in August 2024 at the age of 91. With no heirs, he decided to transfer his entire fortune worth 10.2 million USD to 1,773 residents of the town of Thiberville in Normandy even though he had never been there.

Before he died, he also requested that his ashes be placed in the local cemetery.

According to Thiberville Mayor Guy Paris, it appears that Thiberville's only connection to the town is his name.

Mr. Paris said the inheritance was beyond the residents' imagination. The amount was more than five times the town's annual budget.

The town is in need of repayment of a bank loan of more than 400,000 euros, which was used to build a new primary school. The mayor also suggested that the money could be used for public projects such as flower gardens, boules (petanque) areas and football pitches, which had been a desire of the town’s residents but had been delayed due to lack of funds.

Under French law, inheritances are not taxed. The millionaire's gift transformed the town of Thiberville, making a rare story that made a strong impression on the whole of France.

While Thiberville celebrates its windfall, neighboring villages Le Planquay and La Chapelle-Hareng may be regretting their decision not to merge with the town to receive the benefits available to areas with more than 2,000 residents. The plan was rejected by neighboring councilors, meaning Thiberville will not have to share its inheritance.

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    Town suddenly inherits more than 10 million USD from strangers