# Gérard Depardieu Back to [[Economic Freedom and Prosperity]] · [[Case Studies/France 75 Percent Tax]] **Role:** French actor; tax exile symbol - Actor (b. 1948) ◻. - He moved to Néchin, Belgium, just over the border ✔ (Guardian; ◻ the move became public in December 2012), and Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship by decree on Jan 3, 2013 ✔ ([Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/03/putin-grants-gerard-depardieu-citizenship)). - PM Jean-Marc Ayrault called the move "shabby" (*minable*) ◻. Depardieu became the emblem of the "rich are fleeing" story, though Reuters reported in 2014 that "the mass emigration has not happened" ✔. Key: ✔ confirmed this session · ◻ standard knowledge, not opened this session · ⚠️ unconfirmed.