Roger Thiberville, a wealthy Parisian meteorologist, passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind an unexpected legacy that has shocked the small town of Thiberville in France. Without any heirs, Thiberville bequeathed an astonishing $10.2 million to the town that shares his surname, a place he never visited. This windfall has taken the town, with a population of just over 2,000, by surprise.
The generous gift is more than five times the annual municipal budget of Thiberville. Guy Paris, the town’s mayor, expressed his astonishment at the size of the donation.
"It's an exceptional sum of money. Obviously the amount is beyond imagination," – Thiberville's mayor, Guy Paris
The unexpected fortune provides a significant opportunity for Thiberville to address its financial challenges. The town plans to use part of the funds to pay off a $400,000 bank loan, which was incurred to build a new school. Additionally, the windfall will enable the construction of a public garden, a boules court, and a football pitch, enhancing community life.
Thiberville is an ordinary town with an inactive ribbon factory, and until recently, it was poised to benefit from federal programs aimed at communities with more than 2,000 residents. However, plans to merge with neighboring villages Le Planquay and La Chapelle-Haring fell through when local politicians rejected the proposal.
Roger Thiberville lived modestly in Paris, despite inheriting a substantial property portfolio from his family. His decision to leave his estate to Thiberville was made without any conditions attached.
"Monsieur Thiberville did not demand anything in return for his legacy, but we owe him at least that," – Thiberville's mayor, Guy Paris
The mayor admitted that the town's administration has yet to finalize plans for the full utilization of the funds.
"We don't yet know what we will do with it," – Thiberville's mayor, Guy Paris
In an unrelated story, the Rylands, an Australian couple who have spent over $100,000 traveling since retirement, have sparked debate over inheritance spending. Their lifestyle has drawn criticism from some quarters.
"Boomers are evil … bragging about overseas holidays and spending all their money so their kids have no inheritance," – a critic of the peripatetic pair
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