In 2007, he was considered the 4th richest man in Romania, with an estimated net worth between 2.1 and 2.3 billion euros.
Vântu later denied the accusation, and sued Băsescu for libel, asking for 1 million euros in damages.
[2] Vîntu was sentenced to two years in prison in 2005 for using some false documents to gain majority shares in the Investment and Development Bank (BID), which went bankrupt in 2002.
Later the Bucharest Court of Appeals ordered by final decision the discontinuation of the trial finding that the charges passed their statute of limitations.
[3] On 21 June 2012, he was sentenced to one year in prison following the blackmail accusation of his ex business partner, Sebastian Ghiță.