$50,000 gold watch on Monaco yacht: The 'Iranian rich kid' gifts girlfriend Audemars Piguet as millions back home survive on $3 a day

A video has gone viral showing Iranian social media personality Sasha Sobhani gifting his girlfriend, Laura Neimas a luxury gold Audemars Piguet watch aboard a yacht in Monaco. The clip has reignited debate over wealth, privilege, and inequality as millions in Iran are struggling to make ends meet and survive just on $3 per day.

The clip, widely shared on social media, shows Sobhani presenting the high-end timepiece—reportedly worth tens of thousands of dollars—to his girlfriend while enjoying a lavish yacht outing in the Mediterranean. It shows Sasha Sobhani putting the watch on his girlfriend's wrist as she jumps with joy and then hugs him.

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Viral Yacht Video Draws Attention

In the now-viral footage, Sobhani can be seen onboard a luxury yacht in Monaco, surprising his girlfriend with a gold Audemars Piguet watch.

The extravagant gift immediately caught the attention of social media users, many of whom contrasted the scene with the daily struggles faced by people in Iran amid years of economic challenges and inflation.



Social media users fumed with anger and called out Sobhani for flaunting his lavish lifestyle and spending money recklessly. "Yes, with the money of the Iranian people. Iranian youth are being killed to protest the lack of basic necessities of life, and the children of the leaders of this regime are swimming in money," a comment read.

"How can anyone see this and continue to support the regime knowing what we know about them??? ," asked another user. "Plenty of money for the Islamic elite of Iran," another comment read. "These people are so brainwashed by materialism that it’s unreal lmao," commented another.

Who Is Sasha Sobhani?

Sasha Sobhani, whose real name is Mohammad-Reza Sobhani, is the son of former Iranian diplomat Ahmad Sobhani, who served as Iran's ambassador to Venezuela and later held senior foreign policy roles in Tehran.

Now based in Spain, Sobhani has built a massive social media following by showcasing a lifestyle filled with private jets, luxury cars, designer fashion and exclusive parties. He first gained attention through the "Rich Kids of Tehran" social media scene and today has millions of followers online.

A Lifestyle That Frequently Sparks Debate

This is not the first time Sobhani has found himself at the centre of controversy. Earlier this year, he went viral after sharing videos of private jet trips, luxury vacations and high-profile events. “Thank God for all these blessings,” the 38-year-old said after smooching his partner, Spanish model Laura Neimas, and kicking back on a couch inside the luxurious aircraft.

Those posts triggered criticism from people who argued that such displays of wealth were out of touch with the realities faced by many Iranians.

Supporters, however, have defended his right to spend his money as he chooses, while others view his social media presence as a symbol of the vast gap between wealthy elites and ordinary citizens.

Luxury Display Amid Economic Struggles

The Monaco yacht video has once again highlighted that divide.

While the gold Audemars Piguet watch reportedly carries a price tag of tens of thousands of dollars, many social media users noted the stark contrast between such spending and the financial difficulties experienced by countless families in Iran.

Sobhani is wanted in Iran for alleged money laundering and running illegal gambling websites. Sobhani has all but been disowned by his father, who claimed that he tried to correct his son’s behavior before he fled Tehran.

“Mohammad-Reza is my child. But in terms of lifestyle and beliefs, he differs from me, and all of my attempts to direct him to the right path failed,” Ahmad Sobhani told the state-run Fars News Agency.