A huge leak of financial documents, revealed by a group of about 100 media organizations on Sunday, provided deep insights into some of the mechanisms used by top politicians or celebrities to escape paying taxes.
Offshore funds are often used to escape high taxes and their use is not necessarily illegal, though when they are being used by the same people who set those tax rates, it tends to raise eyebrows. The majority of the individuals featured in the leaks come from the U.S., followed by Britain.
The concealing of the wealth of billionaires, politicians and at least one head of state in offshore accounts comes as a major embarrassment to the individuals included in the documents.