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Former governor Castro received $66k dinners before billion-dollar investments

7 sources · 28 May 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press ? no verbatim passage

According to messages obtained by the PF, Vorcaro paid for a US$ 13.3 thousand (R$ 66 thousand) dinner for Castro in May 2023 at chef Salt Bae's restaurant in Manhattan, featuring gold-leafed steaks. "Friend, it was an incredible experience. Thank you very much," Castro wrote the next day. Six months later, Rioprevidência began investing in Banco Master — first R$ 40 million in November 2023, then R$ 80 million days after a meeting between the two in São Paulo. ?

Press quotes (1)
G1

"Segundo a Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR), o Rioprevidência injetou R$ 3,69 bilhões no Banco Master e em outros fundos ligados à instituição de Daniel Vorcaro"

In May 2024, Vorcaro invited Castro to an exclusive whiskey tasting in New York restricted to ten people, which cost US$ 1.013 million (R$ 5 million). "There will be a small event. Whiskey tasting," Vorcaro wrote. Castro replied: "I'm going." The day after the event, Rioprevidência invested another R$ 80 million in Banco Master financial letters.

Press quotes (2)
A Tarde

"A PF identificou um pagamento de US$ 13,3 mil em um cartão de crédito de Vorcaro no restaurante na mesma data em que o dono do Master organizou o jantar para Cláudio Castro"

G1

"Amigo, foi uma experiência incrível. Muito obrigado."

The investigation also identified meetings between Castro and Vorcaro at the Laranjeiras and Guanabara palaces, official seats of the state government. In a conversation before a meeting in March 2024, Vorcaro asked an employee how much the state had invested in the bank. "320 million invested, RioPrev," was the response. Castro's defense denies irregularities and claims the contacts were institutional. Banco Master maintains that all operations followed technical and legal criteria.

Press quotes (2)
InfoMoney

"Haverá um evento pequeno. Degustação de whisky.", escreveu Vorcaro ao ex-governador"

Valor Econômico

"De acordo com a PF, no dia seguinte ao encontro, em 15 de maio de 2024, o Rioprevidência realizou um aporte de R$ 80 milhões em Letras Financeiras do Banco Master"

1. What we know (1)

Daniel Vorcaro paid for a US$ 13.3 thousand dinner for Castro in New York in May 2023

4 sources A Tarde Brasil 247 G1 Valor Econômico
2. Where coverage thins out (2)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (1)

Castro lives in R$ 3.5 million penthouse bought by former secretary's company

Reported by: O Globo

Conflicting versions (1)

Exact value of the May 2023 New York dinner

1 source — "Dinner cost R$ 66.1 thousand": A Tarde
2 sources — "Dinner cost more than R$ 60 thousand at current rates": G1 Valor Econômico
3. What we don't know yet (3)
  • What was the specific role of intermediaries in the Castro-Vorcaro relationship?

    Why it's still unknown: Reports mention Ricardo Siqueira Rodrigues as an intermediary, but don't detail his specific actions

    Did not cover: A Tarde Brasil 247 G1
  • How did the State Court of Accounts specifically react to the ignored warnings?

    Why it's still unknown: Outlets cite that the Castro government ignored TCE-RJ warnings, but don't specify consequences or measures taken by the court

    Did not cover: G1 InfoMoney Valor Econômico
  • What is the current status of Banco Master and Rioprevidência's investments?

    Why it's still unknown: Reports mention the bank was "subsequently liquidated", but don't detail the status of invested resources

    Did not cover: A Tarde Brasil 247 O Globo

All sources

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