ISIS Now the Wealthiest Terrorist Group in the World

Trolling ISIS on the Internet is a great (and hilarious) idea, but unfortunately even banner ads for boner pills don't seem to be having a direct effect on the ridiculous amounts of money the terrorist organization rakes in every year. Sure, U.S. forces blew some of it up earlier this month, but according to a statement by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, ISIS (or ISIL, as he refers to it) is now the "world's wealthiest terrorist organization."

The UN estimates ISIS brought in $400 to $500 million from oil and "oil products" in 2015 alone, despite an embargo on its products, CNN reports. The group also makes bank just by charging people to drive through its territory, which includes large chunks of Iraq and Syria—a tax on trucks entering ISIS-controlled territory reportedly generates almost $1 billion a year, Ban said. ISIS members also straight-up take cash from banks in their territory; that venture totals another estimated $1 billion.

What's more, ISIS' influence is spreading. "The recent expansion of the ISIL sphere of influence across west and north Africa, the Middle East and south and southeast Asia demonstrates the speed and scale at which the gravity of the threat has evolved in just 18 months," Ban said. As of mid December 34 militant groups had joined forces with ISIS, and Ban warned western nations to expect an increase in attacks from countries such as the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Libya and Nigeria.

Advertise here