The 53-year-old economist paid $50,000 to clone his original dog, Conan, who he adopted in 2004 and died in 2017. He told local media that Conan was one of his closest friends and confidants, who always supported him.
The result, according to the cloning company, was at least four “grandchildren”: Murray, Milton, Robert and Lucas, which are named after Milei’s economist idols, including Milton Friedman. Milei has appeared publicly with them.
Journalist Juan Luis González, who wrote the book “El Loco” about Milei, has documented a fifth clone, who shares the name Conan, a reference to the 1982 film “Conan the Barbarian.”
The rise of Milei, a former television pundit who entered politics only a few years ago, has shaken the Argentine political establishment, which he has criticized as a “caste.”
Milei is the favorite to win Sunday’s vote ahead of Economy Minister Sergio Massa and conservative Patricia Bullrich, in what most pollsters see as a close three-way race. There will probably be a second round in November.
Milei’s adoration for her dogs is notable. She has used a medium to talk to her dogs and called them the “best strategists in the world” in her campaign closing this week.
“Do you know who were the only ones who were always by my side?” Milei said in an interview in August with Argentine media, referring to a difficult period in her life. “My sister and Conan.”
González, a journalist and biographer, said that when the original Conan was alive, Milei gave him champagne and treated him like part of the family.
“To Milei, Conan was like a son,” he said.
After Conan’s death, Milei sent the dog’s DNA sample to the animal cloning company PerPETuate, which has written publicly about cloning Milei’s dogs on its company’s website.
Through a medium, Milei’s original dog, he alleges, gave him the mission of becoming president of Argentina, something that could – against all odds – be carried out today or next month.
As Milei’s political profile has skyrocketed, his dogs have become a source of criticism. Opponent Massa recently criticized Milei for “talking about her dogs as if they were children.”
In a television interview this month, Milei responded to criticism surrounding the puppy. “They can say what they want. Everyone gives their opinion,” she said.