Only in Israel: Maya Wertheimer Reveals Her Brother, Heir to Billions, Is Serving on the Front Lines

Only in Israel

Actress Maya Wertheimer, daughter of the late billionaire businessman Eitan Wertheimer, revealed today that her brother, Asaf, is serving in combat reserves in Lebanon and was lightly wounded by a Hezbollah drone strike.

Asaf was wounded in the same serious incident in which Staff Sgt. Michael Tyukin fell. Tyukin, 21, served in the Givati Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit and was killed by a Hezbollah drone in southern Lebanon, with additional soldiers wounded in the attack.

A Billion-Dollar Family, A Battlefield Reality

The story drew attention because Asaf comes from one of Israel’s most prominent industrial families. His late father, Eitan Wertheimer, and grandfather, Stef Wertheimer, were behind Iscar, the Israeli precision tool manufacturer that became one of the country’s most famous business success stories.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired Iscar in two landmark deals. In 2006, Berkshire bought an 80% stake for $4 billion. In 2013, Buffett purchased the remaining 20% for $2.05 billion, a deal that implied a company valuation of roughly $10 billion.

Despite that background, Asaf was serving on the northern front alongside other Israeli reservists.

The revelation struck a nerve online because it reflected something many Israelis recognize deeply: in a small country fighting for its survival, military service cuts across wealth, status and family name.

“There is plenty to be upset about, but there is a small ray of light in the fact that someone who is heir to billions is doing combat reserve duty in Lebanon. I don’t think that would happen in many places around the world,” wrote X user Dan Dubin.

Another user added: “The Israeli elite takes part in war far more than average. This is in contrast to the Russian elite, where not a single well-connected family member is fighting in the war.”