I think the main reason pepe mujica lived so simply as president is because he genuinely didn't care about luxury or showing off. He always said the real poverty is wanting more all the time, so he just stuck to what made him happy. I remember hearing how he drove that old blue Beetle and gave away most of his salary, choosing to stay in his small farm with his wife and their three-legged dog, way instead of the fancy presidential mansion.

In my view, it wasn't for show, it was just who he was. He literally spent 14 years in prison during the dictatorship, so I guess after living through all that, being surrounded by stuff you don't need seems pointless. He kept saying the only way to change things was for politicians to be just like the people. It definitely made him relatable, but not everyone agreed with his choices. Some critics thought he should act more "presidential," whatever that means. Still, it made the world pay attention because politicians usually do the exact opposite: they grab all the perks. Makes you think about what's really important, right?