In a recent edition of the reality programme "Really Rich Real Estate" shown on the American Music Channel VH1, Inge Bongo daughter-in-law of the Gabonese President is featured shopping for a $25 million mansion in one of America's most exclusive neighbourhoods Malibu.

Inge Bongo is married to Ali Ben Bongo, the Gabonese Minister of Interior and Defence and President Bongo's son and heir apparent in the oil rich Gabon.

Concern has been raised as to how 48 year old Ali Ben Bongo and his wife are able to afford a $25 million mansion. Concerns that are fuelled by the catalogue of corruption allegations that have been levelled against the Bongo family over the 40 years Omar Bongo has been in power.

In 2005, an investigation by the United States Senate Committee into fundraising irregularities by lobbyist Jack Abramoff revealed that Abramoff had offered to arrange a meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and Bongo for the sum of 9 million USD. Though it is unproven as to whether or not the exchange took place, Bush met with Bongo 10 months later in the Oval Office.

In 2003 in France's biggest corporate sleaze trial in which several former executives of the oil Giant Elf were jailed payments totaling $16.7 million were alledged to have been made to Omar Bongo in exchange for Elf being given preference over British and US oil firms.