Study Reveals Wealthy Argentinians Are the Biggest Consumers of Escorts

Buenos Aires, Argentina – A recent study has stirred public debate and caught the attention of international observers by revealing a provocative trend: Argentina’s wealthiest citizens are the country’s leading consumers of VIP Escorts. The findings, published by the Buenos Aires-based research institute Observatorio de Comportamientos Urbanos (OCU) (based on data by argendivas.com and sites from other countries), shine a spotlight on the intersection of wealth, power, and private indulgence within Argentina’s elite circles.

The study, based on data collected between 2022 and early 2025, analyzed spending habits, client demographics, and the structure of the sex work economy across the country’s major cities. The research combined surveys from licensed escort agencies, anonymized financial data, and interviews with professionals in the sex work industry. The conclusion was clear: individuals within the top 10% income bracket account for nearly 65% of all high-tier escort service expenditures in Argentina.

A Growing and Stratified Market

The Argentine escort industry is not monolithic. The study reveals that it has grown increasingly stratified in recent years, divided by class, pricing, and access.

At the lower end, informal and street-level sex work continues to exist in economically vulnerable areas. But it is the exclusive, high-cost segment that has seen notable growth, fueled largely by discreet clientele with substantial disposable income. Escort agencies offering services ranging from ARS 150,000 to over ARS 1 million per night (approximately USD 150 to 1,000 at unofficial exchange rates) have reported a consistent rise in bookings by clients in finance, law, tech, and politics.

“These services aren’t just about sex,” said sociologist Carla Vignatti, one of the authors of the report. “They’re about status, control, companionship on demand. For some, it’s an alternative to traditional relationships; for others, it’s a lifestyle accessory.”

Profiles of the Elite Clientele

The report provides a composite profile of Argentina’s typical high-end escort client: male, aged 35 to 55, self-employed or corporate executive, and based in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, or Rosario. Most clients are married or in long-term relationships, and many request discretion to the extent of signing NDAs with agencies or using third parties to book appointments.

Interestingly, some clients do not engage in sexual activities at all, instead opting for companionship services, private parties, or social events. “We have businessmen who fly women to Punta del Este or Europe for weekends—just to avoid going alone,” said an anonymous agency operator interviewed for the study.

What Fuels the Demand?

The study identifies several cultural and economic factors that contribute to the high consumption of escort services among Argentina’s wealthiest:

• Economic Power: Wealth affords access to luxuries most can’t imagine, including the ability to maintain private, parallel social lives.
• Masculine Culture: In some elite business circles, escort services are considered a symbol of masculine dominance and success.
• Loneliness and Control: With traditional relationships becoming more complex, some wealthy individuals seek arrangements where they have full control and zero emotional obligations.
• Discretion over Romance: The escort-client arrangement offers a transactional model where expectations are clear, and discretion is paramount.

A Hidden Industry With Big Numbers

Although the Argentine sex work economy remains largely unregulated, estimates suggest the industry generates billions of pesos annually, with a significant share coming from top-tier services. The OCU report estimates that in Buenos Aires alone, high-end escort services generate over ARS 20 billion (~USD 20 million) annually, and that figure may be conservative.

“The real numbers are difficult to pin down,” said economist Luciana Ibarra, who collaborated on the financial aspects of the study. “Much of the industry is informal or operates behind front businesses—event agencies, modeling firms, or luxury travel services. But make no mistake, it’s booming.”

Reactions from the Public and Experts

Public reaction to the report has been divided. Critics argue that focusing on elite escort consumption ignores broader systemic issues, including the vulnerability of lower-income sex workers and the legal limbo in which the industry operates.

Feminist organizations like Ni Una Menos have responded to the study by calling for better protections for sex workers and an open national debate on regulation. “While wealthy men consume luxury services in silence, the rest of the industry lives in precarity,” said activist Julia Montero. “This report must not be used to glamorize inequality—it should be a wake-up call.”

On the other side, advocates for sex workers’ rights see the study as an opportunity to destigmatize the profession and push for labor recognition. “If we’re good enough for the rich to buy, we should be good enough to protect under the law,” said María Celeste, a former escort and current activist.

Legal and Policy Implications

Argentina has a complex legal framework when it comes to sex work. Individual sex work is not criminalized, but third-party involvement (such as brothel ownership or pimping) remains illegal under certain conditions. As a result, high-end escort agencies operate in a legal gray zone.

Some legislators have used the study’s findings to call for greater transparency and potential regulation. Senator Matías Tófani (Provincia de Buenos Aires) proposed opening a discussion on licensing and taxation of the industry, arguing, “If the wealthy are spending this much, the state should at least know how and where—and ensure it’s safe for everyone involved.”

Looking Ahead

While Argentina struggles with inflation, debt, and political division, the lives of the ultra-wealthy continue largely untouched—and in some cases, increasingly private and indulgent. The escort economy, once taboo, now reveals itself as yet another mirror of the country’s widening class divide.

The OCU study has already triggered further research projects and policy conversations. What remains to be seen is whether the revelations will lead to meaningful reforms or simply fade into silence, like so many scandals within Argentina’s elite.

“What this report ultimately reveals,” said sociologist Carla Vignatti, “is not just who consumes what—but how money, power, and gender intersect in a society where appearances are everything, and privacy is the ultimate luxury.”