Twelve of Russia's oligarchs made it into Forbes magazine's list of the 100 richest individuals in the world this year.
Roman Abramovich, the governor of the Chukotka region who owns Britain's Chelsea football club, rose to the No. 11 spot, with a net worth of $18.2 billion, up from $14.7 billion last year. Vagit Alekperov, the chief executive of oil giant Lukoil, ranked No. 37 with $11 billion. Steel tycoon Vladimir Lisin was No. 41 with $10.7 billion. Viktor Vekselberg, who co-owns the Russian-British joint venture TNK-BP and the aluminum major SUAL, placed 44th with $10 billion...the only Russian woman to appear on this year's list is Yelena Baturina, the owner of a booming construction business and wife of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. She ranked 335th with $2.3 billion.
Read the full story by RIA Novosti and view the photos of the Russian oligarchs in the extended post.
If you look at their faces you will be surprised - these people don't look like ordinary billionaires, because they aren't. They look like either corrupt soviet bureaucrats or 35 year old charismatic scoundrels; because that’s who they are.
Please remember, that these Russian oligarchs did not create wealth; they actually didn’t create anything. They simply stole former Soviet property and have been leaching off it for the last 15 years.
And the people who were capable of doing this were either corrupt Soviet bureaucrats in the right places at the right time or 21 year old college drop-outs with shrewd minds and no fear. It’s because of them that Russia doesn’t produce anything but natural resources, extracted without any accountability or transparency. While the oligarchs own castles in Britain and hundreds of billions of dollars, the total Russian federal budget is only 104 billion dollars a year, and Russian pensioners are forgoing toilet paper to save money. And the citizens of booming Moscow could care less about the mayor's wife controlling the entire construction industry in the city.
Roman Abramovich
Oleg Deripaska
Mikhail Fridman
Vladimir Lisin
Viktor Vekselberg
Vagit Alekperov
Vladimir Yevtushenkov
Mikhail Prohorov
Vladimir Potanin
Alexei Mordashov
Comments
This brings me back to an earlier theme I keep bringing up on the matter of improving the English language mass media coverage of Russia.
Anti-Putin oligarchs Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky aren't among the top 30 wealthiest Russians.
Yet, because of their involvement in media and politics, their minority views receive top billing.
They're anti-Putin which is their right (a point independent of what they have been accused of by the Russian legal system). Keep in mind that they reflect a minority of Russian public opinion. Putin currently has an approval rating of about 70%.
If some of the other oligarchs constructively (I stress constructively) contributed to media/political think tank ventures, the mainstream Russian view would be much better communicated.
The obvious continues to remain a distant reality.
Posted by: Michael Averko | March 13, 2006 11:03 PM
I wouldn't say it's because of them that Russia is in trouble, though of course they bear more responsibility than any other group.
These people stole Russian oil not because some bureucrats were in the right place at the right time, but because the very people who were in charge of privatization (Gaidar, Kokh, Chubais) were corrupt, and the Russian public too naive to pay attention. Now Putin, by going after B., G., and Khodor., makes it look like the rules have changed, but have they really? The rich and powerful in Russia still have nothing to fear - except each other, perhaps.
I have a question for Michael Averko: where does the 70% number come from? It looks suspiciously high.
Posted by: Ivan Lenin | March 16, 2006 12:18 PM
I'm not sure about the 70% number either, but I agree with Ivan Lenin. I believe oligarchs are responsible for a lot of bad stuff that has happened (and is happening) to Russia. Putin is trying hard, but the system is too well oiled to be cracked. For your own safety you just want to "play the game" when you're in Russia.
Posted by: Yuri Mamchur | March 16, 2006 12:38 PM
Ivan & Yuri:
That roughly 70% approval rating of Putin is often quoted. Offhand and without specifics, it's poll data from Western, Russian and joint (Western and Russian) sources.
Check some of Sergei Roy's "Editor's Column" articles at http://english.intelligent.ru Puting aside my well founded critique of Mr. Roy's character, he's a constructive critic of Putin in terms of providing even handed analysis, inclusive of criticism.
Posted by: Michael Averko | March 17, 2006 1:59 PM
hi
whould you pleas send to me Roman Abramovich's
e-mail or tell me a way countact with he . thank you for your help . by
Posted by: hamid | July 18, 2006 3:42 AM
Any news on Roman Abramovichs contact details or e-mail address?
Posted by: illuder | August 20, 2006 10:12 AM
Could you tell me Roman Abramovich's email...?
Thank you for your replying
Posted by: Yudho Condro Hardanto | September 19, 2006 8:32 AM
The electronic address of mister Roman Abramovich is necessary to me. I wish to congratulate it happy birthday. Many thanks. Yours faithfully doctor Anatoliy Tryshnovskyi
Posted by: Anatolyi | September 21, 2006 8:54 AM
To all that read this stuff.Why you all guys feel envy those people used brains to do it.If i give £ 1,000,000 you probably will spend it for a month.Those people made fortunes using their skilfull grey matter to solve all kinds of perplexity.Thanx for the attention
Posted by: kiril | October 21, 2006 1:16 AM
Could you tell me Roman Abramovich's email...?
Thank you for your replying
Posted by: Gergory Volis | November 6, 2006 11:36 AM
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plz may have Roman Abramovich's contacts details for partnership with my father company
Posted by: martin | November 22, 2006 1:22 AM
could you please tell me Roman Abramovich,s email ID
Posted by: AMIT KUMAR UPADHYAY | December 29, 2006 2:06 AM
Oh yeah am very happy to see the rich Russians and am a boy from Africa, my country is Uganda.
Hope there is no bad comment on this website all the photos are clear.
phone:+256-774-636310.
bye.
Posted by: MATOVU ELIAS | February 10, 2007 8:58 AM
Sayın:
Roman Abramovich,
Ben 40 yaşındayım.Eşimi ve işimi kaybettim.Yaşımdan dolayı işede giremiyorum.Sizden küçük bi işyeri açmam ve ailemi geçindirmem için yardım istiyorum. Bana yardımcı olursanız minnettar olurum size. Bu parayı sizden borç istiyorum. Teşekkür eder saygılar sunarım. Banka hesap numaram :YAPI KREDI BANKASI ERZURUM ŞUBESI 62375178 NUMARALI HESAP.
Posted by: Murat DUMLU | March 2, 2007 10:00 AM
i would like to send a message to mr.Abramovich.
is it possible?
Posted by: constança | March 14, 2007 2:11 PM
just to know the contact address of mr roman abromovich, God bless you sir,
Posted by: joseph | March 29, 2007 10:41 PM
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Posted by: Erhan BURCE | March 31, 2007 3:01 AM
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Posted by: Rajiv Peris | April 14, 2007 12:04 PM
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Posted by: Anonymous | May 24, 2007 7:00 AM
is there any possibility to get Abramovich email?
tks
Posted by: Dorys Rodriguez | May 30, 2007 2:23 AM
I have a little more information on contacts ...
You can write to me if my help is necessary to you.
Posted by: Andrey | June 12, 2007 6:00 PM
would like some info on Mr Abromovich contact Ex: e-mail or whatever.
Posted by: enio | June 19, 2007 11:43 AM
hi.
would you please give me and let me know the abramovich email?or any way that i can send my message for him?thanks
Posted by: mona | August 24, 2007 5:09 AM
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Posted by: George | August 24, 2007 6:29 AM
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Posted by: mr lawrence | November 23, 2007 12:00 PM
Hi everybody,
I'am looking for Viktor Vekselberg's e-mail address. I try to contact Mister Vekselberg to work with him.
If somebody already get this address, it would be very nice to send it to me.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
AP
Posted by: axel prevot | November 26, 2007 2:38 AM
Hello,
I am an Indian watercolour artist looking for rich buyers for my works. Kindly pass on my details to the members of the list or send me their emails.
Thanks.
Abhilasha.
Posted by: Abhilasha | January 10, 2008 11:40 PM
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Posted by: mohamad | March 5, 2008 2:20 AM
Dear MR Abramovich Roman, i AM moni ade from eastern part of Nigeria .....am 28 years old
Son of Late chief Owolabi.... who normal dealing with buying and selling of land when he was
alive . Chief Owolabi (MY FATHER) reserved not less than 5 hecters of land future use before
he died on May 7th 2002........Three years after the death of the Chief the petroleum was
discovered by the Geologist on this land. On 15 March 2007 one man came on this land and
trying to claim the land inwhich all the legal document of this land is with me. Sir, this issue was
draged to court...the judgement saw me as the right owner of land the justist gave me utimatum
till september 30 2008 to fond somthing done on that land or else the land will be aquire by the
government........I therefore seek for your help to start something on this land....
for further enquiry contact me on
e-mail.......moniade3@aol.com
phone......+2347037095742
THANKS I WILL BE LOOK TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON
Posted by: moni ade | May 13, 2008 5:47 AM
I JUST WANT TO SEE I REALLT LOVE ROMAN- ABRAMOVICH AND EVER READY TO DIE 4 HIM. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HIS EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN WRITE TO HIM PERSONALLY OR HIS TELEPHONE NUMBER AS MINE IS 234(0)805-725-3364 THANX AND REMAIN BLESSED.
Posted by: HENRY CHIMEZIE NWADIKE | May 14, 2008 6:49 AM