Alisher Usmanov is a well known Russian billionaire businessman who didn’t make the top 10 list
One billion dollars is no longer enough to gain entry to Russia’s rich list.
Ten billionaires failed to make Forbes magazine’s annual list of the 100 richest Russians that is dominated by those who built their fortunes on the country’s metals resources. (Pics)
#1 Billionaire Oleg Deripaska
Oleg Deripaska, who controls aluminum producer United Company RUSAL among a host of infrastructure, energy and financial assets, tops the latest Forbes list with a fortune of $28.6 billion — $11.8 billion more than he was worth last year.
#3 Billionaire Roman Abramovich
Deripaska, 40, replaces Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich, who drops to third. The two are split by Alexei Mordashov, majority owner of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel maker.
#2 Billionaire Alexei Mordashov
“After the bankruptcy of YUKOS and the strengthening of the state’s position in the energy sector, you can count on one hand the number of oil and gas billionaires,” said Maxim Kashulinsky, editor of Forbes’ Russian edition.
“The main fortunes are concentrated now in metallurgy, finance and property.”
One fifth of the top 100 have an interest in mining and metals. Mordashov, 42, was the biggest gainer among Russia’s richest, adding $12.4 billion to more than double his fortune to $24.5 billion.
Forty-one-year-old Abramovich, in third place, is worth $24.3 billion.
#4 Billionaire Vladimir Lisin
Another steel baron, Novolipetsk Steel owner Vladimir Lisin, is fourth with a fortune of $23.9 billion.
Forbes said that Russia’s richest 100 people had a combined fortune of $522 billion — 3.8 times more than the total when Forbes first published a Russian list in 2004.
Russia has 50 more billionaires than a year ago — 110 compared with 60. This year $1.1 billion was required to break into the top 100, compared with $660 million a year ago.
Another reason for the increase in dollar billionaires, Forbes said, was the fall in the value of the U.S. currency.
Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov
COMMODITIES BOOM
Forbes noted a sharp rise in the price of Russia’s main export commodities: oil, gas, metals, fertilizer and coal.
“The consumer boom is continuing,” Forbes said in an editorial. “The financial crisis and decline in global stocks has blurred the picture a little, but has not undermined the prosperity of the richest Russians.”
#9 Billionaire Vagit Alekperov
There are still some oil billionaires in the top 10: LUKOIL head Vagit Alekperov is in ninth place, while TNK-BP TNBPI.RTS shareholders Mikhail Fridman and German Khan also feature in the top ten.
Billionaire Mikhail Fridman
Billionaire German Khan
Billionaire Vladimir Potanin
Metals, however, dominate: Norilsk Nickel co-owners Mikhail Prokhorov and Vladimir Potanin hold fifth and sixth positions respectively, Polymetal owner Suleiman Kerimov is eighth and Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works chairman Viktor Rashnikov 11th.Igor Zyuzin’s fortune grew to $13 billion on the back of record coal prices and several acquisitions by the Mechel company he controls.
#8 Billionaire Suleiman Kerimov
#11 Billionaire Viktor Rashnikov
Zyuzin shares 12th position in the list with Dmitry Rybolovlev, the largest shareholder in potash miner Uralkali, whose shares are trading at record highs on the back of a global boom in mineral fertilizer prices.
#12 Billionaire Igor Zyuzin
#12 Billionaire (tie) Dmitry Rybolovlev
Via Reuters