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 Russian oligarchs
differ from one another, especially the geography matters. Russian oligarchs are
not as conspicuous as the West tycoons and only two events can act a triggering
point to reveal their existence; it is scandal and investigation, kind of
scandal but with longer consequences. The public may not know about them even if
they are absolute billionaires. Or they are known to open public as some
figures in the top something. However should any of these people is involved in
any scandal, they are in the center of glory and attention. And the scandal character
will be popular and recognized both in the homeland and abroad.
The most flamboyant
magnet among the Russian tycoons is Roman Abramovich. There is always news about
him like «the governor of Chukchi Peninsula purchased Chelsea Football Club» or
«Roman is going to buy Schumacher» or «Abramovich spent a fortune to celebrate
birth date of his daughter. There are millions sources ready to provide
information on his biography or the number of private cars. Though Abramovich
biography and private life is highly circulated in mass media he is not the on
the top line of the wealthiest people of Russia. The leading position goes to Oleg
Deripaska valued at $28,6 billion. On the top of it, Deripaska is in the top of
the wealthiest people of the world taking 9th place though in 2007 Deripaska took
the second in the top of 100 wealthiest people of Russia worth $16,8 billions
then. And he grabbed the crown from Abramovich who first was valued at $19,2 billion
and today has $24,3 billion and he is the third in the list after Deripaska and
Aleksey Mordashov with $24,5 billion while the wealth of Deripaska almost doubled
for the year. It is interesting but the process was so quiet and behind the
scenes without discussing in mass media and the shift of the leader was quite
unnoticed.
As opposed to
Abramovich to be discussed by everybody Deripaska is told only in connection
with the list of the wealthiest people of the world and because of lawsuit with
Mikhail Cherniy, one of the first magnates of Russia. Deripaska's name was last
mentioned in connection with John McCain US presidential nominee and whether
Deripaska was about to buy the potential President or McCain tried to set good
relations with on the world's wealthiest people, nobody knows.
In spite of
silence and immobility of the image of Russian tycoon, Deripaska has seen his
fortune growing incredibly. He is rushing forward selling and purchasing, mortgaging
and re-mortgaging, gaining credits under security of new assets and again
purchasing new assets. It seems that he is purposeful and strict in his promise
to become the wealthiest person in the world.
But the business
of startling Abramovich is relatively stable and the increase in his wealth depends
on the growth of value of «Euraz» shares (41% shares belong to Abramovich)
which brought $6,8 billion to the magnet, quite decent unlike Deripaska.
Alexei
Mordashov the owner of Severstal jumped from the ninth place in 2007 to the
second place this year doubling his wealth to $24,5 billion (twice as much!).
The shift was the same unnoticeable and quiet as with Deripaska. There was the
only publication about automobiles in view of Mordashov where he was used as
background for the vehicles. The swift increase in the wealth of Mordashov was
connected with increase in price of Severstal. It is worth $25 billion and Alexei
Mordashov takes the second of the Russian Top of the Wealthiest.
It is not interesting,
moreover curios that in the world suffering from economic crisis, with countries
growing poor and some of them will be soon declared as bankrupts but the
integrated wealth of the Top 100 of Russian Wealthiest People is incredibly
growing - from $337 billion in 2007 to $522 billion in 2008. Last year the top
first wealth was valued at $660 millions and this year the price jumped to $1,1
billion. That means that this year the top 100 is only billionaires, and
millionaires gave the floor to them. The top wealth of the first ten in 2007 made
$10, 7 billions as with Viktor Vekselberg while the top ten in 2008 made $13,7 billion
as in case of German Khan.
The
consequence of the world financial crisis is clear and who know what will
happened this year. Time will show.
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