Usmanov’s story is emblematic of Russia’s post-Soviet transformation: He started out as a refugee from the Soviet Union, and built his empire while playing by the rules. As a result, he has become one of Russia’s most successful businessmen – but also one of its most controversial.
Alisher Usmanov has a net worth of $15.5 billion, making him one of the richest men in Russia and one of the richest people in Europe. Born in 1965, Usmanov has spent his life building his wealth through a variety of businesses
What is Usmanov worth?
Alisher Usmanov is a Russian business magnate and investor with a net worth of $14.1 billion as of March 2017, according to Forbes. His net worth has increased by $2.5 billion since 2016, making him the fourth wealthiest man in Russia. Usmanov’s business empire includes investments in telecommunications, oil, metals, banking, and real estate. In addition to his own businesses, Usmanov also owns 35% of Arsenal Football Club and is an honorary vice president of the club. Usmanov has been subject to sanctions from the United States since 2014 because of his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Why did Usmanov become a billionaire?
Alisher Usmanov is one of Russia’s richest individuals, has a story that is both astonishing and untold. He became a billionaire by seizing control of his country’s largest media company, and then using his influence to avoid sanctions that were put in place after the Russian annexation of Crimea. Usmanov also built one of Russia’s most successful businesses in telecoms and internet services. He is now the world’s sixth richest man, with a net worth of $22.8 billion.
Usmanov was born in Azerbaijan in 1973 to a family of modest means. His father was an engineer who worked for the Soviet militaryindustrial complex. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Alisher and his family were among the millions of people who lost their jobs. They moved to Moscow in search of work, but Usmanov’s father could not find any stable employment. Alisher began working as a janitor at a Moscow school in order to make money to support his family.
In 1995, Usmanov founded the first Russian online newspaper, Gazeta.ru. The website quickly became one of Russia’s most popular news sources, and
What does he do with his money?
Usmanov made his fortune through a variety of businesses, including banking, metal production, and telecoms. He has also been involved in politics and has served as a member of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) since 2003.
He started his business career in the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union was collapsing and there were few opportunities for entrepreneurs. Usmanov has been targeted by sanctions from the West since 2007 because of his links to Vladimir Putin, who he has financially supported both during his time as mayor of St. Petersburg and as president. Despite these sanctions, Usmanov has continued to make significant investments in Western companies, including Facebook and Twitter. He is also one of the largest shareholders in Mail.ru, Russia’s largest online advertising company.
Usmanov has been subject to several sanctions from the United States since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The sanctions have caused him financial difficulty, but he has never backed down from his political beliefs. In an interview with Reuters earlier this year, Usmanov said that he does not regret supporting Putin “100 percent” during the Russian president’s years in office.
Usmanov is an interesting example of a wealthy person who has managed to survive various sanctions by continuing to invest in Russia and other parts of the world.
Usmanov’s relationship with Western countries has been characterized by alternating periods of openness and hostility. In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel in 2016, he said: “The West is hypocritical because it talks about democracy but does not practice it. It talks about human rights but violates them. […] I am not a supporter of Putin – I am a supporter of Russia – but I do think that Putin should be allowed to run for reelection”
