Leaders of the top 200: Vladimir Potanin ($15.4 billion), Mikhail Fridman ($14.6 billion), Alisher Usmanov ($14.4 billion)

Original of this material
© "Russian Forbes", 04/15/2015, Billionaires and the crisis: how the Forbes list has changed over the year, Illustration: "Russian Forbes"

Elena Berezanskaya

Forbes ranked the twelfth richest entrepreneurs in Russia at a difficult time for business. International economic sanctions against the largest banks and companies, a catastrophic drop in oil prices, and the devaluation of the ruble have hit Russian business hard and shaken up the Forbes list. Over the year, the ruble has halved its value against the dollar, and the dollar indicator of the stock market - the RTS index - has lost more than 30%.

The combined wealth of Russia's 200 richest entrepreneurs fell in 2015 to $408 billion from $481 billion in 2014, and the number of dollar billionaires dropped to 88 from 111.

The crisis, however, did not knock down everyone - among the 200 participants on the list, there were 37 people who managed to increase their wealth, and another 27 maintained last year’s results. Metallurgists and commercial real estate owners look better than others against the backdrop of the crisis, especially if they managed to conclude lease agreements in foreign currency and do not revise their terms. There are 11 new names on the 2015 list, among the newcomers there is a woman - Olga Belyavtseva, co-owner of the Progress plant, which produces FrutoNyanya baby food and Lipetsk pump room mineral water.

One of the seven who have ever been “billionaire No. 1” is Potanin’s former partner Mikhail Prokhorov. In the crisis year of 2009, he became the champion with a fortune of $9.5 billion, and Potanin with his $2.1 billion took only 19th place. Having divided the assets equally in 2008, the businessmen dealt with them differently - Prokhorov sold his stake in Norilsk Nickel to Rusal before the market collapse, and Potanin was left with greatly reduced shares.

In 2015, the year of the new crisis, the situation turned upside down - Potanin with Norilsk Nickel was in first place, and Prokhorov, with a fortune of $9.9 billion, was in 10th place.

The average wealth of former partners in Interros for all years of compiling the rating is approximately the same - $11.8 billion for Potanin and $11.9 billion for Prokhorov.

Before the division of assets between Prokhorov and Potanin, Interros was second in size only to the Alfa Group consortium. Mikhail Fridman and partners. In 2008, the assets of Interros were estimated at $45 billion, and Alfa Group - at $54 billion. This year, the combined wealth of Potanin and Prokhorov is $25.3 billion, and again this is the second result after Alfa Group, but the Potanin-Prokhorov group no longer exists. Original of this material
© "Russian Forbes", 04/16/2015

200 richest businessmen in Russia - 2015

Place	Change per year	Name	Net worth, $ billion	Change over the year, $ billion	Age	Number of children
1	7	Vladimir Potanin Norilsk Nickel	15,4	+2,8	54	3
2	=	Mikhail Fridman	14,6	-3	50	2
3	-2	Alisher Usmanov Metalloinvest, Mail.ru Group, Megafon, DST Global, YuTV Holding	14,4	-4,2	61
4	-1	Victor Vekselberg IES, Oerlikon, Sulzer, Akado, Rusal	14,2	-3	58	2
5	7	Alexey Mordashov Severstal, TUI AG, Power Machines, Platypus	13	+2,5	49	6
6	1	Vagit Alekperov Lukoil	12,2	-1,4	64	1
7	-2	Leonid Mikhelson Novatek, Sibur	11,7	-3,9	59	1
8	-4	Vladimir Lisin NLMK, UCL Holding	11,6	-5	58	3
9	-3	Gennady Timchenko Novatek, Bank Russia, Transoil, Sibur	10,7	-4,6	62	3
10	1	Mikhail Prokhorov Rusal, Intergeo, MFK Bank, Brooklyn Nets	9,9	-1	49
11	-1	German Khan Alfa Bank, RWE Dea, Vimpelcom, X5 Retail Group	9,5	-1,8	53	4
12	2	Roman Abramovich Evraz Plc, Chelsea FC	9,1	0	48	7
13	-4	Andrey Melnichenko Eurochem, SUEK	9,1	-2,3	43	1
14	3	Dmitry Rybolovlev Investments	8,5	-0,3	48	2
15	-2	Sergey Galitsky Magnet	8,3	-2	47	1
16	=	Alexey Kuzmichev Alfa Bank, RWE Dea, Vimpelcom, X5 Retail Group	7,3	-1,5	52	1
17	3	Oleg Deripaska Rusal, Eurosibenergo, Ingosstrakh, Glavstroy	6,2	-0,3	47	2
18	=	Andrey Skoch Metalloinvest	5,7	-2,5	49	9
19	2	Leonid Fedun Lukoil, IFD Capital, FC Spartak	5,3	-1,2	59	2
20	2	Peter Aven	5,1	-1	60	2
21	4	Sergey Popov MDM Bank	4,6	-0,8	43	2
22	6	Alexander Abramov Evraz Plc	4,5	+0,7	56	3
23	1	Filaret Galchev Eurocement Group	4,4	-1,6	51	2
24	6	Zarakh Iliev Kyiv Square	4,3	+0,7	48	2
25	6	Year of Nisanov Kyiv Square	4,3	+0,7	42	3
26	=	Samvel Karapetyan Tashir Group	4	-0,3	49	3
27	43	Dmitry Kamenshchik Domodedovo airport	3,8	+2,4	46
28	4	Andrey Guryev Phosagro	3,5	+0,1	55	2
29	-6	Iskander Makhmudov UMMC, Transmashholding, Kuzbassrazrezugol, Transgroup	3,5	-2,6	51	1
30	7	Victor Rashnikov MMK	3,5	+0,7	66	2
31	-12	Suleiman Kerimov Polyus Gold	3,4	-3,5	49	3
32	25	Yuri Milner DST Global	3,2	+1,4	53	2
33	1	Alexander Svetakov Absolute Group	3,1	0	47	3
34	-5	Igor Kesaev Mercury Group, Dixie Group	3	-0,7	48	3
35	-20	Vladimir Yevtushenkov AFK System	2,8	-6,2	66	2
36	6	Alexander Mamut Polymetal, PIK Group	2,5	+0,2	55	3
37	-2	Alexander Nesis Polymetal, Otkritie, Opap, United Carriage Company	3	+0,5	52	4
38	-5	Mikhail Gutseriev Russneft, Russian Coal	2,4	-0,9	57	2
39	4	Alexander Ponomarenko Investments	2,4	+0,1	50	2
40	4	Alexander Skorobogatko TPS Real Estate Holding	2,4	+0,1	47	3
41	8	Vyacheslav Kantor Akron	2,3	+0,3	61	5
42	4	Igor Makarov MGK "Itera"	2,1	0	53	2
43	-5	Vasily Anisimov Coalco	2	-0,6	63	4
44	-5	Vladimir Bogdanov Surgutneftegaz	2	-0,6	63	1
45	10	Andrey Kozitsyn UMMC	2	+0,1	54	1
46	10	Aras Agalarov Crocus Group	1,9	+0,1	59	2
47	34	Vadim Moshkovich Rusagro, Augur Estate	1,9	+0,6	48	3
48	18	Alexander Frolov Evraz Plc	1,8	+0,3	50	1
49	105	Yuri Shefler SPI Group	1,75	+1,05	47	4
50	2	Mikhail Balakin SU-155	1,7	-0,2	53	1
51	=	Nikolay Buinov	1,7	+1,7	47
52	7	Igor Altushkin Russian Copper Company	1,6	-0,1	44	6
53	55	Boris Mints O1 Group	1,6	+0,6	56	4
54	-14	Danil Khachaturov Rosgosstrakh, RGS Bank	1,6	-1	43	2
55	8	Gavril Yushvaev Polyus Gold	1,6	-0,1	57	6
56	-11	Alexander Japaridze Eurasia Drilling Company	1,5	-0,6	59	5
57	12	Farhad Akhmedov	1,4	0	59	3
58	14	Petr Kondrashev Investments	1,4	0	65	2
59	14	Anatoly Lomakin Investments	1,4	0	62	2
60	-33	Arkady Rotenberg SGM Group, Mostotrest, SMP Bank	1,4	-2,6	63	5
61	17	Oleg Boyko Finstar, Ritzio International, 4finance	1,3	-0,05	50
62	-1	Andrey Kosogov Alfa Bank, RWE Dea, Vimpelcom	1,3	-0,4	54	2
63	11	Dmitry Mazepin Uralchem	1,3	-0,1	46	2
64	-17	Alexey Ananyev	1,25	-0,75	50	3
65	-17	Dmitry Ananyev Promsvyazbank, Technoserv, Promsvyazreal estate	1,25	-0,75	46	4
66	-8	Nikolay Tsvetkov FC Uralsib, Lukoil	1,25	-0,55	54	2
67	46	Valentin Gapontsev IPG Photonics	1,2	+0,25	76	1
68	11	Vladimir Gruzdev Fashion continent	1,2	-0,1	48	3
69	-2	Sergey Katsiev GC "Mercury"	1,2	-0,25	57	2
70	-17	Lev Kvetnoy Novoroscement, National Standard Bank	1,2	-0,7	49	2
71	5	Gleb Fetisov Investments	1,2	-0,2	48	3
72	30	Airat Shaimiev TAIF	1,15	+0,05	53
73	-5	Roman Avdeev Moscow Credit Bank, Veropharm, Pharmacy Chain 36.6	1,1	-0,3	47	23
74	18	Alexey Bogachev Bank System, Magnit	1,1	-0,05	44	2
75	8	Konstantin Grigorishin Energy standard	1,1	-0,15	49	3
76	-12	Yuri Gushchin Guta Groups	1,1	-0,5	70	1
77	80	Alexander Lutsenko Commonwealth	1,1	+0,45	53	2
78	7	Nikolay Maksimov Investments	1,1	-0,1	57	3
79	-43	Ziyad Manasir Stroygazconsulting	1,1	-1,7	49	5
80	17	Andrey Rappoport Investments	1,1	0	51	2
81	20	Rustem Sulteev TAIF	1,1	0	61	2
82	-31	Rustam Tariko Russian standard	1,1	-0,9	53	3
83	20	Radik Shaimiev TAIF	1,1	0	50	2
84	20	Albert Shigabutdinov TAIF	1,05	-0,05	62	2
85	21	Elena Baturina Investments	1	0	52	2
86	32	Evgeniy Kaspersky Kaspersky Lab	1	+0,1	49	4
87	-5	Zelimkhan Mutsoev	1	-0,3	55	5
88	1	Leonid Simanovsky Novatek, First United Bank	1	-0,2	65	1
89	34	Dmitry Bosov Alltek Group	0,95	+0,1	47	4
90	22	Vyacheslav Bresht Investments	0,95	0	61	1
91	93	Oleg Burlakov Burneftegaz, Stroylesbank	0,95	+0,45	65
92	32	Ruben Vardanyan Investments	0,95	+0,1	46	4
93	-39	Andrey Klyamko Smart holding	0,95	-0,95	53	1
94	44	Alexander Klyachin Investments	0,95	+0,2	47
95	34	Vladimir Kogan Oil and gas industry	0,95	+0,15	51	4
96	19	Vyacheslav Mirilashvili Investments	0,95	0	31	2
97	12	Sergey Petrov Rolf Group	0,95	-0,05	60	2
98	-4	Megdet Rakhimkulov Investments	0,95	-0,2	69	3
99	-37	Boris Rotenberg SETP, SMP Bank, Gazprom drilling	0,95	-0,75	58	4
100	19	Anatoly Skurov Investments	0,95	+0,05	62	2
101	=	Victor Kharitonin Pharmstandard	0,95	+0,95	42	2
102	-11	David Yakobashvili Investments	0,95	-0,25	58	1
103	13	Ruslan Baysarov Investments	0,9	0	46	4
104	-39	Andrey Bokarev Kuzbassrazrezugol, Transgroup, Transmashholding, UMMC	0,9	-0,6	48	1
105	-7	Nikolay Sarkisov RESO-Garantiya	0,9	-0,2	46	6
106	-7	Sergey Sarkisov RESO-Garantiya	0,9	-0,2	55	5
107	14	Roman Trotsenko AEON Corporation	0,9	0	44	2
108	6	Georgy Gens Lanit, Russian Credit", Inventive Retail Group	0,85	-0,1	60	2
109	-13	Sergey Kislov South of Rus', Novoshakhtinsky Oil Products Plant	0,85	-0,25	54	3
110	-24	Nikita Mishin Globaltrans, Global Ports	0,85	-0,35	43	3
111	-24	Konstantin Nikolaev Globaltrans, Global Ports	0,85	-0,35	44	5
112	-22	Andrey Filatov Globaltrans, Global Ports	0,85	-0,35	43	3
113	14	Andrey Borodin Investments	0,8	0	47	3
114	-54	Arkady Volozh Yandex	0,8	-0,9	51	3
115	-22	Andrey Kuzyaev Neftserviceholding, Er-Telecom	0,8	-0,35	49	3
116	-32	Ziyaudin Magomedov Group Amount	0,8	-0,4	46	3
117	-37	Andrey Molchanov LSR Group	0,8	-0,5	43	5
118	-23	Alexey Semin ASG	0,8	-0,35	47
119	6	Igor Yakovlev Sulpak, Kari	0,8	-0,05	49	1
120	13	Albert Avdolyan Investments	0,75	0	44	4
121	13	Sergey Adoniev Investments	0,75	0	54	5
122	40	Leonid Boguslavsky ru-Net	0,75	+0,15	63	2
123	=	Dmitry Kostygin	0,75	+0,75	42
124	7	Vladimir Makhlai Togliattiazot	0,75	-0,05	77	2
125	16	Nikolai Olshansky Investments	0,75	0	75
126	-38	Alexander Putilov Eurasia Drilling Company	0,75	-0,45	62	2
127	26	Zakhar Smushkin Ilim Group, Start Development	0,75	+0,05	53	1
128	-23	Mikhail Abyzov Ru-Com Group	0,7	-0,3	42	3
129	3	Andrey Rogachev Investments	0,7	-0,1	51	2
130	19	David Davidovich Investments	0,65	-0,05	52	2
131	19	Ilya Zubarev	0,65	-0,05	40
132	-61	Yuri Kovalchuk Bank Russia, Sogaz, National Media Group, STS Media, Tele2 Russia	0,65	-0,75	63	1
133	-26	Dmitry Korzhev O'Key Group	0,65	-0,35	51
134	-4	Vitaly Malkin Investments	0,65	-0,15	62	3
135	=	Vitaly Mashitsky	0,65	+0,65	61
136	-86	Dmitry Pumpyansky Pipe Metallurgical Company, Sinara	0,65	-1,35	51	1
137	-27	Dmitry Troitsky O'Key Group	0,65	-0,35	50
138	-27	Sergei Tsikalyuk VSK	0,65	-0,35	56	2
139	16	Mikail Shishkhanov Binbank, Inteko	0,65	-0,05	42	4
140	6	Grigory Berezkin UST Group	0,6	-0,1	48	4
141	-13	Vladimir Gordeychuk Magnint	0,6	-0,2	53
142	6	Sait-Salam Gutseriev Real estate	0,6	-0,1	55	5
143	32	Boris Zingarevich Ilim Group, Ilim Timber	0,6	+0,05	55	2
144	-7	Telman Ismailov AST Group	0,6	-0,15	58	2
145	21	Oleg Leonov Investments	0,6	0	45
146	5	Vladimir Leshchikov 0,6	-0,1
147	=	Vladimir Melnikov 0,6	+0,6	67
148	20	Mikhail Slipenchuk Metropol Group	0,6	0	50	2
149	14	Nikolay Bortsov Investments	0,55	-0,05	69
150	41	Alexander Vagin Raspadskaya	0,55	+0,1	56	2
151	5	Alexander Girda Investments	0,55	-0,1	54
152	=	Sergey Gordeev CG "PIK"	0,55	+0,55
153	21	Andrey Dobrov Investments	0,55	0	52	3
154	22	Arsen Kanokov Sindika	0,55	0	58	3
155	40	Gennady Kozovoy Raspadskaya	0,55	+0,1	64	2
156	21	Petr Kolbin Investments	0,55	0	63
157	21	Mikhail Nikolaev Investments	0,55	0	56	4
158	-32	Andrey Andreev Badoo	0,5	-0,3	41
159	21	Deni Bazhaev	0,5	0	19
160	21	Musa Bazhaev Alliance Oil Company, Russian Platinum, Amur Gold	0,5	0	48	4
161	29	Vadim Belyaev FC Otkritie (24.9%)	0,5	+0,05	48
162	-45	Vladimir Gridin Siberian Business Union	0,5	-0,4	59	4
163	-23	Mikhail Kusnirovich Bosco di Ciliegi	0,5	-0,25	48	2
164	3	Alexander Rakshin Maria-Ra	0,5	-0,1	63	2
165	-5	Victor Remsha	0,5	-0,15	44
166	=	Igor Rotenberg	0,5	+0,5	41
167	2	Alexander Smuzikov Investments	0,5	-0,1	43	3
168	-48	Konstantin Strukov Yuzhuralzoloto	0,5	-0,4	56	2
169	-94	Oleg Tinkov Tinkoff Credit Systems	0,5	-0,9	47	3
170	-48	Alexander Tynkovan M Video	0,5	-0,4	47	2
171	-94	Vladimir Shcherbakov Avtotor	0,5	-0,9	65	1
172	10	Andrey Beskhmelnitsky Danone-Unimilk	0,45	-0,05	48	3
173	10	Andrey Blokh Danone-Unimilk	0,45	-0,05	51	3
174	=	Valentin Bukhtoyarov Sibuglemet	0,45	+0,45	60	2
175	=	Sergey Kolesnikov TechnoNIKOL	0,45	+0,45	43	4
176	=	Vladimir Melnichenko Sibuglemet	0,45	+0,45	64	3
177	=	Igor Rybakov TechnoNIKOL	0,45	+0,45	43	4
178	=	Nikolay Skorokhodov	0,45	+0,45
179	=	Dmitry Strezhnev	0,45	-0,1	47	2
180	=	Sergei Studennikov 0,45		+0,45	48
181	18	Gregory Finger Mail.ru Group	0,45	0	49	1
182	-37	Grigory Anikeev ABI Group	0,4	-0,3	43
183	=	Olga Belyavtseva Manufacturer of baby food and mineral water OJSC Progress (35%), funds from the sale of shares of OJSC Lebedyansky	0,4	+0,4	45	3
184	8	Sergey Generalov Investments	0,4	-0,05	51	1
185	-21	Alexey Isaikin	0,4	-0,2	62
186	=	Igor Kudryashkin UMMC	0,4	+0,4	53	1
187	=	Egor Kulkov Pharmstandard	0,4	+0,4	43
188	-23	Alexander Lebedev National Reserve Bank	0,4	-0,2	55	3
189	7	Vladimir Litvinenko Phosagro	0,4	-0,05	59	1
190	-32	Sergey Nesterenko	0,4	-0,25
191	-32	Alexey Petrov	0,4	-0,25	43
192	-40	Vladimir Polyakov Concern Energomera	0,4	-0,3	61	1
193	-51	Serik Rakhmetov Globalstroy-Engineering, Eurasia Drilling Company	0,4	-0,35	65
194	-94	Anatoly Sedykh United Metallurgical Company	0,4	-0,7	50	2
195	-34	Oleg Smirnov	0,4	-0,25
196	-8	Sergey Solonin	0,4	-0,1	41
197	-27	Ivan Tavrin YuTV Holding	0,4	-0,2	38
198	-55	Mikhail Fedyaev Siberian Business Union	0,4	-0,35	52	2
199	-27	Igor Khudokormov Prodimex	0,4	-0,2	46	2
200	=	Eduard Chukhlebov UMMC	0,4	+0,4	52

What we thought

Forbes has been ranking the world's largest fortunes for decades. To do this, the magazine uses a specially developed methodology, the basis of which is as follows:

1. Our assessment of the entrepreneur’s condition is the value of the assets he owns: shares of companies, land plots, real estate, as well as personal property, etc.

2. All public companies are valued by market capitalization. Closed companies are valued based on information about sales, profits, and equity; a comparison is made with similar companies that are traded on the stock exchange or have been the subject of purchase and sale in the recent past. We try to be conservative and evaluate the property of entrepreneurs on the principle of “at least not cheaper.”

3. In this list, the price of companies is fixed as of February 13, 2015. The ages of the list participants are as of April 15, 2015

4. Russian entrepreneurs often transfer shares of their enterprises to their closest relatives. Given this circumstance, Forbes attributes all assets managed by an entrepreneurial family to the head of the family - if the relatives do not actively participate in the management of the company of which they are co-owners.

5. The list includes only those Russian citizens who earned the bulk of their capital privately, without being a civil servant.

6. The list includes only the 200 richest businessmen in Russia, the bottom of the ranking is $400 million. If you do not find any famous entrepreneur on the list, then Forbes estimates his wealth at less than $400 million.

The information provided in the Forbes rating is an expert and journalistic assessment of the total volume of property ownership by these persons. This information is not official and can only be used privately.

The number of billionaires in the world continues to grow. As Forbes magazine notes, the combined wealth of the world's richest people is now $6.5 trillion - that's 30% of the total GDP of the United States, which still occupies a leading position in terms of economic volume.

By the way, despite the fact that in recent years not only the number of billionaires has increased, but also the geography of their origin has expanded, the bulk of the list of rich people is still represented by immigrants from the USA and some European countries, to which several billionaires from Asia have now been added who have amassed their fortune like Bill Gates.

15. Li Ka-shing, net worth: $33.5 billion

The 86-year-old billionaire is one of the richest men in all of Asia and has maintained his position as Hong Kong's richest man for 17 years. He became famous for his numerous investments in the Internet. In his own words: “A person who invests in the development of technology feels younger.” Despite the fact that Li Ka-shing had been involved in real estate for a long time (his companies built every seventh apartment in Hong Kong) and cargo transportation, in 2007, without hesitation, he invested $120 million in Facebook, receiving in return a share of 0.8%. Prior to this, in 2005, his company Horizons invested in the then unprofitable Skype, which was bought by eBay the next year for $2.5 billion, and in 2009, Lee invested $7.5 million in the Siri project, which was also bought by Apple the next year.

14. Jeff Bezos, net worth $34.4 billion

The founder of the online giant Amazon, Jeff Bezos, made a fortune selling goods over the Internet. In just five years, he built a virtual hope factory with billions in turnover. Bezos owes his success to ingenuity and speed - Amazon began full-fledged work in 1995, just at the moment when crowds poured onto the Internet, and competitors had not yet managed to create full-fledged websites, so speed was more important than design or technical innovations. And then the company continued its active development, based on two things: Bezos’ perfectionism and the company’s focus on the end consumer. As the Amazon founder liked to say, “I like to take ordinary things and improve them to the point where people think, Wow, this is completely different.” Currently, Jeff Bezos' assets also include the aerospace company Blue Origin and the publishing house The Washington Post.

13. Arnaud Bernard, net worth $36.8 billion

He is the richest Frenchman in the world and heads Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), a world leader in the production and sale of luxury goods since 1989. His company includes such well-known brands as Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Givenchy, Hennessy, Guerlain, Chaumet, Moët & Chandon, TAG Heuer. Now the businessman is actively investing in Internet enterprises, despite the fact that these investments are not yet very profitable for him. He says: “The Internet economy has a great future. Although I can guarantee that in a hundred years people will still be drinking Dom Perignon champagne. But I don’t know what kind of Internet they will use.” Arnault began to build his empire on the idea of ​​​​concentrating various brands, united by their belonging to the luxury class. In an increasingly globalized economy, promoting and maintaining one individual brand requires a lot of money; Having an entire portfolio of brands in the hands of one company helps to significantly reduce costs. The tight-fisted Arno, even when selling luxury goods, wanted to save money.

There are not many politicians in the world who can also boast of the status of a dollar billionaire. One such person is Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York. After Bloomberg was fired from a large company, he decided to start his own business and in 1981, Innovative Market Systems was born, which in the future would be renamed Bloomberg LP. At the same time, the company's starting capital amounted to $10 million. The idea was to provide various business information to companies, including financial information. But do this not like other companies at that time - chaotically, but in a structured way, highlighting current trends. As Bloomberg himself said: “I would make a terrible venture capitalist; I would view any company as overvalued. I never doubted that it was much cheaper to create my own.”

11. Samuel Robson Walton, net worth: $39.1 billion

What began as a family business with a few shops in the 1960s has grown into a global empire of 6,500 supermarkets. Sam Walton, who started the business, died in 1992, leaving his share of the company as an inheritance to his wife and four children. S. Robson Walton is the current chairman of the board of directors. In general, Sam Walton's heirs own about forty percent of the shares in Wal-Mart (as the company is now called). Wal-Mart is the world's largest retail chain, with approximately 6,782 stores in 14 countries. These are hypermarkets and supermarkets selling food and industrial goods. Wal-Mart's strategy includes such components as maximum assortment and minimum prices, aiming for wholesale prices.

10. Alice Walton, net worth: $39.6 billion

The widow and daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of the Wal-Mart chain, is one of the heirs of the corporation. The Walton family has ancient roots and is one of the most influential families in the United States of America. She has many brothers: Rob Walton, John Walton, Jim Walton. The entire Walton family is involved in business and has enormous influence in the world. However, Sam Walton's only daughter did not want to get involved in the family business for a long time, so for some time she was engaged in brokerage activities. Now she is a well-known art collector, as well as one of the largest sponsors of contemporary artists. As Alice herself believes: “Each of us builds and destroys our existence in its own rhythm. We age not because time flows, but depending on the energy we consume and partially renew.”

9. Liliane Bettencourt, net worth: $40.2 billion

As the daughter of the founder of L"Oreal - the world's largest cosmetics company - Liliane Bettencourt inherited a huge fortune. The company was divided into shared ownership: 27.5% went to Liliane Bettencourt, 26.4% to Nestlé, and 46.1% are put up for public auction, which can be purchased by anyone. Liliane Betancourt is the second richest person in France after Bernard Arnault. Among Liliane’s outstanding achievements is the creation of a fund to support the education and development of science and culture of the country, as well as. financing conservative politicians, including Nicolas Sarkozy. The favorite phrase of the queen of the beauty empire is the expression “Money still smells.”

8. Jim Walton, net worth: $40.6 billion

Jim is the youngest son in the Walton family. He started his career in one of his father's stores. At first, he arranged goods on shelves and racks, then he was entrusted with more and more responsible tasks. Having gained experience, he could already lead well. And after the death of his father in 1992, Jim began to manage his company together with his brothers, which was inherited by them. In 2005, after the death of his older brother John, Jim Walton took the helm of the company. As a person, Jim Walton is described by friends as quiet, even-tempered and modest. In life he is content with what is necessary and does not spend money on luxury. As Jim himself says: “It really takes dedication to achieve great results.”

7. Christy Walton, net worth: $41.7 billion

Unlike other Walmart CEOs, Christy entered the Walton family as the wife, and now widow, of John Walton. While her wealth is mostly tied to Walmart (the chain makes over $400 billion in annual sales), she also makes a significant portion of her money from investments she made in First Solar. Christie's husband, John Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005. Since then, Christie has not spared money for charity, providing assistance to the National Workers Association, and making donations to the donor association. Christie believes that "family values ​​come first."

6. Charles and David Koch, net worth $42.1 billion

The Koch brothers inherited Koch Industries from their father Fred, the company's founder. Now it is one of the largest companies in the United States. According to the data, in 2013 the company's turnover was $115 billion. The brothers managed to make enemies in the States, many people called them "pigs", for example, Chris Matthews, a popular host of the MSNBC channel), and protesters during the election race walked around with Koch Kills signs . It is not surprising that despite investing heavily in Republican candidates in the last election, the brothers lost. However, they are not going to give up and will try their hand at the next elections. As Charles Koch said: “The main power of power is the ability to coerce. My brother and I do not have such power.”

5. Larry Ellison, net worth: $54.3 billion

Larry Ellison is the founder and CEO of the huge software company Oracle. He is known for his impulsive behavior and extravagant entertainment, for example, Ellison loves speed, and therefore bought himself an Italian Marchetti fighter jet. In the early 70s, Ellison worked for a small company - Amtex. When he moved there, he already knew how to develop powerful databases that took into account various types of payments and almost all banking transactions. It is with his developments at Amtex that the history of the Oracle company begins - it was under this name that, while working at Amtex, he created an incredibly convenient, multifunctional and almost perfect database. Business, according to Larry, is “first of all, achieving the first step on the Victory Pedestal, and in this case the end always justifies the means.”

4. Amancio Ortega, net worth $63.2 billion

Amancio Ortega is the richest man in Spain, fashion designer, founder and president of the company Industria de Diseno Textil Sociedad Anonima. Inditex Corporation is the largest retail chain in the world, owning brands such as Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqüe, with approximately 4,907 stores in 77 countries. The Western press calls Amancio Ortega the Spanish Sphinx. There are other epithets that are also readily replicated: the man-legend, the man-mystery, the uncrowned king of design. And they are all true - none of them can be considered an exaggeration. Not only because the success formula invented by Ortega, which raised him to the global business Olympus, not only cannot be implemented, but even completely unraveled. The takeover of world markets by Spanish brands has even given rise to the saying: “Soon we will all look a little Spanish.”

3. Carlos Slim Helu, net worth: $69.5 billion

Carlos Slim Helu is a billionaire, otherwise called the “Mexican Rockefeller,” the owner of the largest holding company in Latin America, the telephone company America Mobil. In addition to telecommunications, Elu has also invested in retail, media and emerging technologies. Among his latest major acquisitions is the purchase of a controlling stake in Telekom Austria, with which he hopes to expand his influence in Central and Eastern Europe. One of Elu's most famous quotes was the phrase: "In business, you have to be flexible. Many people want to change the world for the better for their children. I'm trying to change my children for the better so that they can serve the world."

2. Warren Buffett, worth $73.5 billion

Having taken up investing at the age of 11, Buffett has become famous as a major investor and financial expert. As Buffett said: “Never invest in a business you don’t understand.” Most of his wealth came from his chairmanship of Berkshire Hathaway. One of his last major purchases was Hainz, which he acquired in 2013 for $28 billion. During his career, Buffett acquired such nicknames as “The Seer,” “The Wizard of Omaha,” “The Oracle of Omaha,” and “The Largest Philanthropist in History.” humanity." He made the bulk of his donations through the Bill Gates Charitable Foundation.

1. Bill Gates, worth $79.3 billion

The founder of Microsoft again took first place in the ranking of the richest people in the world. Everyone knows that Gates' billions were amassed during the technology boom, when he was programming and developing computers. He also became famous as an investor and philanthropist - together with his wife Melinda, they created a large fund, where they have already invested more than $28 billion. He believes that the future belongs to technologically advanced companies: “In the future, there will be two types of companies on the market: those who are on the Internet , and those who went out of business."

1. Bill Gates

State:$79.2 billion

Change over the year:+$3.2 billion

A country: USA

Bill Gates is back at the top of the Forbes global list for the 16th time in the last 21 years. He regained leadership in 2014 after four years of dominance by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu. Previously, the fortune of the Microsoft founder was concentrated in the shares of his “native” corporation, but gradually, over the past 15 years, the entrepreneur has been consistently reducing his stake in the software giant. Over the past year, Gates's stake has lost another third, including due to the transfer of $1.5 billion in securities to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in November 2014. In total, the businessman has already allocated $30.7 billion to philanthropic projects. The billionaire’s philanthropic activities, unprecedented in scale, are aimed at improving the quality of education in the United States and combating epidemics and poverty in third world countries, primarily on the African continent.

2. Carlos Slim Elu and family

State:$77.1 billion

Change over the year:+$5.1 billion

A country: Mexico

Carlos Slim Helu remains Bill Gates' closest pursuer in pursuit of the title of the world's richest man, despite a difficult environment: Mexican authorities are gradually tightening antitrust laws in the telecommunications industry - the area that brought Slim his wealth. In June 2014, the entrepreneur spent $5.6 billion to buy out AT&T Corporation's share in the pan-American mobile operator America Movil - this is the largest asset in Slim's business empire. Together with his children, the billionaire owns a controlling stake in the company. But AT&T continues to compete with it: in January 2015, the American telecom giant bought the operator Grupo Iusacell from another Mexican tycoon, Ricardo Salinas Pliego.

Among Slim's other large assets is the developer Innmeubles Carso, which in December 2014 delisted and paid $450 million to minority shareholders. The Mexican is also the largest shareholder of The New York Times publishing house. In January 2015, he increased his share in the influential publishing house to 17% and retained options for further expansion. The billionaire controls the industrial conglomerate Grupo Carso, the financial Grupo Financiero Inbursa and the infrastructure Ideal.

3. Warren Buffett

State:$72.7 billion

Change over the year:+$14.5 billion

A country: USA

Warren Buffett is richer than ever in 2015, but this is not enough to regain Silver in the Forbes global ranking. The “Oracle of Omaha” is not slowing down thanks to the successful activities of his investment empire Berkshire Hathaway - in August 2014, the company's Class A shares, already the most expensive among those traded on the US stock exchange, reached the psychological mark of $200,000 per share for the first time in history. Dozens of Buffett-controlled businesses operate in the railroad, insurance, energy and other industries. Berkshire's revenue in 2013 was $182 billion, net profit - $19.5 billion. Despite his advanced age, the businessman has not lost his taste for big deals: in November 2014, his company bought battery manufacturer Duracell from Procter & Gamble for $4.7 billion .

A generous philanthropist, Buffett broke his own philanthropic record in July 2014 - he donated a block of Berkshire shares worth a fantastic $2.8 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a number of charitable organizations controlled by him. In total, the businessman’s donations reached $23 billion.

Buffett still cites reading Benjamin Graham's 1949 book The Intelligent Investor as the best investment of his life. Graham later became a mentor to a young talented entrepreneur. In 1962, Buffett moved to Nebraska, where he undertook to revive the business of the stagnating textile company Berkshire Hathaway. By 2015, the modest enterprise had grown into the fourth largest corporation in the world by market capitalization, worth $335 billion.

5. Larry Ellison

State:$54.3 billion

Change over the year:+$6.3 billion

A country: USA

Larry Ellison is a true Silicon Valley rock star. He grew up in his great-aunt's house in Chicago and never met his father. A talented software developer, early in his career he worked for the CIA, after which he founded Oracle in 1977. The company has since grown into a global player with revenue of $38.3 billion (based on 2014 results). In September 2014, Ellison announced his intention to leave the post of CEO of his “native” corporation and retain the positions of director of technology development and chairman of the board of directors.

A fan of sailing, the billionaire is one of the largest sponsors of specialized competitions in the United States. He is also a keen real estate buyer. For example, for $300 million in 2012, a businessman purchased the Hawaiian island of Lanai - he owns every hotel room in this paradise. Ellison's daughter Megan is a successful film producer. Her studio, Annapurna Pictures, was behind the Oscar-winning Zero Dark Thirty and American Hustle.

6. Charles Koch

State:$42.9 billion

Change over the year:+$2.9 billion

A country: USA

Charles Koch and his brother David are one of the most influential figures in American business, philanthropy and politics. Their family holding Koch Industries continued to absorb more and more new assets in 2014, completing more than $5 billion in transactions. Charles serves as chairman of the board of directors, overseeing the intensive growth of the business since 1967. Koch Industries is the second largest privately held US company after Cargill, with interests ranging from pipeline construction and oil refining to building materials and paper towels.

Outside of business, the brothers are generous donors to the Republican Party, each spending about $2.5 million in the 2014 midterm elections alone. By 2016, the Kochs, with the support of other wealthy conservatives, hope to raise $1 billion for the Republican candidate's presidential campaign.

Among the main charitable projects of billionaires is support for educational institutions. In mid-2014, for example, they issued a $25 million grant to a fund to support African-American students.

7. David Koch

State:$42.9 billion

Change over the year:+$2.9 billion

A country: USA

The largest taxpayer in New York, David Koch, on a parity basis with his brother Charles, owns the diversified holding Koch Industries with revenue of $115 billion. The second largest private company in the United States is engaged in the construction of pipelines, oil refining, production of building materials, paper towels and many other goods. In 2014, Koch Industries completed more than $5 billion in deals, including acquisitions of printing ink maker Flint Group for $3 billion and logistics company PetroLogistics for $2.1 billion.

In September 2014, the New York Metropolitan Museum named one of the squares on its territory after David Koch - he had previously donated $65 million for the reconstruction of the institution. Also, together with his brother, David actively finances the Republican Party and is engaged in charitable activities.

8. Christy Walton and family

State:$41.7 billion

Change over the year:+$5 billion

A country: USA

Christy Walton has won the title of richest woman on the planet for the fifth time in six years. She inherited her fortune from her late husband John Walton, a member of the world's richest family. A retired military medic, he died in a plane crash in 2005. John secured financial leadership for his widow within the Walton clan through a far-sighted investment in solar panel manufacturer First Solar. But the core of Christie's fortune remains her stake in Wal-Mart, the world's largest retail chain founded by her father-in-law Sam Walton and his brother James in 1962. John Walton's widow received $470 million in dividends from the company in 2014 alone.

Christie prefers to live a quiet lifestyle in the town of Jackson, Wyoming. She received an award from the Imagen Foundation as a producer of the film “Bless Me, Ultima,” an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Rudolfo Anaya. It is known that Christie’s son survived cancer as a child, and she herself suffered severe pneumonia.

9. Jim Walton

State:$40.6 billion

Change over the year:+$5.9 billion

A country: USA

Wal-Mart board member Jim Walton is the youngest son of the legendary founder of the world's largest retailer, Sam Walton. In 2014, the company's revenue amounted to $473 billion; the Wal-Mart network already has more than 11,000 stores in 27 countries. In February 2015, the retailer agreed to increase the US minimum wage to $9 per hour in 2015 and to $10 per hour in 2016. But union lawyers are fighting for the $15 limit.

Jim also manages the family bank Arvest Bank, whose assets are estimated at $15 billion. The value of the lending institution, which has branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, is $1.8 billion, with net profit in 2013 of $130 million.

10. Liliane Bettencourt and family

State:$40.1 billion

Change over the year:+$5.6 billion

A country: France

The grand dame of the L’Oreal cosmetics empire and the richest woman in Europe, despite her advanced age and conflicts with her heirs, became even richer this year than last: she bought 8% of the company from Nestlé and increased the family stake to 33%. Bettencourt is the daughter of L’Oreal founder Eugene Scheller, who created the brand in 1907. For several years, she was removed from the business decision-making process: her daughter Francoise Bettencourt-Meyer proved in court in 2011 that her mother was not able to adequately manage the company’s affairs. Lilian was diagnosed with age-related memory problems, so in 2012 she had to give up her seat on the board of directors to her 25-year-old grandson Jean-Victor Meyer. In 2015, a trial began against a gang of fraudsters who defrauded Bettencourt of hundreds of millions of euros.

11. Alice Walton

State:$39.4 billion

Change over the year:+$5 billion

A country: USA

Alice Walton is the third heiress of the Wal-Mart business empire in the top 20 of the Forbes world ranking. The daughter of company founder Sam Walton, who created the network in 1962, is, however, far from being an entrepreneur. Her life's work is collecting and patronizing artists. In 2011, Alison opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, which brought together under one roof the works of such artists as Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe, Norman Rockwell, and others. In 2014, the museum campus added a house from New Jersey designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Walton also donated many paintings from her personal collection to her “native” museum.

The Wal-Mart heiress is known as one of the most generous donors to the Republican Party, although she often finances events held in preparation for the presidential campaign of her good old friend Hillary Clinton.

12. Robson Walton

State:$39.1 billion

Change over the year:+$4.9 billion

A country: USA

The last member of America's wealthiest dynasty in the top 20, Robson is the only one involved in running the Wal-Mart chain founded by his father Sam Walton: he chairs the company's board of directors and defends the interests of the family from attacks from unions, competitors and the press. Today, the Wal-Mart business empire consists of 11,000 stores around the world and revenue of $473 billion (2014, +1.6% compared to 2013). Robson also has his own investment company - Madrone Capital Partners. She owns a stake in the Hyatt Hotels hotel chain worth $600 million. Before joining the family business empire, the billionaire managed to rise to the status of partner in the Conner & Winters law firm in Oklahoma. In 2012, Robson Walton had an accident on the track in a racing Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe - there are only five such cars in the world, each worth $15 million.

13. Bernard Arnault

State:$37.2 billion

Change over the year:+$3.7 billion

A country: France

Under the umbrella of the luxury empire of the French magnate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), 60 iconic brands have united, including Dom Perignon, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, etc. Arnault has been the CEO of the corporation since 1989. He takes his role as a trendsetter seriously: “I see myself as a conduit for the French heritage, an ambassador of French culture throughout the world.” Today LVMH is a public company with revenues of $35 billion, but for a long time it was a family business. Arnault began selling luxury goods in 1984, when he, who came from the family of a wealthy builder, bought the company that managed, among other things, the Christian Dior brand, for $15 million. Now Bernard's business is continued by his children - son Antoine and daughter Delphine. Antoine chairs the board of directors of knitwear manufacturer Loro Piana and manages the shoe brand Berluti. Delphine is already executive vice president of Louis Vuitton, LVMH's most profitable brand. The Christian Dior brand is especially important for the corporation - it is through this company that Arnault controls all of LVMH. He also has a stake in the Carrefour retail chain.

Among the billionaire’s “non-business” hobbies is collecting. In October 2014, he opened a private museum of the Louis Vuitton Foundation in the suburbs of Paris - the construction of a building designed by Frank Gehry cost $135 million. It displays exhibits from the collections of LVMH brands that have had a particular influence on modern culture, as well as art from Arnault's personal collection.

The owner of LVMH is married to pianist Hélène Mercier, the couple has three children (not counting Antoine and Delphine, the eldest children from the businessman’s first marriage).

State:$35.5 billion

Change over the year:+$2.5 billion

A country: USA

Michael Bloomberg left the post of mayor of New York at the end of 2013 and, despite repeated promises to devote the rest of his life to charitable activities, returned to business in 2015 - as CEO of the financial information agency Bloomberg LP he founded (revenue in 2014 - $9 billion ).

The future billionaire was born in Boston. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Business School and began his career on Wall Street in 1966. At the investment bank Salomon Brothers, Bloomberg worked his way up from an intern to the head of the stock trading and information services departments. In 1981, with the takeover of the company, the talented financier went free. Together with three business partners, he founded Bloomberg LP and sold his first information technology to Merrill Lynch that same year.

Bloomberg has a reputation as one of the most generous philanthropists in the United States: he has given a total of $3.8 billion to charitable causes, including $1 billion to his alma mater and $100 million to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fight polio. The billionaire also received the status of UN Special Ambassador for Cities and Climate Change.

15. Jeff Bezos

State:$34.8 billion

Change over the year:+$2.8 billion

A country: USA

Despite the not-so-successful year for Amazon.com, the founder of the world's leading online store continues to strengthen his position in the Forbes ranking. Bezos is increasingly being reproached by investors for not growing his business fast enough, and he failed to launch the Amazon smartphone, which turned out to be unnecessary for consumers. At the same time, “Transparent,” the company’s first experience in creating TV series, received a number of prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe for best television drama. The assault on the movie business is sure to continue in 2015 - and this is just one of the new directions in which Bezos is constantly moving.

The businessman, who still controls an 18% stake in his company, founded Amazon in 1994 after studying software engineering at Princeton and working for hedge fund D.E. Shaw. Since then, his humble bookstore has grown into an online outlet for an incredibly wide range of products and services.

17. Li Ka-shing

State:$33.3 billion

Change over the year:+$2.3 billion

A country: Hong Kong

The richest man in Asia launched a global restructuring of his business empire in 2015. In January, he announced plans to list two new companies - CKH Holdings, which will accumulate non-property assets, and CK Property, which will include property assets, respectively. Before the double IPO, Li Ka-shing will have to carry out a number of transactions between his own companies in order to properly “package” the business. The ultimate goal is to make it more transparent to investors and less dependent on the founder. We are talking about companies in retail, logistics, technology, oil production and other industries, which together employ 270,000 people in 52 countries.

In 2014, the billionaire was remembered for his pacifying appeal to student protesters in Hong Kong: instead of supporting the oppositional fervor of young people, Li Ka-shing advised the protesters to go home in order to “prevent momentary emotional urges from turning into long years of regret.”

18. Sheldon Adelson

State:$31.4 billion

Change over the year:-$6.6 billion

A country: USA

Gambling king Sheldon Adelson is becoming an increasingly active political lobbyist ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He has already placed his bet on South Carolina Republican candidate Lindsey Graham. In total, the billionaire's political expenses last year amounted to about $100 million. To avoid being branded as an ossified conservative, Adelson made attempts to revive his image - for example, together with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, he wrote an editorial column in The New York Times in defense of immigration reform. “We consider it crazy that the United States invites smart and motivated people to the country to give them an education, often subsidizing their studies - and all this only to deport them after receiving a diploma,” the billionaires were surprised.

Adelson's main business - managing the world's largest casino chain, Las Vegas Sands - has stalled this year due to the loss of momentum in Macau's gambling boom. To revive the market, from the beginning of 2015, the billionaire personally took over the post of CEO of not only the parent structure, but also its Asian division, Las Vegas Sands China.

Adelson grew up in an apartment building in cramped conditions, and his first business was a newspaper stand, opened at the age of 12 with $200 borrowed from his uncle. Since then, the entrepreneur has tried dozens of different projects, from selling real estate to organizing conferences. In 1995, he sold his technology conference project Comdex for $862 million and bought his first casino and hotel in Vegas for $1.5 billion. During the 2008-2009 crisis, Adelson lost 85% of his fortune (it dropped to $3.4 billion), but thanks to a timely bet on Macau, he won back all his losses and earned new billions.

19. Larry Page

State:$29.7 billion

Change over the year:-$2.6 billion

A country: USA

Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page spent another year at the helm of the most powerful company of the digital era. In addition to dominating the Internet search market (65% share of the global market), Google has also conquered the mobile device market thanks to its Android operating system, installed on more than a billion gadgets, that is, every seventh inhabitant of the Earth. Under Page, the company completed a number of major transactions, including the acquisition of thermostat maker Nest for $3.2 billion and video cameras Dropcam for $555 million. In October 2014, the billionaire transferred most of the operational work to Google Vice President Sundar Pichai, while he focused on long-term strategy issues. An ardent supporter of alternative energy, in his mansions in Palo Alto, Page uses fuel cells, geothermal energy and even uses rainwater to run the farm. In November 2014, the head of Google donated $15 million to fight the Ebola virus.

The American magazine Forbes on Monday, March 2, published its annual ranking of the world's richest billionaires. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates retained first place on the list. Forbes estimated his fortune at $79.2 billion.

Second place, as in 2014, is occupied by Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim. His fortune is estimated at $77.1 billion. Third place was taken by investor Warren Buffett with a fortune estimated at $72.7 billion.

The main owner of Inditex (brands Zara, Massimo Dutti, etc.) Amancio Ortega moved from third to fourth place. Forbes estimated the Spaniard's fortune at $64.5 billion. Oracle founder Larry Ellison closes the list of the five richest people in the world with a fortune estimated at $54.3 billion.

In total, the American Forbes list in 2015 included 1,826 people. Their combined wealth is $7.05 trillion, $600 billion more than a year earlier. The average wealth of a participant in the 2015 rating is $3.86 billion, $60 million less than in 2014.

There are 197 women in the ranking. Among women, Wal-Mart co-owner Christy Walton leads the ranking. She ranks eighth in the overall ranking with a fortune of $41.7 billion, followed by L'Oreal owner Liliane Bettencourt (No. 10, $40.1 billion) and Christy Walton's husband's sister Alice Walton (No. 11, $39.4 billion).

The youngest member of the ranking was the 24-year-old co-founder of the Snapchat messenger Evan Spiegel (No. 1250, $1.5 billion). The oldest member of the list is 99 years old. This is David Rockefeller Sr., ranked 603rd with a fortune estimated at $3 billion.

A record 290 newcomers were included in the Forbes list in 2015 (71 of them from China). Among the newcomers are Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes (No. 365, $4.5 billion), Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky (No. 1006, $1.9 billion), Snapchat founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy (together No. 1250, $1.5 billion). , basketball player Michael Jordan (No. 1741, $1 billion).

The ranking of the world's richest people, published on March 2 by the American magazine Forbes, included 88 Russian billionaires - 33 less than in 2014. The richest of them, according to Forbes, was the president of the Interros holding, Vladimir Potanin. His fortune is estimated at $15.4 billion, and he ranks 60th in the ranking of the richest people in the world. In 2014, in the Forbes ranking of the 200 richest Russians, Potanin was ranked eighth, and his fortune was estimated at $12.6 billion.

Second place in the list of the richest Russians, with a small gap from the leader, was taken by the head of the supervisory board of Alfa Group, Mikhail Fridman. Forbes estimated Friedman's fortune at $14.6 billion and ranked him 68th in the global ranking of billionaires. Fridman has held second place in the ranking of the richest Russians since 2013.

In third place on the list of the richest Russians is the main shareholder of USM Holdings, Alisher Usmanov. Usmanov topped the Forbes list of the richest Russians from 2011 to 2014. Forbes now estimates the billionaire's fortune at $14.4 billion. He ranks 71st in the Forbes global ranking.

Forbes estimated the fortune of Renova group co-owner Viktor Vekselberg at $14.2 billion. The billionaire ranks fourth on the Russian list and 73rd on the global list. Severstal CEO Alexey Mordashov became fifth in the list of the richest Russians and 89th in the global ranking. His fortune is estimated at $13 billion.

Following them on the list are Lukoil President Vagit Alekperov (net worth: $12.2 billion), Novatek co-owner Leonid Mikhelson ($11.7 billion), NLMK owner Vladimir Lisin ($11.6 billion), main shareholder of Volga Resources Group Gennady Timchenko ($10.7 billion) and owner of the Onexim group Mikhail Prokhorov ($9.9 billion). The top twenty richest Russians according to Forbes also included co-owner of Alfa Group German Khan ($9.5 billion), co-owner of Evraz Roman Abramovich ($9.1 billion), owner of Eurochem Andrei Melnichenko ($9.1 billion), ex- owner of Uralkali Dmitry Rybolovlev ($8.5 billion), founder of Magnit Sergei Galitsky ($8.3 billion), shareholder of Alfa Group Alexey Kuzmichev ($7.3 billion), president of Rusal Oleg Deripaska ($6. 2 billion), State Duma deputy Andrei Skoch ($5.7 billion), Vice President of Lukoil Leonid Fedun ($5.3 billion) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alfa Bank Petr Aven ($5.1 billion).

The only woman on the list of Russian billionaires is the wife of the ex-mayor of Moscow, Elena Baturina. Forbes estimated her fortune at $1 billion (No. 1741).