NewsRecord number of Russian billionaires amid sanctions, Forbes reveals

Record number of Russian billionaires amid sanctions, Forbes reveals

The owner of the oil company Lukoil, Vagit Alekperov, was recognized as the wealthiest Russian.

Images source: © East News | MAXIM SHIPENKOV

3 April 2024 12:27

Despite sanctions imposed by the West on Russia for over two years following its invasion of Ukraine, the number of Russian billionaires is currently the highest in history. The American magazine "Forbes" has listed as many as 125 Russians in its list of the world's wealthiest people, noted the independent Russian portal Meduza.

In 2021, "Forbes" included 121 Russian citizens in the billionaires group. The following year, due to Western economic restrictions imposed on the Kremlin, this number decreased to 88. In 2023, however, it increased to 110, and in 2024 - to 125, setting a record, reports Meduza.

On Tuesday, Forbes announced a new list of billionaires. It featured 2,781 entries, 141 more than the previous year. The richest are Americans, taking up 813 spots in the ranking. Following the United States, China is in second place—473 spots (including Hong Kong)—and India has 200 billionaires.

Musk dethroned due to Tesla's results

At the top of the list is Bernard Arnault, the head of the French luxury goods company LVMH (LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) (£190 billion). Elon Musk (£159 billion) took second place. He was dethroned due to poorer Tesla results and was the former number one in the richest club. In third place is Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, and in fourth place is Facebook's creator, Mark Zuckerberg.

The wealthiest Russian is recognized as the owner of the oil company Lukoil, Vagit Alekperov, who took 59th place with an estimated fortune of £23.3 billion.