Russian oligarchs were ranked high in the UK rating of wealthiest people, according to The Sunday Times.
In particular, prominent businessman Alisher Usmanov was ranked eighth. He owns various assets in Russia and his net worth is estimated at GBP 11.3 bio (almost $15 bio). It is the first time Usmanov has entered the ranking. Over the past year, his wealth has increased by around $1 bio.
He is followed by Roman Abramovich whose assets, mainly distributed across the oil industry and manufacturing, have increased to GBP 11.2 bio ($14.5 bio). Mikhail Fridman was ranked tenth. Co-owner of Alfa Bank and several other companies in Russia has a net worth of almost GBP 11 bio ($14 bio).
Russian businessmen thus rounded up the top ten of the ranking. Interestingly, the prestigious fourth place belongs to Leonard Blavatnik, another businessman of Soviet origin. The American and British businessman and industrialist was born in Odessa and emigrated to the United States in 1978. In the 1990s, he had multiple businesses in Russia.
“It is not a coincidence that the Russian Federal Statistics Service plans to change the method of calculating the actual income of Russian citizens,” commented Sergei Khestanov, economist and associated professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation (RANEPA). “According to the old method, the income has been falling for six consecutive years, which is not good because it is depressing for the people and poorly characterizes the economic policy of the Russian executive power. So, the method will be adjusted, especially since the Statistics Service is now part of the Ministry of Economy.”