Europe’s Richest Man: Putin?
December 20, 2007
Turns out Putin has amassed a huge fortune during his term in office. Estimates put his wealth at $40 billion+. The Guardian suggests,
Putin “effectively” controls 37% of the shares of Surgutneftegaz, an oil exploration company and Russia’s third biggest oil producer, worth $20bn, he says. He also owns 4.5% of Gazprom, and “at least 75%” of Gunvor, a mysterious Swiss-based oil trader, founded by Gennady Timchenko, a friend of the president’s, Belkovsky alleges. Asked how much Putin was worth, Belkovsky said: “At least $40bn. Maximum we cannot know. I suspect there are some businesses I know nothing about.” He added: “It may be more. It may be much more.
Looks like the Russian’s have a new aristocracy ~ members of the former KGB. Putin is their first Czar…
