Oleg Deripaska | |
---|---|
Олег Дерипаска | |
Born | Dzerzhinsk, Gorky Oblast, Soviet Union | 2 January 1968
Citizenship | Russia, Cyprus[1] |
Alma mater | Moscow State University Plekhanov Russian University of Economics |
Occupation | |
Known for | Founder of RUSAL Founder of En+ Founder of Basic Element Founder of Volnoe Delo |
Spouse |
Polina Yumasheva
(m. 2001; div. 2018) |
Children | 2 |
Awards | |
Website | deripaska |
Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska (Russian: Олег Владимирович Дерипаска; born 2 January 1968)[2] is a Russian oligarch and billionaire.[3][4] Deripaska enriched himself on previously state-owned assets that were privatized in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.[5] He is the founder of Basic Element, one of Russia's largest industrial groups, and Volnoe Delo, Russia's largest charitable foundation. He was the president of En+ Group, a Russian energy company, and headed United Company Rusal, the second-largest aluminum company in the world, until he quit both roles in 2018.[6][7]
He has been characterized as a victor in the "aluminium wars" in Russia during the 1990s, which were frequently violent conflicts between businesspeople to obtain state-owned assets.[8][9] In 2000, Deripaska founded Rusal, the result of a partnership between Sibirsky Aluminium and Roman Abramovich's Millhouse Capital.[10] In 2007, Rusal merged with SUAL Group and Glencore International AG to form UC Rusal, with Deripaska as chairman.[11]
He was once Russia's richest man, but lost a substantial part of his fortune amid the 2007–08 financial crisis. As of June 2022, his wealth was estimated by Forbes at $3.2 billion, making him the 920th richest person in the world.[12] In 2017, Deripaska obtained a Cypriot citizenship through the country's 'golden visa' program, which allows major investors in the economy to apply for a national passport.[1]
He was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2018 for reasons relating to the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia.[13][14] Deripaska was one of seven oligarchs sanctioned by the British government over the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including asset freezes and travel bans.[15]
As early as 2022 Deripaska was one of a handful Russian businessmen to openly denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After making his statements, he faced pressure from the Kremlin, leading to the seizure of a major asset he owned, valued at USD 1 billion.[16] Nonetheless, he returned to the subject in early August 2024, when he characterized the invasion as "madness" and called for it to be stopped immediately.[17] He came under strong fire from the pro-Putin camp in Russia for his statements, notably from the ultranationalist Alexander Dugin.[18]