Alisher Usmanov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alisher Usmanov
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| Алишер Усманов | |
Usmanov in 2013
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| Born | 9 September 1953 Chust, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
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| Alma mater | Moscow Institute of International Relations |
| Known for | Shareholder of USM Holdings (49%) President of Fédération Internationale d'Escrime |
| Spouse(s) |
Irina Viner
(div. 2022) |
| Awards |
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Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov (Uzbek: Alisher Burxonovich Usmonov, Russian: Алишер Бурханович Усманов; born 9 September 1953) is a wealthy Russian-Uzbek businessman. He is known for his investments in metals, mining, and technology. By 2024, his wealth was estimated at $13.4 billion. This made him one of the world's richest people.
Usmanov built his fortune after the Soviet Union ended. He invested in metal and mining companies. He also made many other investments. He owns 49% of Metalloinvest, a large Russian company. This company combines different metal and mining businesses. He also owns the Kommersant publishing house. He is a co-owner of MegaFon, Russia's second-largest mobile phone company. He also co-owns Udokan copper. This company develops one of the world's biggest copper deposits. Usmanov was the president of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime. This is the international group for the sport of fencing. He held this role from 2008 to 2022, and again from 2024.
In February 2022, the European Union placed sanctions on Usmanov. This was due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions included a travel ban across the EU. They also froze his assets. The United States and the UK placed similar sanctions on him. The EU described him as a "leading businessperson" with ties to the Russian President. Usmanov has said these claims are false. He appealed to the European Court of Justice to remove the sanctions. His appeal was turned down in February 2024.
Usmanov was wrongly accused and imprisoned in the 1980s. He spent six years in a Soviet prison. In 2000, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan cleared his name. They ruled that no crime had been committed.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Usmanov was born in Chust, a town in Uzbekistan. He grew up in Tashkent, the capital city. His father worked as a state prosecutor there. Usmanov wanted to become a diplomat. He moved to Moscow to study. In 1976, he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He earned a degree in international law. After his studies, he returned to Tashkent. He became a director at the Foreign Economic Association of the Soviet Peace Committee.
Usmanov married Irina Viner in 1992. She is a coach for rhythmic gymnastics. They divorced in May 2022.
Business Ventures
Starting His Career
Usmanov became a millionaire before the Soviet Union broke apart. He started a company called Agroplast. It made plastic bags. He became very rich after the USSR collapsed. He has always said he did not take part in the privatization of state property.
From 1990 to 1994, Usmanov worked as a deputy general director. He then led an investment company called Interfin. He also advised the Moscow Aviation Industrial Enterprise. From 1995 to 1997, he was a first deputy chairman at MAPO-Bank.
By the late 1990s, Usmanov led Gazprom Invest Holdings. This was an investment part of Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom. He managed it for over ten years. He left the company in 2014.
USM Holdings and Metalloinvest
Usmanov owns 49% of USM. This is a large company with investments in metals, mining, and technology. Through USM, he has stakes in many different businesses. These include iron ore, steel, media, and internet companies.
He co-owns Metalloinvest. He started this company with Vasiliy Anisimov. They created it to manage their metal industry businesses. Usmanov built Metalloinvest by buying companies over time. Metalloinvest owns many Russian metal and mining businesses. These include Lebedinsky GOK and Mikhailovsky GOK. They also own steel mills like Oskol Elektrometallurgical Plant.
Since 2006, he has bought shares in Australian mining companies. These include Medusa, Mt Gibson, and Aztec Resources. He did this through Gallagher Holdings, now USM Holdings. In 2009, Metalloinvest sold its shares in Medusa Mining. Usmanov is also a major shareholder in Nautilus Minerals. This company plans to mine gold and copper under the sea. He also bought shares in Strike Resources. This company works on an iron ore deposit in Peru.
In 2015, USM invested $100 million in Virtus Pro. This is a competitive video game esports team. In 2021, USM and Metalloinvest announced plans to build a large eco-plant. This plant will make greener products for steel production.
Udokan Copper
In 2008, Metalloinvest bought the Udokan license for $500 million. This was for one of the world's largest copper deposits. It was found during Soviet times. Geologists believe it holds 26.7 million tonnes of copper ore.
In 2020, Baikal Mining Company started mining at the Udokan mine. This site had been untouched since 1949. This was because of its remote location and harsh weather. The Udokan project includes building a plant. This plant will make copper and copper concentrate. It will produce up to 125,000 tonnes of copper each year.
Mail.Ru Group (now VK)
In 2008, Usmanov met Yuri Milner. Soon after, Usmanov became a shareholder in DST and VK (Mail.ru Group).
Usmanov owned 25.3% of VK. He had 60.6% of the voting rights. In 2013, he sold some shares. This reduced his ownership to 17.9% and voting rights to 58.1%.
In 2013, Usmanov's VK bought Pavel Durov's shares in Vk.ru. This helped Durov keep control of the Telegram app. On 2 December 2021, Usmanov sold his shares to a Russian insurance company. Usmanov said that VK helped USM grow a lot.
Megafon
Through USM, Usmanov owns 49% of MegaFon. This is Russia's second-largest mobile phone company.
Other Investments
In 2009, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, met with Russian investors. Usmanov made his first investment in Facebook in 2009. His company Mail.ru invested $200 million. This gave him a 1.96% stake. Facebook was valued at $10 billion at that time. Usmanov agreed to Zuckerberg's terms. He gave up his voting rights on those shares. When Facebook went public in 2012, its value was much higher. Usmanov made at least $1.4 billion when he sold his shares.
In 2011, DST invested $800 million in Twitter. Through Mail.Ru Group, Usmanov also invested in other tech companies. These included Groupon, Zynga, Airbnb, ZocDoc, Alibaba, and 360buy.
In 2013, he invested $100 million in Apple. He sold these shares in early 2014. Usmanov said his investment in Alibaba grew by 500% by late 2014. He also mentioned selling his Facebook shares. He said he invested in Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone maker. He called it a "future technology giant." He also looked to invest in India's online trade.
In September 2018, Mail.ru and Alibaba Group announced a $2 billion joint project. They would combine their online marketplaces in Russia. The Russian government supported this deal.
Kommersant and Media Companies
In August 2006, Usmanov started investing in media. He bought Kommersant, a newspaper, for $200 million. In November 2006, he bought 50% of the Russian sports TV channel 7TV. This cost $25 million. In June 2007, he bought 75% of the Russian music TV channel Muz-TV for $300 million. Usmanov was a co-owner of UTH, a media company. UTH owned 51% of Disney Russia and all of Muz TV and U television channels. He sold his TV assets in 2017.
Retirement
In 2012, Usmanov said he planned to retire at age 63. In 2014, he stepped down from active management roles. He started focusing on charity work and sports. In 2023, he also left the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
In 2020, Usmanov told the Financial Times he would leave his assets to his family and USM management. He said, "Fifty per cent to family, fifty per cent to management, who deserve this."
Sports Activities
Arsenal F.C.
Usmanov was a shareholder in the English football team Arsenal from 2007 to 2018. In August 2007, he bought a 14.58% stake in the club. He and his partner, Farhad Moshiri, bought shares from David Dein. Their company, Red and White Holdings, became a major shareholder.
By September 2007, Red and White Holdings owned 23% of Arsenal. By February 2008, it was over 24%. In February 2009, it reached 25%. The company said it had money to buy more shares. But it did not plan a full takeover for six months.
The Arsenal board made an agreement to prevent a takeover. Directors could only sell shares to approved people. They also had to offer shares to other board members first. This made the club "bullet-proof" from a takeover.
American businessman Stan Kroenke became the majority shareholder in April 2011. He bought shares from other directors. Kroenke's stake went over 30%. This meant he had to offer to buy all remaining shares. But Usmanov refused to sell his shares. He kept his stake.
Usmanov increased his Arsenal shares to over 29% in June 2011. By October 2013, he owned over 30% of the club. He criticized Arsenal's lack of ambition in a letter in 2012. He said he would not sell his shares. However, on 7 August 2018, Usmanov accepted an offer of £550 million for his shares. He sold them to Kroenke.
Everton F.C.
In January 2017, Usmanov's company, USM, made a five-year deal with Everton F.C.. This deal was worth over $15 million. It gave USM naming rights for the club's training ground, Finch Farm. Usmanov's partner, Farhad Moshiri, is the main owner of Everton. In 2019, Megafon became a sponsor for Everton's men's training wear. In 2020, MegaFon expanded its deal to sponsor the women's team.
In March 2022, Everton stopped its sponsorship deals with USM and MegaFon. This was due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
International Fencing Federation (FIE)
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Usmanov used to be a sabre fencer for the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. He supported fencing through his charity fund. It was called "For the Future of Fencing." He started it in 2004.
He was president of the Russian Fencing Federation from 2001 to 2009. He was also president of the European Fencing Confederation at the same time.
In 2008, he was elected president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE). He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016. In 2021, he was re-elected for a fourth term. Vladimir Putin and Thomas Bach congratulated him. In this role, Usmanov helped expand the Olympic fencing program. It now includes 12 different events.
After sanctions were placed on him, Usmanov stepped down as FIE President on 1 March 2022. He did not resign permanently. He suspended himself from the role. Emmanuel Katsiadakis took over temporarily. Usmanov was re-elected in November 2024. He then suspended himself again, and Katsiadakis became Interim President once more.
Other Sports Support
In February 2008, Metalloinvest sponsored FC Dynamo Moscow, a football team. Their name appeared on the players' shirts. Usmanov was also part of the councils for the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. He is a trustee for the Russian Olympian Sportsmen Support Fund. In 2015, USM invested $100 million in the eSports team Virtus.pro.
Sanctions
EU Sanctions
On 28 February 2022, the European Union placed sanctions on Usmanov. This was because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions included a travel ban across the EU. They also froze all his assets. On 3 March, the United States and the British government placed similar sanctions on him.
The Official Journal of the European Union described Usmanov as a "leading businessperson" with close ties to the Russian President. Usmanov said these reasons were false. He filed a lawsuit against the EU Council. He wanted to prove the accusations were wrong and lift the sanctions. Usmanov believes his fame and wealth made him a target. His lawyers argued he was unfairly targeted as a "visible symbol." Usmanov also sued US Forbes for an article. His lawyers proved the article's claims were false.
Enforcement in Germany
In March 2022, the German government started looking for assets belonging to wealthy Russians. Several villas near the Bavarian Tegernsee were linked to Usmanov. German authorities found 36 offshore companies and 90 suspicious money reports related to him. Usmanov denies all accusations. He says he paid all his taxes in Russia. He also states he does not own any real estate in Germany. He says all properties were put into family trusts long before sanctions.
In May 2023, a court in Frankfurt ruled that searches at properties linked to Usmanov were illegal. These included villas and the Dilbar yacht. The court said the accusations of money laundering were baseless. It found many formal errors in the search orders. German media called it "the investigators' disgrace." Another search happened in October 2023. Later that month, the court ordered seized property to be returned.
In August 2023, Usmanov filed a complaint with the German Constitutional Court. He wants personal sanctions against him to be declared unfair. He also wants searches on the Dilbar yacht to be seen as a violation of privacy.
Usmanov's sister, Ismailova, was a beneficiary of the trust that owns the super-yacht Dilbar. The ship was seized in Hamburg. Another sister, Saodat Narzieva, was also sanctioned by the EU. But after investigations showed that information linking her to Swiss bank accounts was false, the EU lifted sanctions on her in September 2022.
In October 2023, German customs searched properties near Munich and Lake Tegernsee. They seized luxury vehicles and other items. Usmanov's spokesman said the properties belong to a trust that Usmanov does not own or control.
In June 2024, Usmanov sued UBS Europe SE. His lawyers said the bank shared misleading reports. These reports led to an illegal criminal investigation into his business. Usmanov said the bank broke its confidentiality agreements.
In November 2024, the Prosecutor General's Office in Frankfurt dropped its investigation into Usmanov. This required a payment of 4 million euros to charities and the state. This closure does not mean he admitted guilt. Usmanov's lawyers said the investigation failed to prove the main accusations.
Non-Enforcement in Hungary and Uzbekistan
In September 2022, Hungary reportedly asked the EU to lift sanctions on Usmanov. In November, it was reported that the Uzbek government also asked the EU to lift sanctions. They said the sanctions were stopping Usmanov from investing in Uzbekistan.
Enforcement in Ukraine
In December 2022, a Ukraine Court ordered the seizure of ₴2 billion (US$54 million) of Usmanov's assets. This included 160,000 tonnes of Ukrainian iron ore. Metalloinvest said the Ukrainian authorities had blocked these materials since February 2022. They were produced in Russia and meant for buyers abroad.
Personal Life
Usmanov does not have biological children. He has a stepson from his former marriage to Irina Viner. His stepson is a real estate investor.
Wealth
Usmanov is one of the world's wealthiest people. He owns Sutton Place, a large Tudor mansion in Surrey, England. He bought it for £10 million in 2004. In 2008, he bought Beechwood House in London for £48 million. He also owns property in Moscow and a villa in Sardinia, Italy.
Usmanov has owned three luxury yachts named Dilbar, after his mother. The first Dilbar was delivered in 2005. A second Dilbar was delivered in 2008. The third Dilbar was built in 2015. It is one of the world's largest yachts. It cost $800 million. It has a large indoor swimming pool. Usmanov and his team say the yacht belongs to a family trust. In March 2022, German authorities seized Dilbar in Hamburg. This was part of sanctions against Usmanov. In April 2022, the yacht was frozen after investigations showed it belonged to a trust. Usmanov's sister was a beneficiary of this trust.
Usmanov's wealth decreased after sanctions were imposed in 2022.
Philanthropy
In 2021, The Sunday Times named Usmanov the most generous giver on its Rich List. He donated over £4.2 billion to charity. In 2012, Russian Forbes called him Philanthropist of the Year. In 2006, Usmanov started the "Art, Science and Sport" Charity Fund. This fund works with London's Tate Britain. They have done projects in Russia, like art exhibitions. Usmanov is a trustee for many social, educational, and cultural groups. In 2015, he gave €1.5 million to help restore Rome's Basilica Ulpia.
In February 2020, Usmanov bought Pierre de Coubertin's original 1892 Olympic Manifesto for $8.8 million. He then gave it to the Olympic Museum. This manifesto became the most expensive sports item ever. In 2020 and 2021, Usmanov was the top donor in the fight against COVID-19. He gave £134.2 million in Russia, Uzbekistan, and Italy.
On 17 September 2007, Usmanov paid over £20 million for an art collection. It belonged to the late Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. Usmanov gave all the artwork to the Russian state. It is now at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. Later that month, he bought the rights to a large collection of Soviet cartoons. He paid $5–10 million for them. Usmanov then donated the cartoons to a new Russian children's television channel.
Usmanov has received many awards for his work. These include the Medal of Honor of Russia in 2004. In 2011, he received the Order "Dostyk" (Friendship) from Kazakhstan. In 2013, he received the Order for Service to the Fatherland IV class. This was for his service to the state and charity. In 2014, he received the Order of Alexander Nevsky. In 2016, he received "For Beneficence" for his charity work. He also received the Al-Fahr Order for helping Islam in Russia. In 2017, he received the Commander "Order of Merit of the Italian Republic" for restoring buildings. In 2018, he received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 3rd class. He also received the Order "Dostyk" 1st degree from Kazakhstan. In 2018, he received the Order of El-Yurt Hurmati from Uzbekistan. This was for his investment projects and cultural work.
On 4 December 2014, Usmanov paid $4.8 million for Dr James Watson's Nobel Prize Medal. Watson was selling it to raise money for science. Usmanov returned the medal to Watson. He said it was wrong for a great scientist to sell his award. Watson's work helped cancer research, which was important to Usmanov. He wanted the money to support science.
See Also
In Spanish: Alisher Usmánov para niños
- List of Russian billionaires
- Russian oligarchs
- List of people and organizations sanctioned during the Russo-Ukrainian War
Images for kids
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Usmanov's current yacht Dilbar in Barcelona
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A340-313X of Alisher Usmanov named Bourkhan at Euroairport (2008).
