Alisher Usmanov's youth
Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov was born on September 9, 1953 in the Uzbek SSR, in the city of Chust, Namangan region. In the family, he was the eldest son. His father, Burkhan Usmanov, was the prosecutor of the city of Tashkent. Thus, Alisher Usmanov can be considered a representative of the Soviet golden youth.As a child, after reading the novel by Alexander Dumas "The Three Musketeers", Alisher began to get involved in musketeer duels and swords. Parents sent him to the fencing section. In fencing, he achieved great success. After two years of training in the section, he was admitted to the youth fencing team, and later he received the title of master of sports and entered the command staff of the USSR national team.
Richest Russians: Alisher Usmanov
In 1976 he graduated from the most prestigious institute of the USSR - MGIMO with a degree in international law. The future statesman and diplomat, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, studied with Usmanov on the same course.
After graduating from the institute, he went to work at the USSR Academy of Sciences as a junior research assistant. He was also a senior referent of the Communist Youth Union of Uzbekistan, and later took the position of general director of the Foreign Economic Association of the Soviet Peace Committee.
Alisher Usmanov in prison
Alisher's life began very well, but suddenly the luck ended. In 1980, 27-year-old Usmanov, along with his friend, the son of a high-ranking KGB official, was arrested. Usmanov was charged with extortion, embezzlement and fraud and sentenced to 8 years in prison. After which his father was removed from the prosecutor's office.In 1986, Alisher Burkhanovich was released on parole from prison. Later, Usmanov said that he was subjected to political repression. In 2000, Usmanov was fully rehabilitated by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The criminal case was declared fabricated.
Future billionaire Alisher Usmanov
After his release, Alisher Usmanov decided to go into business. Initially, he founded a company that organized tours for wealthy foreigners who wanted to hunt in the Pamir mountains. It was not without connections at the top.Later Usmanov moved to Russia. Here, his first business was a workshop for the production of polyethylene products of the Ramensk Plastics Plant. In addition, he was involved in the supply of tobacco to Russia.
From 1990 to 1998, he was the first deputy general director of CJSC Intercross, a manufacturer of telecommunications equipment.
In December 1992 he founded Firm Bars LLP
Since June 1993, Usmanov took the position of the head of the financial and investment company AOZT "PRNB-Invest".
In the same year he became a member of the board of directors of the First Russian Independent Bank. They began to perceive him as a serious figure in Russian business.
In August 1993 Usmanov became a co-founder of MAPO-Bank. From 1994 to 1995 he worked as an advisor to the general director of the Moscow Aviation Production Association. From 1995 to 1997 - the first deputy chairman of the board of MAPO-bank.
From 1995 to 1998, he held the position of General Director of the Interbank Investment and Financial Company "Interfin-Service"
In 1997 he graduated from the Financial Academy under the Government of Russia with a degree in Banking.
From 1997 to 2000, he worked as Deputy General Director of CJSC Gazprominvestholding, and in February 2000 he himself became General Director.
From 1997 to 2001, he was a member of the board of directors of OJSC Arkhangelskgeoldobycha.
In 1999 Usmanov is a member of the Board of Directors of CJSC Arkhangelsk Diamonds. From November 2000 to July 2001, he was an advisor to the chairman of the board of OJSC Gazprom.
In 2005, Alisher Burkhanovich became one of the owners of ZAO Metalloinvest, which was previously the management company of Mikhailovsky GOK.
In August 2006, he became the owner of the Kommersant publishing house. Usmanov acquired 100% of shares from Badri Patarkatsishvili and Boris Berezovsky
In 2006, Usmanov acquired 75% of the shares of the Muz-TV channel and 50% of the shares of the 7TV television company.
In 2007 he acquired the shares of Arsenal Football Club in London, becoming its co-owner.
In August 2008 became a shareholder of the investment company Digital Sky Technologies. In 2008, Alisher Usmanov acquired a part of the shares of the Russian mobile operator MegaFon from the Danish lawyer Jeffrey Galmond.
According to Forbes, Usmanov's fortune in 2013 is estimated at $ 17.6 billion. In the ranking of the richest people in the world, he took 34th place and first place in Russia.
The secret of Alisher Usmanov's success is that he is able to combine the incongruous. Its assets include significant shares of the metallurgical industry in Russia, as well as shares in various media companies. Alisher Burkhanovich himself says that he became an entrepreneur against his will. During perestroika, he wanted to take up jurisprudence, but at that time this activity did not provide a good income. So he started doing business. Having a huge fortune and being a highly respected person, Alisher Usmanov calls himself an ordinary person. In his opinion, money is just a function, it makes it possible to achieve any goals, it can be a measure of achievements, or, conversely, by their number one can judge about failures.
Personal life and family of Alisher Usmanov
While studying in the fencing section, Alisher Usmanov met Irina Viner, his future wife, who was engaged in rhythmic gymnastics at the same sports complex. He made an offer to her while in prison, sending her a headscarf, which, according to Uzbek traditions, means an offer to become a wife. She accepted his offer. Their marriage took place in 1992.Today the name of Irina Viner is known to everyone, she is the president of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Viner and Usmanov have no children of their own. Irina Viner has a son from her first marriage - Anton.
Alisher Usmanov - the Internet king
Alisher Usmanov's charitable activities
In 2007, Alisher Burkhanovich acquired the art collection of Galina Vishnevskaya and Mstislav Rostropovich, put up for sale at Sotheby's auction, for $ 72 million (100 million including all taxes). Usmanov officially announced the donation of this collection to the Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg. In the same year, the entrepreneur bought the rights to a huge collection of Soviet cartoons from the American company FBJ (Films by Jove), after which he transferred the rights to the children's channel Bibigon.Alisher Usmanov, according to The Sunday Times, entered the top five philanthropists in 2011, spending $ 126.5 million for this purpose.
Alisher Usmanov's awards
On March 17, 2004, Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov was awarded the Order of Honor by the decree of the President.In 2011 he received the Order of Friendship of the Republic of Kazakhstan as an award. In May 2011 he was awarded the Order of Honor of South Ossetia.
