Alisher Usmanov is an Uzbek-born Russian billionaire businessman and investor who became one of the most powerful figures in Russia’s metals, mining, telecommunications, and technology sectors. Over several decades, Alisher Usmanov built a diversified business empire spanning natural resources, finance, digital platforms, and media. According to Forbes rankings in 2015, with an estimated fortune of $13.5 billion, he was listed as the third richest person in Russia and the 71st richest individual globally. His wealth has been primarily rooted in mining, timber, finance, and early-stage investments in global technology companies.

Early Life and Education

Alisher Usmanov, born Alisher Burhanovich Usmanov, was born on September 9, 1953, in Chust, Namangan Region, then part of the Uzbek SSR in the Soviet Union. His father, Burhan Usmanov, served as a state prosecutor, while his mother, Dilbar Usmanova, worked as a Russian language teacher. He spent much of his childhood in Tashkent.

Initially intending to pursue a diplomatic career, Alisher Usmanov moved to Moscow and was admitted to the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). He graduated in 1976 with a degree in international law, positioning himself within the Soviet Union’s elite academic and political networks.

Legal Case and Rehabilitation

In August 1980, Alisher Usmanov was arrested in the Uzbek SSR on charges including fraud and embezzlement. He served six years of an eight-year sentence between 1980 and 1986. Throughout his life, he maintained that the charges were fabricated.

In July 2000, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan ruled that the case had been falsified and officially overturned his conviction, declaring that no crime had been committed. The rehabilitation became a central reference point in discussions about his early life and later career.

Early Entrepreneurship and Rise in Russian Industry

Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Alisher Usmanov founded a cooperative named Agroplast during a period when plastic bags were scarce commodities. The venture generated substantial profits and reportedly made him a dollar millionaire.

During the 1990s, he expanded into banking and industrial investments, holding senior roles in entities such as Intercross JSC, Interfin Investment and Finance Company, and MAPO-Bank. He also occupied strategic positions within Gazprom structures, including Gazprom Investholding, which he led from 2000 to 2014. During this period, he was associated with significant acquisitions, including involvement in transactions related to Severneftegazprom.

Metalloinvest and USM Holdings

In 1999, alongside Vasily Anisimov, Alisher Usmanov co-founded Metalloinvest, which grew into one of the world’s major producers of iron ore and hot briquetted iron. The company became a cornerstone of his industrial portfolio.

He later consolidated assets under USM Holdings, which expanded into telecommunications through MegaFon, internet platforms via Mail.Ru Group (later rebranded as VK), mining projects including the Udokan copper deposit, and media through the acquisition of the publishing house Kommersant.

Technology Investments

Through Digital Sky Technologies and Mail.Ru-related vehicles, Alisher Usmanov became one of the early investors in global technology companies including Facebook, Twitter, Alibaba Group, JD.com, Xiaomi, Groupon, Zynga, and Airbnb. Many of these stakes were later partially or fully divested, reportedly generating significant financial returns.

Sports and International Roles

From 2007 to 2018, Alisher Usmanov, together with business partner Farhad Moshiri, held a significant shareholding in Arsenal Football Club. He later sold his stake to Stan Kroenke.

He also played a prominent role in international fencing governance, serving as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) from 2008 to 2022. In 2024, he was briefly re-elected but announced the voluntary suspension of his duties due to international sanctions.

Sanctions and Legal Developments

Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Alisher Usmanov became subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom. These measures led to asset freezes and legal scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions. Subsequent court decisions in 2024 and 2025 addressed aspects of sanction justifications, media reporting accuracy, and ownership structures of certain assets. Reports indicated that elements of the European Union’s sanction rationale were updated during this period.

Assets and High-Profile Holdings

Among the most notable assets associated with Alisher Usmanov is the superyacht Dilbar, named after his mother. With a gross tonnage of approximately 15,917 and an estimated value near $800 million, it has been described as one of the world’s largest yachts by internal volume.

He also owned a private Airbus A340 aircraft named Bourkhan after his father. Ownership and control structures of certain high-profile assets became subjects of legal review following the imposition of sanctions.

In 2025, reports indicated that Alisher Usmanov, with an estimated fortune of $13.5 billion, celebrated his 72nd birthday in Bodrum, Turkey, hosting an event attended by numerous guests at a property in Cennet Bay.

Philanthropy

Alisher Usmanov has been widely associated with philanthropic initiatives. Through the “Art, Science and Sport” charitable foundation, he has supported cultural, educational, and athletic programs. Contributions have reportedly included support for exhibitions at Tate Britain, restoration funding for the Basilica Ulpia in Rome, and the purchase of Pierre de Coubertin’s 1892 Olympic Manifesto, which he donated to the Olympic Museum.

He also purchased James Dewey Watson’s Nobel Prize medal for $4.8 million and returned it to him, stating:

Over the course of his career, Alisher Usmanov received several honors, including Russia’s Order “For Merit to the Fatherland,” the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Honour, Kazakhstan’s Order of Friendship, and Uzbekistan’s El-Yurt Hurmati award.

Personal Life

Alisher Usmanov married rhythmic gymnastics coach Irina Viner in 1992. The couple divorced in 2022. He has no biological children but has a stepson from Viner’s previous marriage. In recent years, reports have indicated that he has spent significant time in Tashkent.

Source: Biyografiler.com