Alisher Usmanov's wealth increases amid US-Russia talks

As the year began with renewed US-Russia dialogue over the Ukraine conflict and speculation around Donald Trump's political return, Russia’s wealthiest billionaires saw a collective surge in their fortunes. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index (BBI), their combined wealth rose by nearly $15 billion, reaching a total of $305 billion.

Alisher Usmanov, founder of USM Holding, which includes Metalloinvest, Udokan Copper, and Megafon, recorded the biggest gain. His fortune rose by $3.6 billion, reaching $16.9 billion and placing him 129th on the global wealth ranking.

He was followed by Andrey Melnichenko, co-founder of Eurochem and SUEK, whose net worth increased by $2.5 billion to $22.7 billion, moving him up to 88th place. Senator Suleiman Kerimov of Dagestan gained $2.45 billion, taking the 311th spot. Meanwhile, Russia's wealthiest billionaire, Vladimir Potanin — president of Interros and major shareholder in Norilsk Nickel — added $2.2 billion and climbed to 57th place.

However, the year did not begin positively for all Russian billionaires. The wealth of the five declined, with Vladimir Lisin experiencing the steepest drop, losing $2.3 billion and now holding $23.5 billion. He was followed by Gennady Timchenko (-$1.57 billion), Mikhail Fridman (-$1.45 billion), and Leonid Mikhelson (-$1.3 billion).

Telegram founder Pavel Durov, also featured on the BBI list, saw his fortune grow by $1.6 billion, reaching $12.6 billion.

It should be noted that earlier reports alleged the Coco vessel — leased by Deep Sea Mining Finance (DSMF), a company partially owned by Usmanov — was involved in suspected illegal underwater mining within Papua New Guinea’s exclusive economic zone.