Kerimov Suleyman Abusaidovich

Kerimov Suleyman Abusaidovich

Suleyman Kerimov - Russian entrepreneur, philanthropist. Most financial analysts attribute its success to the ability to competently invest in assets with significant development potential. In 2007, he became a member of the Federation Council from the Republic of Dagestan and concentrated on political activity.

At different times, he owned several large assets. He controlled such organizations as Nafta-Moscow, mining holding Polymetal"" (99.5%), Uralkali"," National Cable Networks"," construction group of companies, PEAK"" Moscow operator Mostelecom"" and many others.

Through one of the companies owned shares of Gazprom (4.5%), Sberbank (5.7%), approximately 2% of MGTS shares.

State

2019: Net worth $6.3 billion

For many years in a row, Kerimov has been in the Top 20 of the authoritative rating of the financial and economic magazine Forbes. In 2019, it ranks 19th - according to experts, its wealth is $6.3 billion.

2020: Dividend revenues and asset sales - $922 million

On September 22, 2021, Forbes magazine presented an updated rating of Russian billionaires, in which it assessed the "real, real money" received for the sale of assets or in the form of dividends at the end of 2020, and not the value of assets owned by entrepreneurs. Suleyman Kerimov, according to analysts of the publication, earned $922 million in 2020 and entered the TOP-5 of the rating of billionaires. Read more here.

2022: 8th place in the list of richest Russians with a fortune of $13.2 billion

Biography

A native of the city of Derbent, located in southern Russia near the foothills of the Caucasus. He was the youngest son in a large family. Father was considered one of the best lawyers of the regional criminal investigation department, and his mother was an employee of the accounting department of Sberbank. A young man from an early age loved mathematics, with pleasure he was engaged in other exact sciences. At the same time, he paid a lot of attention to physical development: for a long time he remained in judo training (all types of wrestling in Dagestan are very popular), separately practiced in a kettlebell. sport Subsequently, he managed to achieve many serious sports victories: in his student years, he even received the title of candidate for master of sports in judo, and being an army team, he became the champion of the division in lifting weights.

1983-1989: Army and University Graduation

At school, Kerimov studied extremely well, as evidenced by a certificate with excellent grades and gold embossing. Having received it in 1983, he perfectly passed the entrance tests at the Dagestan State Technical University and was enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and Construction.

Since there was no delay for students - even in full-time education - in 1984, Suleiman Abusaidovich left for a two-year army service. He served in the strategic missile forces. There he rose to the rank of senior sergeant, earned the post of head of the calculation.

He resumed his studies in 1986 already at the Faculty of Economics, which he graduated in 1989. He managed to combine classes with the duties of deputy chairman of the university trade union committee.

1993: Moving to Moscow

Immediately after receiving his diploma, the young specialist began work. In 1989, he was accepted to the starting position of economist at the Eltav plant of the Ministry of Electronics Industry, specializing in the production of electronics. In a few years, he managed to grow to the post of adviser to the general director on economic issues.

To conduct mutual accounts with consumers, in 1993 the organization founded the Federal Industrial Bank in the capital. Kerimov moved, becoming there a representative of the interests of Eltava.

1995: Deputy General Director and General Director of Soyuz-Finance

In 1995, he took the post of deputy, and later general director of Soyuz-finance CJSC.

At the beginning of 1997, he actively engaged in scientific activities. He was a researcher at the ANO International Institute of Corporations, whose main activity was to provide consulting services to business. Almost all of 1999 he replaced the director of the organization, after which he resigned due to his election as a deputy to the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the third convocation.

1999

Purchase of Nafta-Moscow shares

Shares of the successor to the Soviet giant Soyuznefteexport, Nafta-Moscow, were acquired by Kerimov at the end of 1999. In the future, it was Nafta that took on the role of a key figure in Kerimov's business parties.

State Duma deputy from the Zhirinovsky Bloc

In December 1999, a new round of professional growth of Suleyman Kerimov began - political. Then he was elected a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the federal list of the electoral bloc "Zhirinovsky Bloc," was a member of the State Duma Committee on Security of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Three years later, he was re-elected, retaining his deputy mandate and entering the fourth convocation on the federal list of the LDPR electoral association.

2001: Control of Nosta, Ingosstrakh and Autobank

In 2001, control was gained over the steel enterprise Nosta (later Ural Steel as part of Metalloinvest). At the same time, Ingosstrakh and Avtobank fell under his leadership.

2005

Buyback of 70% of Polymetal shares

In the fall of 2005, Nafta Moscow bought a 70% stake in the large Polymetal holding, specializing in the extraction of precious metals. Two years later, Polymetal successfully conducted an IPO on the London Stock Exchange, and was immediately sold profitably.

The idea of "a city for millionaires"

In 2005, information appeared in the media about the alleged construction of a "city for millionaires" near Moscow, in which 30 thousand wealthy residents of Russia were supposed to live, the idea of ​ ​ creating which belonged to Kerimov. However, later he sold the project to the president of Binbank, Mikhail Shishkhanov^[1]

2006: Accident in Nice

Suleyman Kerimov, according to rumors, had a close relationship with TV presenter Tina Kandelaki. In 2006, he crashed his Ferrari Enzo in Nice, Tina Kandelaki was also in the car^[2].

2007: Withdrawal from the Liberal Democratic Party

In the spring of 2007, he decided to leave the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and began his activities as an independent deputy.

In 2007, a wealthy businessman registered in his beloved city of Derbent and paid income tax in the amount of 2.5 billion rubles, which had an extremely positive effect on the regional budget.

2008

Exit from Nafta-Moscow capital

Having gone through a difficult path of complex solutions and risks, by 2008 Suleyman Kerimov secured the financial and industrial group Nafta-Moscow 4.25% of Gazprom shares and 5.6% of Sberbank shares. At the same time, Suleiman Abusaidovich left their share capital, gaining a colossal benefit. This organization lasted until 2009, after which it was completely liquidated.

Member of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation from Dagestan

In 2008, Kerimov was included in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, where he represents the Republic of Dagestan for 2019. In connection with his re-election as a senator from Dagestan, he prematurely terminated his powers as a deputy in the People's Assembly of the republic. He takes an active part in the development of Derbent, which is part of the Smart City project (in turn, it is part of the Digital Economy national project).

Together with the Moscow City Hall, Kerimov organized the Mosteleset enterprise, which became the sole shareholder of the Mostelecom cable operator. Later, telecommunications assets were merged into the National Telecommunications holding, and a year later they were sold to a consortium of independent investors.

2009

Participation in the reconstruction of the hotel "Moscow"

In the 2000s, Suleyman Kerimov became the owner of the construction holding SPK Razvitie, which included Glavmosstroy, Mospromstroy and Mosmontazhspetsstroy. Six months later, he managed to sell it for an amount 5 times the amount spent on finances. In 2009, Kerimov's structures implemented a large-scale plan for the reconstruction of the Moscow hotel complex, opening in its place the Four Seasons luxury hotel with additional commercial infrastructure. In 2015, the attractive object was bought by Belarusian businessmen.

Purchase of PIK Group shares

A quarter of the shares of a large but heavily indebted Russian developer were bought by Kerimov's company in the spring of 2009. The share was later expanded to 38.3%. Already in the first two years, economic stability was restored there, market positions were strengthened. By the last decade of 2013, the capitalization was $1.42 billion, then Kerimov completely sold the asset.

Purchase of 37% in PJSC Polyus Gold

Losses during the global financial crisis made adjustments to the investment strategy of Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov. Now his goal was to buy serious shares, mainly controlling stakes, in order to be able to determine the direction of the companies in which money is invested. For example, in 2009, 37% of the shares of Polyus Gold, a large domestic producer of precious metal, were acquired. Later, the share was increased to 40.22%.

Three years after the IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2012, Kerimov consolidated the rights to 95% of the company's shares, buying out minority shares.

In the spring of 2016, Kerimov's children, Said and Gulnar, were included in the board of directors.

2010: Purchase with partners 53% of Uralkali

In the summer of 2010, together with partners with Alexander Nesis and Filaret Galchev, the entrepreneur acquired 53% of the shares of the huge Uralkali plant from Dmitry Rybolovlev. After that, they acquired and joined the only competing enterprise - Silvinit, thanks to this they became the world leader in their niche. After some time, Kerimov sold his shares in parts.

2011:# 19 on Forbes list with $7.8 billion

It ranks 19th in the ranking of the Russian-language version of Forbes "The Richest Businessmen of Russia - 2011"^[3]. Suleyman Kerimov fortune is estimated at $7.8 billion.

In 2012, he owns the Anji football club (Makhachkala), playing in the Russian Premier League.

2017: Ownership of shares in SpaceX

At the end of January 2025, it became known that the senator from Dagestan billionaire Suleyman Kerimov owned a stake in SpaceX Elon Musk through the Heritage Trust Trust. Initially, its share was 1%. Read more here.

2020: France tax penalty for undervaluing Nice villa

In May 2020, it became known that the Swiss company Swiru Holding AG (Studhalter Treuhand, Zurich), which participated in the acquisition of real estate for Senator Suleyman Kerimov, will have to pay a fine of 1.4 million euros as part of the agreement reached during the tax crimes proceedings. The company, which was involved in the purchase of Villa Hier on the Cote d'Azur for Kerimov in 2008, was accused of complicity in tax evasion. According to the Nice prosecutor's office, she has already returned more than 10.3 million through her subsidiary to the French fiscal authorities, now she has to pay a fine.

In 2017, French law enforcement agencies suspected the deal participants and the Russian senator in an attempt to underestimate the cost of the villa on Cape Antibes, which Kerimov acquired through dummies from the Borghetti family. According to the documents, it cost 35 million euros, while its market value exceeded 125 million euros. As a result, the French treasury received less than the existing amount of taxes.

2022: Yacht worth $325m arrested in Fiji

In mid-April 2022, a yacht of Russian businessman Suleyman Kerimov worth $325 million was arrested in the port of Fiji. The country's highest court has passed a restraining order to leave Fiji's waters against the vessel.

Kerimov's vessel, Amadea, docked in Lautoka, Fiji's second-largest city, on April 13, 2022, after sailing from Mexico's Pacific coast, data from ship tracking site Marine Traffic shows. Fiji did not impose sanctions against Russia, but as a result, the ship was detained, and the police began to find out the identity of the owner and the home port.

In mid-April 2022, a yacht of Russian businessman Suleyman Kerimov worth $325 million was arrested in the port of Fiji.

As of April 21, 2022, police officers are investigating the arrest of the yacht, and units of the Fiji Tax and Customs Services are assisting them. The laws of the state state that foreign ships must obtain permission from several state departments and services to enter the port.

In response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the European authorities imposed sanctions against Russian businessmen, politicians and journalists. Suleyman Kerimov is prohibited from entering the territory of the European Union, and all his assets in the EU will be frozen. Kerimov, a member of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, was sanctioned by the EU and Great Britain on March 15, 2022. The EU said Kerimov is a member of an internal circle of businessmen close to Putin and that Kerimov attended a meeting of oligarchs with Putin at the Kremlin in late February 2022 to discuss the impact of Western sanctions.

According to Bloomberg estimates, Suleyman Kerimov fortune is about $14.3 billion. He owns Nafta Moscow, a financial and industrial group in Russia, and his family owns a majority stake in Polyus Gold, which claims to be Russia's largest gold producer.^[4]

Later in July 2022, on Kerimov's yacht Amadea, American intelligence agencies discovered, presumably, a Fabergé egg. This was stated by Deputy Prosecutor General USA Lisa Monaco.

2024: Privatization of Makhachkala Commercial Sea Port

The privatization of Makhachkala Commercial Sea Port JSC (MMTP) has been completed, Suleyman Kerimov, who bought 51% of the company's shares, became a strategic investor. This became known on December 25, 2024. Read more here

Charity and philanthropy

To provide comprehensive support to initiatives designed to improve the lives of Russian youth, promote projects in socially significant areas and provide assistance to the poor, Suleiman Kerimov established the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, which also actively interacts with dozens of charitable Russian and foreign organizations.

Through the Foundation, Kerimov donated $100 million for the construction of the new Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The festive opening of the modern structure, located on an area of ​ ​ 18,900 square meters, took place in 2015.

In addition, Kerimov is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wrestling Federation, and Russia his Fund is the main sponsor of the Federation and its tournaments. The national program of development of free-style and Greco-Roman wrestling also receives support.

Suleiman Abusaidovich is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sirius and Sirius-Altair Centers for Education for Talented Young Men and Women.

Wife Kerimov heads the charity organization "Territory of Good."

Family

• The wife of Firuz Kerimov has been married since student days.
• Son Said Kerimov.
• Daughter Gulnara Kerimova.
• Daughter of Amin Kerimov.

Encouragement

For fruitful work and a significant contribution to improving the life of the regions, Suleyman Kerimov was repeatedly presented for state awards, including:

• medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland,
• sign "For services to the Moscow region."

He is also an honorary citizen of Derbent, in 2016 he was named the "People's Hero of Dagestan."

He was awarded the International Federation of United Styles of Wrestling (FILA) "Golden Order" - one of the most prestigious awards.

Notes