Vagit Alekperov crowned Russia's top dividend earner by Forbes

Forbes has released its second annual ranking of the 50 wealthiest Russians based on dividend earnings in 2023.

According to Report, topping the list is Azerbaijani-born Russian businessman Vagit Alekperov, founder and former president of oil giant LUKOIL, with an estimated dividend income of 177.4 billion rubles (approximately $2.02 billion).

Alekperov's journey from a humble beginning in Baku, Azerbaijan, to becoming Russia's dividend king is a testament to his business acumen and the success of LUKOIL. The company has consistently been one of Russia's largest dividend payers in both 2022 and 2023, solidifying Alekperov's position at the summit of Russian wealth.

Following Alekperov in the rankings are:

- Leonid Mikhelson, shareholder of Novatek gas company, with 105 billion rubles ($1.2 billion);

- Gennady Timchenko, shareholder of chemical producer Sibur Holding, with 84.6 billion rubles ($966.8 million);

- Alisher Usmanov, founder of USM, with 79.9 billion rubles ($913.1 million);

- Viktor Kharitonin, founder of Pharmstandard, with 77.6 billion rubles ($886.8 million).

The top 10 is rounded out by familiar names in Russian business circles, including Leonid Fedun (with 57.1 billion rubles or approximately $10.5 billion), Alexei Taicher (51.5 billion rubles or around $588.5 million), Andrey Skoch and family (48.9 billion rubles or about $558.8 million), Andrey Guryev (45.8 billion rubles or approximately $523.4 million), and Vladislav Sviblov (36.2 billion rubles or about $413.7 million).