The genius of compromise: How Mikhelson became the richest man in Russia
He is an amazing person, the main legal rich man in Russia. About the number one billionaire in Russian Wikipedia - the smallest and most laconic article among the entire top Forbes. Is there really nothing to tell the world about such an extraordinary person, a Jewish boy from Dagestan Kaspiysk who came to the heights of success? It happens that they talk, but they don’t sleep, Leonid Mikhelson’s fans don’t sleep - everything that doesn’t suit them is mercilessly erased from the largest encyclopedia in the world. And not only from its Russian version - the English and German pages are just as brief, the Ukrainian and Jewish pages, which are not strangers to the hero, are completely lapidary. No one should know more about Mikhelson than basic personal data.
Therefore, we consider it our duty to shed a little light on the life of such a wonderful character.
Assets are not money yet
Leonid Mikhelson ranks 32nd on the list of the world's richest people, but you must understand that he does not have as much free money as, say, Bill Gates with his highly liquid Microsoft shares. Shares of Novatek and Sibur, of course, are also traded on the stock exchange, but the specifics of doing business in Russia are such that only a very limited circle of people can invest real money in it, and they, as a matter of choice, are influential and economical. Few of our dollar billionaires have managed to simply “go cash” and lead a quiet life as a rentier - the discount required for such an exit is too large. By losing assets, you lose power, after which both former partners and security officials enthusiastically take over you. So Leonid Viktorovich is not in danger of a peaceful old age. Yes, he doesn’t seem to crave it, although Mikhelson was lucky - he managed to retire before the reform, in 2020.
Labor dynasty
Leonid Viktorovich’s father is a very difficult person. Viktor Zelmanovich Mikhelson was born in the former Pale of Settlement in the Kyiv region. He did not receive a higher education, but thanks to his personal talents and amazing communication skills, he advanced to high positions in the most promising field then (and even now) - oil production and transportation. So he ended up in Kaspiysk, and so he moved to Novokuibyshevsk, where he headed the construction and installation department No. 5 of the Soyuzprovodmekhanizatsiya trust, placing his wife Praskovya Fedorovna, nee Shirokova, there.
The work involved traveling, the trust worked in various parts of the country, and when Lenya grew up, his father began to often take him on summer business trips. My horizons developed and experience accumulated. They built roads, canals, pipelines - everything that is in any way connected with transport. Mikhelson Sr. worked in the trust for more than 20 years, and in 1979 he headed the Kuibyshevtruboprovodstroy trust, which he managed until the end of his life. Yes, yes, the same Kuibyshev, now Samara, region, the same pipelines through which spoiled oil got to Druzhba years later. Oil arteries. Mikhelson Sr. was a very, very influential man.
But even the most influential, unfortunately, are mortal. In 1987, Viktor Zelmanovich died. But he did not let go of his life’s work from family hands even on his deathbed - Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson became his successor in the director’s chair. In a few years, he will receive the state enterprise as almost sole ownership.
Let's see how it turned out.
Childhood of a petrochemist
A talented boy, as we have already said, was born in Kaspiysk, but he hardly remembers him: he spent his entire childhood in the Kuibyshev region. At school No. 8 he was exceptionally active, shining in the exact sciences, as well as in sports. True, ordinary Jewish boys play chess, which, as we pointed out, was a kind of pass to the business and administrative elite of the country. But no - the Michelsons preferred volleyball and basketball, Leonid became a first-class player in both of these sports.
After school, Lenya followed in his father’s footsteps - he entered the Kuibyshev Institute of Civil Engineering, and, surprisingly, in the evening department; Then I switched to daytime. Apparently, he planned to work while studying, but his father insisted that the heir receive a quality education. Mikhelson Sr. gave his son other life lessons...
Leonid’s introductory essay has been preserved, from which it is obvious: the young man had no illusions about the Soviet system. Mentioning the novels of Daniil Granin and Georgy Vladimov as examples of “outstanding works of which we are rightfully proud” is an extraordinary and even provocative act for 1972.
There is no special information about his years of study, but the young man graduated from college successfully, did not join the army, but went to large northern construction sites - to a much harsher school of life. The certified specialist was assigned to Ukraine, but he quickly left his father’s unpromising homeland and went to build the Urengoy-Chelyabinsk gas pipeline. It is unlikely that his father could not provide his son with more comfortable conditions, but the money for the construction foreman was excellent, and besides, Mikhelson Sr. clearly wanted his son to look at the realities of the gas industry from the inside. By the way, the classic way to raise heirs is to let them work at all levels of their father’s business. And the directors of large Soviet enterprises were full-fledged owners, not afraid to raise their voices even at Union ministers. Of course, they could have been fired, but most worked until retirement, and Victor Mikhelson, as we see, even managed to leave the farm to his son.
Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Doesn't like vodka
Leonid Viktorovich himself remembers his years of working on the gas pipeline with a special feeling: it was there that he learned to work with people. Subordinates are mainly former prisoners, with a specific idea of rights, responsibilities and justice. They say that in order to communicate on the same wavelength with the team, one had to drink vodka right from six in the morning - since then, by the way, Mikhelson loves only good wine. At first, he led, like almost any young boss, harshly, and did not gain sympathy from the contingent, but he adapted quickly enough, learned to maneuver, and establish relationships with the most difficult characters. So to speak, an express course in administrative craft in conditions close to combat - where you could get a feather in the ribs for choosing the wrong tone.
In the 1980s, the seasoned specialist was called to build the Samara metro - a much more comfortable job. But Mikhelson refused - he saw his future in the construction of gas pipelines. Not everyone liked the inheritance transfer of power to Kuibyshevtruboprovodstroy, but Mikhelson Sr. seemed to have seen the future. Thanks to this wise step, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren now live in the most comfortable conditions possible in our sinful world...
In 1988, entrepreneurial activity was officially allowed in the USSR. But 33-year-old Mikhelson was not eager to get into business: he already had almost everything; no matter how the Union collapsed, no matter what people came to replace the weakening Gorbachev, the country could not do without pipelines, and it was the Kuibyshev, and since 1991, Samara, region that controlled the nodal point for pumping hydrocarbons to Europe. And experienced specialists remain in demand in any case.
Leonid Mikhelson managed to make the most of his situation.
With the workforce
In 1991, even before the start of the “great privatization,” he managed to corporatize his native enterprise, Kuibyshevtruboprovodstroy, - this was the first issue of shares in the region. 15% of the shares went to the director, who, they say, sold the Lada for this purpose; the rest went to the employees. That is, a giant construction holding with four thousand employees was valued at seven Lada. The company began to be called “Nova” and sharply expanded the scope of its activities: Mikhelson’s people bred nutria and mined marble... Gas and oil regularly went to Europe, but then almost no money was allocated for pipeline maintenance. Enterprises survived as best they could.
In 1993, a fateful acquaintance took place for Mikhelson - with the enterprising director of Purneftegazgeologiya, Joseph Levinson. Now Mikhelson remembers it as “a meeting of two beggars.” Well, I made new friends with begging very quickly. Levinson had deposits, Mikhelson had the opportunity to develop them. They paid by barter - for the labor exploits of his workers, Leonid Viktorovich received shares in the fields. This is how he entered the oil business.
But it was time to take control of Nova itself, because after the pacification of the 1993 uprising it became clear that the new government was serious and here to stay, which means it was time to do business. Our hero chose the path of privatization of the “property of the labor collective” of the Samara people's enterprise “Nova” through the creation of a management company - a fairly common path. In October 1994, Novafininvest gained control of Novaya, and Leonid Mikhelson became the head of the newly formed Novatek holding with serious construction capacity and access to gas and oil fields. The power of the people ended before it really began. And when, a year and a half later, Mikhelson’s bosom partner Joseph Levinzon became vice-governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, on the balance sheet of the former Purneftegazgeologiya, which finally became part of Novatek in 2001, there were several recently state-owned gas fields - East Tarkosalinskoye, Khancheyskoye and, most importantly, Yurkharovskoe. The state received almost nothing from this. But Mikhelson’s empire is already 25 years old. Respectable age.
By the way, the purchase of the Yurkharovskoye field was financed through state guarantees of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug - it is very convenient when you have a good relationship with a top official. And LLC Levit, controlled by Levinzon, which evil tongues decipher as “Levinzon and Comrades,” became a major shareholder of Novafininvest (the name will finally change in 2003). Lean management? Understanding? Corruption? God knows, the investigators were not interested in this.
Photo: www.globallookpress.com
I agreed with everyone
Not everyone was delighted with Novatek's rise. Of course, the all-powerful Gazprom knew that there were fields beyond the control of this state-owned company, but while they were scattered, they were not perceived as a threat. And then a company appeared that consolidated these assets - Dmitry Medvedev, who was in charge of Gazprom at the time, and its head, Rem Vyakhirev, and their subordinates did not experience any delight and, of course, began to actively put a spoke in the wheels of the young brainchild of Nenets Jews.
Novatek (for simplicity, we will call the company a well-known name in our time) did not have the right to export gas - in order to sell its production, it had to enter into an agreement with one of the three exporters - Itera Oil and Gas Company. The cooperation became so mutually beneficial that in 2002 the companies were to merge under the management of Leonid Mikhelson. But that was not the case - Gazprom managed to limit Itera’s access to sales markets, after which the merger became useless. Fair competition? Excuse me, this is the Russia of wild capitalism.
Understanding perfectly who he is and what place he occupies in this world, Mikhelson solved the problem not of fighting Gazprom, but of reaching an agreement with it. He ceded part of his shares to the giant, and at the same time established a partnership with a very influential businessman Gennady Timchenko. And a miracle happened: the former competitors came to a complete understanding. Thus, in 2010-2011, the state-owned Gazprombank sold the luxurious petrochemical corporation Sibur to the private Novatek. Mikhelson and his comrades received a profitable asset, which organically merged into the empire, becoming a large consumer of the products of the holding’s oil fields. And Mikhelson then sold 10% of the shares of this strategic enterprise to the Chinese - now this share belongs to the Silk Road Fund.
It’s funny that at the same time Gazprombank also sold Novatek… shares of Novatek, which Gazprom had once received as part of the search for a compromise.
Photo: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com
And although Leonid Mikhelson is now formally not even the largest shareholder of Novatek (but he successfully controls Sibur), everyone understands whose brainchild this is and who is in charge. Moreover, the corporation’s financial indicators are very good, so there is no talk of a change of power in the world’s second largest gas company by production volumes.
Family happiness
24 billion dollars. 1st place in Russia. What woman got such happiness?
Mikhelson's wife's name is Lyudmila; they studied at the institute together and got married in their senior year. They have two daughters; the eldest, Victoria, as befits the daughter of a tycoon, has a deep sense of art. When the girl became interested in painting, her caring father gave her several art galleries. And when she became interested in the business, he handed over her management with billions of dollars in assets.
But there are rumors that in fact Leonid Viktorovich has not lived with Victoria’s mother for a long time. Lyudmila is mainly in London, and Mikhelson does not like this city, where all sorts of unpleasant stories happen. For example, like in 2014.
Businessman Alexander Tseytlin, who believes that Mikhelson cheated him a little seven years earlier, in the best traditions of Russian businessmen, filed a lawsuit against his former partner in the London High Court. According to the rules, the summons must be served in person, but Leonid Viktorovich was not eager to go to London. They managed to catch him in October, when he came to talk to his eldest daughter.
And a natural comedy ensued. Court messengers tried to hand the non-English-speaking billionaire an envelope with a summons on the street, near, of course, an art gallery. The cameras recorded that he, not yet understanding what was happening, grabbed the corner of the envelope with his right hand, but immediately released it, as if touching a viper. “What is this?” – the British press touchingly quotes Michelson’s question addressed to his daughter. Realizing what it was, the businessman resolutely entered the gallery, but the messengers were not far behind: they tried to stuff the summons into his sleeves, behind the lapels of his jacket, somewhere else. But in vain. As a result, the summons was left on the floor.
More than six months later, the London court considered the excellent case of serving a summons and considered that the messengers had completed their task, and Mikhelson understood everything perfectly.
So Mikhelson does not like Britain, where his wife Lyudmila lives. Spain is much nicer to him, where, according to rumors, his other wife, Olga Eskova, and their common son live. And no one protests, everyone is happy with everything. The king of compromises also showed his skill on the family front. Remember Potanin’s divorce odyssey and appreciate Mikhelson’s tact!
* * *
Of course, Mikhelson is involved in charity work, supports sports clubs and his native school, invests in art, for some reason heads the board of trustees of the Russian Football Union - in general, he leads the typical life of a billionaire philanthropist. But can he be called a good person?
Well, compared to other billionaires from the nineties who will run you over in a tank and not even look back, Mikhelson looks like a sweetheart. There is no trail of bloody stories behind it, some particularly ugly elements of the elevation are hidden and forgotten, it rose after all through creation, construction, which Novatek and Sibur are engaged in to this day. So yes, among the Forbes elite, Mikhelson looks like a purely positive character. Because he knows better than anyone in Russia, firstly, to negotiate, and secondly, to cover his tracks.
Height, weight, age. How old is Leonid Mikhelson
Many who are interested in business in Russia would not mind learning in detail how and how the Russian rich live. Including what his height, weight, age are. How old Leonid Mikhelson is is not a secret at all, because his date of birth is generally known.
Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson was born in August 1955, which means that the man was already 62 years old. As for height, it is quite average, as for a man - 175 centimeters. With this height, the man weighs 78 kilograms.
The nationality of a billionaire may seem stereotypical to some. He is a Jew and does not deny it.
Instagram and Wikipedia Leonid Mikhelson
Instagram and Wikipedia Leonid Mikhelson are the first pages that people interested in Leonid will look for.
There is a page in the Internet encyclopedia. It provides information about his biography, family, as well as personal life, hobbies, career and current activities. As for Leonid Mikhelson’s profile on the Instagram social network, it does not exist and never has existed. However, like profiles on other social networks. According to the billionaire himself, he is not the most public person, so he has no desire to share personal videos and photographs with outsiders.
If you are interested in information about Mikhelson, you can find it on the Novatek website.
Scandals
2005| In 2005, in the offices of NovaTEK in Samara, Salekhard and Moscow, law enforcement officers seized documents - in connection with the filing of two civil lawsuits by the prosecutor's office of the Yamalo-Nenets District - about the unlawful transfer to VEB of 5.6% of NovaTEK shares that belonged to the Regional Yamal Development Fund, and to invalidate the very creation of the fund. (“Vedomosti” dated 06/22/2005, www.polit.ru dated 07/06/2005)
2009| appeared in a case initiated in 2005 regarding the theft of money from Mezhregiongaz, a subsidiary of Gazprom . Six people were involved in the criminal case. The Ministry of Internal Affairs in absentia brought charges against the deputy general director of Mezhregiongaz Igor Dmitriev, the director of the NovaTEK Alexander Lyadov (died in 2007), Galina Sheremet , citizen Gulyaeva (former general director and chief accountant of Trustinvestgaz LLC, TIG), Dmitry Novikov (general director of TIG ), as well as a certain citizen Kataev , posing as the general director of the Investment Agency Intellect and Law LLC.
