BBI: Russian billionaires gain $1 billion in January

MOSCOW, Feb 1 (PRIME) -- The combined wealth of Russia’s billionaires increased by U.S. $1.37 billion in January, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index (BBI) seen by PRIME on Monday.

The index is calculated basing on capitalization and financial reports of companies owned by the businessmen, or on capitalization to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) ratio and or a share price to earnings per share ratio. The rating comprises 500 wealthiest people of the world, including 22 Russians.

Vladimir Potanin, one of the core owners of metals giant Norilsk Nickel, was ranked number one among the richest Russians with his fortune rising by $704 billion to $30.7 billion.

Leonid Mikhelson, co-owner of independent gas producer Novatek was on the second place with the wealth falling by $403 million to $24.4 billion.

Vladimir Lisin, the main beneficiary owner of steel producer Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), was third with his fortune increasing by $358 billion to $24.2 billion.

Key owner of Severstal Alexei Mordashov ranked fourth losing $994 million to $22.1 billion, and Alisher Usmanov, owner of mobile operator MegaFon, was fifth with the wealth falling $69 million to $21 billion.

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