Leonid Mikhelson Short biography
Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson, born on August 11, 1955, is a Russian billionaire businessman known for being the CEO and major shareholder of the Russian gas company Novatek. Graduating in Industrial Civil Engineering from Samara Institute of Civil Engineering in 1977, Mikhelson ventured into his career as an engineer. He progressed through various engineering and leadership roles before becoming the General Director of Kuibishevtruboprovodstroy in 1987. In 1994, he assumed the role of General Director of Novafinivest, which later became NOVATEK. Mikhelson holds a strong interest in art, particularly Russian and contemporary art, and established the V-A-C Foundation to promote contemporary Russian art. As of January 2024, his net worth is estimated to be US$20.0 billion as of March 2024.