Bidzina Ivanishvili & family

Early Life and Education

Bidzina Ivanishvili was born on February 18, 1956, in Chorvila, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children in a poor family. His father worked in a manganese factory. He graduated from Tbilisi State University in 1980 with a degree in engineering and economics and later pursued a PhD in economics at the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering.

Rise to Success

Ivanishvili's business career began in 1988 in the Soviet Union, where he founded a cooperative. He later partnered with Vitaly Malkin, selling computers and push-button telephones in Moscow. During the privatization era after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they acquired assets in the metals and banking sectors, which became the foundation of his wealth.

Political Career and Influence

In 2012, Ivanishvili entered Georgian politics, founding the Georgian Dream party. His party won the parliamentary election, and he served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2013. After stepping down as Prime Minister, he has remained a significant influence in Georgian politics, serving as chairman of Georgian Dream from 2018 to 2021, and later as honorary chairman.

Philanthropy

Ivanishvili is known for his extensive philanthropy through the Cartu International Charity Foundation, which has invested in various projects, including the arts, sports, agriculture, and infrastructure.