Leonid Mikhelson & family

Early Life

Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson was born on August 11, 1955, in Kaspiysk, Russian SFSR, into an Ashkenazi Jewish family. He graduated from the Samara Institute of Civil Engineering in 1977 with a degree in Industrial Civil Engineering.

Rise to Success

Mikhelson began his career as a foreman in a construction and assembling company, working on the Urengoi-Chelyabinsk gas pipeline. His major breakthrough came in the early 1990s when he took control of a pipeline construction company during the post-Soviet privatization wave. He restructured the business into Novatek, which became Russia's largest privately-owned natural gas producer.

Key Business Strategies

Mikhelson's success is attributed to his ability to capitalize on large-scale energy projects and his long-term vision for natural gas exports, particularly to Asian markets. Through strategic investments and partnerships, Mikhelson built an empire in the energy sector. He has partnered with Gennady Timchenko on business and investment projects. He also holds a significant stake in Sibur, a leading petrochemical company in Russia.

Philanthropy

Mikhelson has a strong interest in art and has established the V-A-C Foundation to promote contemporary Russian art. The foundation has international ties with renowned art institutions and supports various cultural initiatives.