Oleg Deripaska

Oleg Deripaska
AntonPopper777 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Oleg Deripaska
Birth date	January 2, 1968
Birth place	Dzerzhinsk, Gorky Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Businessman

Oleg Deripaska is a Russian businessman and founder of Basic Element, a diversified Russian conglomerate with interests in aluminum, energy, construction, and finance. He has been involved in various business ventures, including Rusal, one of the world's largest aluminum producers, and has worked with prominent figures such as Roman Abramovich and Mikhail Prokhorov. Deripaska's business career has been marked by significant milestones, including the acquisition of Siberian Aluminum and the creation of United Company Rusal. He has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including supporting the Russian Orthodox Church and the Bolshoi Theatre.

● Early Life and Education

Oleg Deripaska was born in Dzerzhinsk, Gorky Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, and grew up in a family of Russian intellectuals. He studied at the Moscow State University, where he earned a degree in physics and later attended the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. During his time at university, Deripaska was influenced by prominent Russian economists, including Yegor Gaidar and Anatoly Chubais, who played a significant role in shaping Russia's economic reforms in the 1990s. Deripaska's education also included a stint at the University of Cambridge, where he studied business administration and was exposed to the ideas of Milton Friedman and Joseph Schumpeter.

● Business Career

Deripaska's business career began in the early 1990s, when he worked as a trader for the Russian company Soyuzcontract. He later became involved in the aluminum industry, working with companies such as Siberian Aluminum and Rusal. In 2000, Deripaska founded Basic Element, a diversified Russian conglomerate with interests in aluminum, energy, construction, and finance. He has also been involved in various other business ventures, including Glencore International, United Company Rusal, and En+ Group. Deripaska has worked with prominent business leaders, including Vladimir Potanin, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and Roman Abramovich, and has been involved in various high-profile deals, including the acquisition of Siberian Aluminum and the creation of United Company Rusal. He has also been a member of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and has worked with organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Chamber of Commerce.

● Controversies and Sanctions

Deripaska has been involved in several controversies throughout his career, including allegations of money laundering and corruption. In 2018, he was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) due to his alleged ties to the Russian government and Vladimir Putin. The sanctions also targeted other prominent Russian business leaders, including Igor Sechin and Andrey Kostin. Deripaska has denied any wrongdoing and has taken steps to reduce his stake in En+ Group and United Company Rusal in an effort to comply with the sanctions. He has also been involved in a high-profile lawsuit against the United States Department of the Treasury, challenging the sanctions and alleging that they are unfair and violate his rights under the United States Constitution. The case has been heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and has involved prominent lawyers, including Alan Dershowitz and David Boies.

● Personal Life

Deripaska is married to Polina Deripaska, a Russian businesswoman and philanthropist. He has two children and is known to be a private person, preferring to keep a low public profile. Deripaska is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church and has been involved in various charitable efforts, including supporting the Bolshoi Theatre and the Russian Museum. He has also been a supporter of the Russian arts and has worked with prominent Russian cultural figures, including Valery Gergiev and Mikhail Piotrovsky. Deripaska's personal life has also been marked by his interest in sports, particularly football and hockey, and he has been involved in various sports-related philanthropic efforts, including supporting the Russian Football Union and the Kontinental Hockey League.

● Philanthropy and Public Activities

Deripaska is a prominent philanthropist and has been involved in various charitable efforts, including supporting the Russian Orthodox Church, the Bolshoi Theatre, and the Russian Museum. He has also been a supporter of the Russian arts and has worked with prominent Russian cultural figures, including Valery Gergiev and Mikhail Piotrovsky. Deripaska has been a member of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and has worked with organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Chamber of Commerce. He has also been involved in various public activities, including serving on the board of the Skolkovo Foundation and the Russian Geographical Society. Deripaska's philanthropic efforts have been recognized by various organizations, including the Russian Federation, which has awarded him the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honour. He has also been awarded the Medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland and has been recognized as one of the most influential Russian business leaders by publications such as Forbes and Kommersant.