In the annual wealth rating, compiled by Finance magazine, it was revealed that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich is no longer in the top-three of Russia’s richest people.

But Moscow remains awashed with money. According to an annual ranking of the country’s richest 500, the wealth levels of Russia’s richest are slowly returning to their pre-crisis level. Russia boasted 114 dollar billionaires at the end of last year, compared to 101 in the pre-crisis year of 2007. The top of the rating is dominated by Russia’s “steel kings” – owners of metals plants.

Number one, as last year, is Vladimir Lisin, the low-profile owner of the NLMK steel plant with an estimated worth of $28.3 billion.

Mikhail Prokhorov came second. Onexim Group president owns $ 22,7 billion.

Entering the top three is Alisher Usmanov, majority owner of metal company Metalloinvest, with his $19,9 billion. Ironically, just like Abramovich, he is a shareholder in London’s Arsenal Football Club.

Aluminium company RusAl owner Oleg Deripaska came fourth, with an estimated fortune of $19 billion. That is a striking revival for an oligarch who entered the crisis particularly heavily leveraged.

Roman Abramovich has in fifth place in the list ($17,1 billion). It’s the first time, since its rankings began in 2004, he is outside Finance’ top three.

The magazine explains that the wealth increase is the result of healthy dynamics on the Russian stock market last year. (Source: www.finansmag.ru)

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