Is Vladimir Putin really worth US 40 BILLION??

[pacman06]

After a recent google session I found that some say (Kremlin insiders) than Putin controls a 37 per cent stake in Surgutneftegaz, an oil exploration company, as well as 4.5 per cent of Gazprom, the state energy giant, and at least 50 per cent of Gunvor gained during 8 years of power through a network of front-men.

I know he nowt more than a gangster in a suit but still, how does a former spook muster enough wealth to become the richest man in Europe and a few billions short of being top of a rich list.

I realise this maybe a load of twaddle (I don't want to end up in a hospital bed loosing my hair and end up dead looking like an extra from the walking dead) but.. there is NO way he has what he claims.. his 150k year pay cheque. I believe a mad scientist sort has been speaking publicly and released a book about it so must have some truth to risk a painful slow death!

If true does that make Vlad a cheeky so and so for jailing one of Romans mates a few years ago? Should he be viewed as making Capone and Gotti small time? Must be a role model to some African leaders and other tin pot regimes.

[voyds9]

pacman06 said:

I know he nowt more than a gangster in a suit but still, how does a former spook muster enough wealth to become the richest man in Europe and a few billions short of being top of a rich list.

By bribery, thuggery and politics, just like the rets of the world.

[FourWheelDrift]

A corrupt politician, who'd have guessed that

Every Russian oil & gas billionaire became so through dodgy dealing and bribes, loans for shares in heavily undervalued businesses.

[Ponk]

I'm guessing by knowing where a lot of the bodies are buried.

[Puggit]

You don't need to invest money to make money. You can just be given shares (or options)...

[Ozzie Osmond]

AFAIK Putin is in it up to his neck. There is a massive amount of Russian money kicking about in London and the South East. Putin's included.

[WhoseGeneration]

Well OP, that's one of the results of the "democratisation" of the former USSR.
Market economics, with, presumably, lots of flotations?
If one is innocent.

[RobDickinson]

Information + power > Paycheck.

Who licences oil exploration? etc..

[joe_90]

I 'think' he had quite a large gold reserve too.