In the annual ranking of the richest businessmen in Russia, which is compiled by Forbes magazine, Alexander Skorobogatko confidently takes his place. Of the two hundred participants in the list, he is traditionally among the first fifty. In 2011, the oligarch’s fortune totaled 1,700 million US dollars. Seven years later, the entrepreneur has climbed 20 positions to rank 38 with a net worth of $3,000 million. How did Alexander Skorobogatko manage to achieve such phenomenal success in business?
- FULL NAME: Skorobogatko Alexander Ivanovich
- Date of Birth: September 25, 1967
- Education:Slavic State Pedagogical University (1994), Russian University of Economics. G.V. Plekhanov (1996).
- Business start date/age: December 21, 1987.
- Type of activity at the start: cooperative movement.
- Current activity: Member of the Board of Directors of JSC SIA.
- Current state: $3,000 million, as of 2017, according to Forbes.
- Link to pages in social networks: no.
Character is formed in the family
In the media, Alexander Skorobogatko is called an oligarch and a billionaire, a statesman and political figure, a deputy, an entrepreneur, and a scientist. But first of all, he is an ordinary person: made of flesh and blood, with a warm heart, a twinkle in his eyes, an analytical, precise mindset and an inquisitive nature.
A brief biography of one of the richest people in Russia, Alexander Skorobogatko, originates in Ukraine, in the city of miners known throughout the Soviet Union, Gorlovka, Donetsk region. There, on September 25, 1967, a boy was born in the family of a hereditary miner, who was named Sasha. The head of the family, a representative of a difficult, dangerous and important profession, taught his son to be strong and enduring, patient and persevering. From childhood, the boy knew when to show strength and power, and when to stay away. A curious, restless child absorbed the best qualities of a working person, which in the future were useful in doing business: perseverance and diligence, iron endurance, self-control and devotion.
Figure 1. The small homeland of the entrepreneur is the city of Gorlovka, Donetsk region.
Source: Wikimapia – The Map You Create!
After graduating from secondary school No. 23 in Gorlovka, he served in the Armed Forces of the USSR. He retired from the reserve in 1987. At the end of the same year, twenty-year-old Alexander met a man on his life path who became his business partner for thirty long years. The success story of Alexander Skorobogatko and his life in general are closely connected with the biography and entrepreneurial activities of another billionaire – Alexander Ponomarenko.
For reference: Ponomarenko Alexander Anatolyevich – one of the richest entrepreneurs in the world, investor, banker, developer. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sheremetyevo International Airport, Sheremetyevo Holding LLC, TPS Real Estate Holdings.
Partners in business and life
For thirty years of partnership, businessmen Alexander Skorobogatko and Alexander Ponomarenko have never clashed in the presence of strangers. Colleagues of billionaires call them an ideal tandem and cite aspiring entrepreneurs as an example. Alexander Skorobogatko is three years younger than his friend, he always perceived him as an older brother. Alexander Ponomarenko was the leader: he formed the strategy, made key decisions. Mr. Skorobogatko is a master of covering the rear, a diplomat, a fighter of an invisible front who knows how to smooth out conflicts, solve complex problems, and interact with different people in the right way. It is not surprising that for a long time Alexander Ivanovich built a career as a politician and succeeded in this business! People come to him for advice on maintaining a reputation, political strategy, and image.
Figure 2. Business partner – Alexander Ponomarenko.
Source: State University of Management website
Started a common business in the Crimea
In the late 80s and early 90s in the Crimea, young Alexander Skorobogatko met Ponomarenko and organized a joint business with him. The cooperative movement at that time was gaining momentum, and the young men actively joined it. They were full of strength and energy, the desire to discover a new world. What business partners did not do: commission shops, restaurants, trucking, perfumes brought income. It was the cooperatives that served as a launching pad for many successful entrepreneurs and millionaires.
In a brief biography of Alexander Skorobogatko, it is noted that for five years he worked as a commercial agent for NPP Kerch. In 1992 he moved to the capital and reached a new level of development: he headed the commercial organizations “Sandra”, “Vek Rossii”, “DELPHI”.
“We were young and ambitious, we wanted to grow and develop, open up new horizons, so we moved to Moscow. The city received us favorably,” Alexander Ivanovich said to the journalist of the Vedomosti newspaper.
Banking vicissitudes
The biography and business success story of Alexander Skorobogatko is not only full of ups, there were also wrong decisions and mistakes. As, for example, the case of the infamous Yalosbank, which Skorobogatko and Ponomarenko acquired in 1993. A small bank served about a hundred corporate clients. For two, the partners had about 40% of the shares. Not agreeing with other owners, Alexander Ivanovich and Alexander Anatolyevich left the team and in 1996 became co-owners of JSCB Russian General Bank. In terms of assets, the RSL in 1998 was in 96th position among Russian banks, and in 1999 – in 62nd. In the 2000s, the situation changed, business partners relied on the development of retail and redesigned the bank into a universal bank. In 2005, the RSL license was canceled due to reorganization. The Bank joined OJSC Investsberbank.
For reference: The assets of Investsberbank, as of April 1, 2006, amounted to 24.8 billion rubles. That corresponded to the 48th place in the rating of commercial banks of Russia.
In 2006, the bank was sold to the Hungarian OTP Bank for $477 million. Banking vicissitudes for Alexander Skorobogatko came to an end. Moreover, he and Ponomarenko have new assets that are more important than the previous ones. In 2001, Alexander Ivanovich became a member of the Board of Directors of PJSC Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port. In 2008, one of the most influential businessmen in Russia, Arkady Rotenberg, bought out part of the shares of NCSP from his partners.
“When an offer was received to buy a part of our shares, we assessed the situation and decided to meet halfway. And the proceeds will be used for the construction and operation of shopping and entertainment centers.
In 2011, partners Alexander Ivanovich and Alexander Anatolyevich finally withdrew from the share capital of NCSP, in which their share was more than 70% of the shares.
Together with Arkady Rotenberg, Skorobogatko and Ponomarenko invested in the creation of TPS Real Estate Holding Limited. In 2004, TPS Real Estate, a company controlled by the holding, appeared in Moscow. The company is engaged in the construction of modern shopping and entertainment centers. The organization manages a network of Russian and Ukrainian shopping malls, the total area of which is 900 thousand square meters. m. New facilities are regularly put into operation. The new partner of Skorobogatko and Ponomarenko, Arkady Rotenberg, by the way, owns 100% of the authorized capital of the largest construction company LLC Stroygazmontazh.
Education to help
The success story of Alexander Skorobogatko is based not only on a profitable partnership, diligence, sharpness of mind and perseverance. Fundamental education played an important role. In 1994, he received a diploma in the specialty “Teacher of Physical Education” from the Slavic Pedagogical Institute. Two years later, he became a graduate of the Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov. Specialty – finance and taxation. In 1998, the academic council for the defense of master’s theses at the St. Petersburg Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia awarded Alexander Ivanovich the degree of candidate of legal sciences. Everything that this person does, be it business, politics or science, develops and multiplies. Success is sure to come. Mr. Skorobogatko does not abandon the work he has started halfway through, he brings them to their logical conclusion. Knows how to stay in the shadows, patiently wait for the right moment and use every chance.
Wealth is measured in billions
Figure 3. 38th position in the Forbes rating.
Source: Forbes website
According to the Russian-language version of Forbes magazine, Alexander Skorobogatko, along with Ponomarenko’s partner, Arkady Rotenberg, Suleiman Kerimov, is included in the list of 200 richest businessmen in Russia. In 2011, his fortune totaled 1,700 million US dollars. Six years later, the entrepreneur has climbed 20 positions to rank 38 with a net worth of $3,000 million. Alexander Skorobogatko managed to achieve phenomenal success in business.
Graph 1. Dynamics of state changes over the past seven years
Career as a politician and statesman
Simultaneously with the development of business, Alexander Ivanovich successfully pursued a political career. A diplomat by nature in 1996, he proved himself as an assistant to State Duma deputy Alexander Korovnikov. In August 2002, he was appointed a member of the Federation Council from the administration of the Kaliningrad region. In this case, A.I. Skorobogatko was assisted by Governor Vladimir Yegorov.
In 2003, he got into the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the Liberal Democratic Party. From the United Russia party, the businessman was elected for three terms in a row. A.I. Skorobogatko was responsible for the interaction of the State Duma’s expert advisory council with the business community. Over the years, he was a member of various committees, and served as deputy chairman in them.
Figure 4. Workdays.
In the fall of 2016, the news flashed across all federal TV channels: one of the richest deputies in Russia is resigning his mandate ahead of schedule. At the end of November, Alexander Skorobogatko wrote an application for the early resignation of deputy powers, and on December 2, his request was granted. The reasons were various. For example, that the deputy decided to return to big business.
Video about the decision to surrender the deputy mandate
Still ahead!
Today, Mr. Skorobogatko, his longtime friend and colleague Alexander Ponomarenko and new associate Arkady Rotenberg are the founders of the TPS Real Estate Holdings holding, and through it the businessmen own TPS Real Estate and TPS Avia.
Longtime comrades Alexander Skorobogatko and Alexander Ponomarenko own Sheremetyevo Holding Limited Liability Company, which is the controlling shareholder of Sheremetyevo International Airport. On June 26, 2017, Alexander Skorobogatko became a member of the Board of Directors of SIA JSC. Along with Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo remains the largest airport in Russia.
A modest and reserved person does not cover personal matters.
Figure 5. The heart is open to faith.
Source: ZAMPOLIT website
Alexander Ivanovich Skorobogatko is married. During the years of married life he raised three sons Alexander, Ivan and Vladimir. Master of sports in judo and sambo. The oligarch’s hobbies are hunting and fishing. Alexander Ivanovich is a man of strong will, courage, perseverance and flexibility of mind. He achieved success in business, government and political activities, in the family field and in the creative field. The businessman is not going to stop and rest on his laurels. He is full of ideas, optimism and plans for the future.