Alisher Usmanov

Alisher Usmanov
Usmanov in 2013
Alisher Usmanov
Born	9 9, 1953
Birthplace	Chust, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian, Uzbekistani
Occupation	Businessman, investor
Known for	Metalloinvest, USM Holdings, Kommersant publishing house, MegaFon, investments in Facebook, Twitter, Alibaba Group
Awards	President of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (2008–present)

Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov (born 9 September 1953) is a Russian-Uzbek businessman and investor whose fortune derives primarily from his ownership stake in Metalloinvest, one of Russia's largest iron ore and steel producers, as well as early and substantial investments in technology companies including Facebook, Twitter, and Alibaba Group. Born in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, Usmanov rose to prominence in the post-Soviet era through a series of investments in metals, mining, media, and telecommunications. He is the owner of the Kommersant publishing house and a co-owner of MegaFon, one of Russia's largest mobile telephone operators. Since 2008, he has served as president of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international governing body of fencing. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Usmanov was sanctioned by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Ukraine, leading him to temporarily suspend his duties at the FIE. His business career, legal battles, political connections, and sporting involvement have made him a frequently discussed figure in international media and politics.

Early Life

Alisher Usmanov was born on 9 September 1953 in Chust, a city in the Namangan Region of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, then part of the Soviet Union. He grew up in Soviet Uzbekistan during a period of significant industrial and social transformation in the region. Details about his family background indicate that he came from a milieu that valued education and public service.

From 1980 to 1986, while in his late twenties, Usmanov spent six years in a Soviet prison after being convicted on charges of fraud and embezzlement. The conviction, however, was later overturned. In 2000, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan carried out a political rehabilitation of Usmanov, ruling that the case against him had been fabricated and that no crime had been committed. The overturning of the conviction was consistent with a broader pattern of re-examination of Soviet-era judicial proceedings following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, during which numerous convictions were reconsidered and vacated.

Education

Usmanov studied at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), one of the most prestigious universities in the Soviet Union and a training ground for Soviet diplomats and international affairs specialists. MGIMO was known for its rigorous academic curriculum and its role in preparing graduates for careers in foreign service and international commerce. His education at MGIMO provided him with fluency in multiple languages and an understanding of international business that would prove instrumental in his subsequent career.

Career

Early Business Activities

Usmanov began his entrepreneurial career during the final decade of the Soviet Union. By the 1980s, he had established himself as a businessman operating within the Soviet economic framework. However, his early career was interrupted by his imprisonment from 1980 to 1986. Following his release and eventual legal rehabilitation, Usmanov re-entered business life and positioned himself to take advantage of the economic reforms and privatizations that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Metals and Mining

Usmanov's primary source of wealth has been his investments in the metals and mining sector. He holds a 49% ownership stake in Metalloinvest, one of Russia's leading mining and metallurgical companies and one of the world's largest producers of iron ore. Metalloinvest's operations span iron ore mining, hot briquetted iron production, and steelmaking, making it a critical player in global commodity markets.

In addition to Metalloinvest, Usmanov is a co-owner of the Udokan mine, which is developing one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world. The Udokan deposit, located in the Zabaykalsky Krai region of Russia, has been recognized for its enormous reserves and its potential to significantly increase global copper production.

Technology Investments

Usmanov gained international attention for his substantial early investments in several of the world's most prominent technology companies. Through his investment vehicle, Digital Sky Technologies (later rebranded as Mail.ru Group and subsequently VK), Usmanov made significant investments in Facebook (now Meta Platforms), Twitter, and Alibaba Group, the Chinese e-commerce conglomerate. He was also a major investor in VK (formerly VKontakte), Russia's largest social networking platform.

These technology investments proved to be extraordinarily lucrative. The investments in Facebook and Alibaba, in particular, were made at relatively early stages before the companies' respective initial public offerings, generating substantial returns. Usmanov's investment activities in the technology sector drew scrutiny during investigations into the flow of Russian capital into Western technology firms. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), as part of the Paradise Papers investigation, reported on connections between Kremlin-owned entities and major investments in Twitter and Facebook.

Media and Telecommunications

Usmanov expanded his business portfolio into media and telecommunications. He owns the Kommersant publishing house, one of Russia's most prominent media organizations, which publishes the daily newspaper Kommersant along with several other periodicals and media outlets. The acquisition of Kommersant gave Usmanov significant influence over one of Russia's leading independent business and political publications.

In the telecommunications sector, Usmanov is a co-owner of MegaFon, one of Russia's largest mobile telephone operators. MegaFon provides mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband internet, and other communications services to millions of subscribers across Russia. These holdings were consolidated under USM Holdings, an investment company controlled by Usmanov that manages his interests across multiple sectors.

Investment in Arsenal Football Club

Usmanov became a notable figure in English football through his investment in Arsenal Football Club of the Premier League. He began acquiring shares in the club and became one of its largest shareholders, though he was not part of the club's board of directors.

His involvement with Arsenal was marked by public disagreements with the club's board. In 2012, Usmanov launched a public attack on the Arsenal board, criticizing their management of the club and calling for changes in leadership. His shareholding in Arsenal and his ambitions for greater influence at the club were a subject of sustained media interest in the United Kingdom. The Guardian reported extensively on Usmanov's background and his involvement with the club, including his business dealings in Russia.

Usmanov's stake in Arsenal also intersected with the finances of other British football clubs. In 2012, reports emerged connecting Usmanov to the financial situation at Rangers Football Club through complex share transactions.

Esports Investments

Beyond traditional sports, Usmanov also invested in the esports industry. Reports indicated that significant sums were invested in esports teams and infrastructure, reflecting the growing commercial interest in competitive gaming.

Sponsorship of Dynamo

Usmanov has also been involved in sponsoring Russian sports organizations. In 2008, he announced sponsorship of Dynamo, a prominent Russian sports club with teams across multiple disciplines.

Fencing and the FIE

Usmanov has served as president of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international governing body of fencing, since 2008. He was re-elected to the position in 2012. Usmanov has been a patron and supporter of fencing for decades, and his presidency of the FIE has been characterized by increased financial investment in the sport and efforts to raise its international profile.

Following the imposition of international sanctions against him in 2022, Usmanov temporarily suspended his duties as FIE president. He again suspended his duties in 2024 after being re-elected to the position, reflecting the ongoing complications that sanctions have created for his role in international sports governance.

Sanctions and Legal Proceedings

International Sanctions

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Usmanov was sanctioned by the governments of the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The sanctions were imposed on the basis of his described close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Usmanov has denied having close ties to Putin.

The sanctions resulted in the freezing of Usmanov's assets in the relevant jurisdictions and restrictions on his ability to conduct business transactions. Reports indicated that German authorities raided properties associated with Usmanov as part of their enforcement of EU sanctions.

German Investigations and Settlement

German prosecutors conducted investigations into Usmanov over alleged violations of foreign trade law related to sanctions evasion. In December 2025, it was reported that Germany had agreed to close its investigations into Usmanov's alleged foreign trade law violations in exchange for a payment of approximately 10 million euros (nearly $12 million). The Munich II Public Prosecutor's Office closed its probe upon the financial settlement.

The Los Angeles Times reported that German prosecutors agreed to drop the investigation after Usmanov agreed to pay the settlement amount.

Legal Actions in German Courts

Usmanov has pursued legal actions in German courts to challenge media statements made about him. In November 2025, the Hamburg Regional Court ruled in Usmanov's favor regarding claims made by an individual on Facebook about Usmanov and his sister. The court restricted the publication of several contested statements.

In January 2026, a German court further ruled in Usmanov's favor, restricting certain media claims made about him by a German newspaper. A separate court ruling restricted media publications of several contested statements about Usmanov.

Wikipedia Editing Controversy

In 2012, it was reported that Finsbury, a public relations firm, had edited Usmanov's Wikipedia page. The Daily Telegraph reported on the involvement of the PR firm in modifying the content of the encyclopedia article, raising questions about the management of public figures' online profiles.

Personal Life

Usmanov holds citizenship in both Russia and Uzbekistan. He has maintained residences in multiple countries. In the United Kingdom, he was reported to have owned property in London, where plans for a substantial basement renovation drew complaints from neighbors.

Usmanov has been noted for acts of philanthropy. In 2014, he purchased the Nobel Prize medal of James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, at auction and returned it to Watson. Watson had become the first living Nobel laureate to sell his medal, and Usmanov stated that he did not believe a scientist of Watson's caliber should have to sell his prize. The medal was returned immediately after the purchase.

Recognition

Usmanov's role as president of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime since 2008 represents his most prominent position in international sports governance. He has been re-elected multiple times to the role, including in 2012 and again in 2024, though sanctions have repeatedly forced him to suspend his presidential duties.

Forbes has consistently ranked Usmanov among the world's wealthiest individuals. He has been listed as the 149th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with his wealth primarily attributed to his 49% ownership stake in Metalloinvest and his diversified investment portfolio spanning technology, telecommunications, and media.

His purchase and return of James Watson's Nobel Prize medal in 2014 received international media coverage and was noted as a gesture that combined philanthropy with public recognition of scientific achievement.

Legacy

Usmanov's career reflects the broader trajectory of post-Soviet business in Russia and Central Asia. His rise from an entrepreneur in the Soviet era to one of the world's wealthiest individuals followed a path common to many Russian oligarchs: the acquisition of valuable state assets during the privatization era of the 1990s, followed by diversification into technology, media, and international investments.

His early investments in Silicon Valley technology companies, particularly Facebook and Alibaba Group, demonstrated an ability to identify transformative technology platforms before they reached peak valuation. These investments brought significant attention to the role of Russian capital in global technology markets and contributed to broader discussions about the intersection of technology, finance, and geopolitics. The Paradise Papers investigation by the ICIJ further illuminated the channels through which Russian-linked capital flowed into prominent Western technology firms.

The sanctions imposed on Usmanov following Russia's invasion of Ukraine represent a significant chapter in international efforts to apply economic pressure on individuals perceived to be connected to the Russian government. His legal challenges to these sanctions and related media characterizations in German courts have contributed to ongoing legal discourse about the evidentiary standards used to justify sanctions on individuals and the rights of sanctioned persons to contest public statements about them.

His long tenure as president of the FIE has left a mark on the governance of international fencing, though the impact of sanctions on his ability to fulfill this role has raised questions about the intersection of geopolitics and international sports administration.