From Grokipedia
Full articleLeonid Viktorovich Mikhelson (born 11 August 1955) is a Russian billionaire businessman and the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Novatek, Russia's largest independent natural gas producer. Mikhelson built his fortune through strategic investments in the energy sector, beginning with pipeline construction in the 1980s and establishing Novatek in 1994 as Novafininvest, which he transformed into a major player in natural gas extraction and liquefaction projects. He holds significant stakes in Novatek (approximately 25%) and the petrochemical company Sibur (around 57.5% combined with partners), contributing to his estimated net worth of $28.4 billion as of October 2025, positioning him as one of Russia's wealthiest individuals. Beyond energy, Mikhelson is a notable patron of contemporary art, having funded the renovation and operation of the GES-2 cultural center in Moscow to promote artistic initiatives.
In brief
Leonid Mikhelson came out of pipeline construction in the Soviet twilight and kept the pipes. Novatek grew from that inheritance into a company that matters on the world gas map.
He is also a collector and a giver to the arts. The fortune is industrial. The public face has often been a man standing beside a canvas.
Photographs
Hero photograph: Wikimedia Commons
