Sociologists have compiled a portrait of a super-rich Russian – Kommersant

Sociologists have compiled a typical portrait of the richest Russians – these are men with higher education from a good family who have made a fortune in the fuel and energy complex, finance or industry. Scientists from the Institute of Social Policy of the National Research University Higher School of Economics wrote about this in an article for the magazine “World of Russia”.

The work says that in the Forbes top 200 of the wealthiest Russians there is a low turnover of representatives of the group – in recent years, the share of new businessmen in it has varied around 3%. More than 90% of the richest people in Russia who have been on the list for the last 10 years were represented on it earlier. This results in the average age of the ultra-rich becoming higher – 58 years in 2021 and 50 years in 2011. From 2011 to 2021, the average wealth of businessmen increased – $2.5 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively.

The study also says that among the richest Russians, people with science education dominate. Most businessmen studied at universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a quarter of the country’s super-rich residents received a second education or an academic degree. Most often, according to the publication, the Forbes top 200 included people who grew up in highly educated families. Super-rich Russians are more likely to choose foreign education for their children.

Sociologists note that the Forbes list is dominated by men. At the same time, in recent years, women have become more often included in it: in 2011 their share was 0.5%, in 2021 – 3.5%. Most of them became billionaires by building their own businesses.

Read more in the Kommersant article “Money loves stability”.

Petr Buzlaev