The tycoon
Empire builder Deripaska is Russia's richest man, with an estimated net worth of $28 billion. Along with Russian aluminum giant Rusal, his holding company Basic Element controls Russian auto manufacturer GAZ and companies from aviation to construction to financial services. Rusal also owns a 25% stake in Norilsk Nickel, acquired from fellow oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov, to the chagrin of big Norilsk shareholder Vladimir Potanin. One reason Americans haven't seen a lot of Deripaska: The U.S. State Department revoked his visa in 2006. The Wall Street Journal reported that this was partly due to his alleged ties to organized crime. Deripaska has denied any such links, and a spokesman says the billionaire hasn't reapplied for U.S. travel.
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Last updated September 09 2008: 7:52 AM ET
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