6 of 8
BACKNEXT
The entrepreneur
The entrepreneur
Mikhail Fridman, 44, Alfa Group

This oil magnate reportedly started out selling tickets to shows and washing windows in a co-op, but since teaming with college buddies to form Alfa Group - which has had interests in everything from computers to supermarkets to phones, plus big bets on banking and oil - he hasn't looked back. His ambitions include the creation of a "Eurasian Vodafone." But he's probably best known outside Russia for his investment in the troubled joint venture between Russia's TNK and Britain's BP. BP picked a partner known for his toughness: Harried competitors and others have accused Fridman of exerting pressure through such time-honored tactics as bribes, press manipulation, and other abuses of power.

NEXT: The tycoon
Last updated September 09 2008: 7:52 AM ET
More Galleries
5 biggest share buybacks of 2014
5 biggest share buybacks of 2014
Stock repurchases are booming. These five companies are ready to spend over $79 billion on buybacks. More
10 horrifying corporate mascots
10 horrifying corporate mascots
McDonald's Happy is part of a long lineage of creatures great and small that shill for products and mortify consumers. Mr. Mucus, anyone? More
5 best cities to launch a career
5 best cities to launch a career
The top spots in the U.S. for new grads to land a job -- and actually enjoy life -- according to financial site WalletHub. More
Contact Us Closed Captioning Manage Cookies+ Site Map

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.