Vladimir Potanin

Last year, became the first Russian billionaire to announce he will transfer his fortune to charity, and not his children. Hit hard by financial crisis, had to sell off assets like stake in Polyus Gold. Potanin is now trying to buy out Deripaska in Norilsk Nickel and regain full control; negotiations ongoing. Owns the biggest private media holding in Russia, Prof-Media, which owns magazines, radio stations, movie theaters and broadcasts Russian versions of MTV and VH1. Has variously served as a deputy prime minister of the economy and as partner to George Soros in telecom monopoly Svyazinvest. With fellow billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, built large holding company Interros by winning over the corporate customers of two huge Soviet-era banks in 1992. The two later took control of metals giant Norilsk Nickel and oil company Sidanco in controversial "loans-for-shares" privatization auctions. Split from Prokhorov beginning in early 2007, who sold his stake in Norilsk Nickel to another billionaire, Oleg Deripaska. Mr. Potanin stepped down as one of the Guggenheim Museum trustees, a position he has held since 2002. No reason for the decision, but the museum’s statement referenced the war in Ukraine, and Mr. Potanin has been closely associated with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.