Alexei Mordashov

Boss of steelmaker Severstal is $8.6 billion richer this year, thanks largely to rebound in steel prices. Despite recovery though still apparently planning to sell at least part of his international assets including Rouge Industries of Dearborn, Michigan and Italian steel producer Lucchini so he can focus on his Russian interests. No takers yet. In addition to steel, has interests in equipment maker Power Machines, tour operator TUI and Russia's biggest online food shop Utkonos. Son of mill worker parents became finance director of a steel mill. When the plant's elderly general director instructed him to buy up company shares so it would not fall into the hands of an outsider, Mordashov bought most of them himself.