Andrei Skoch

Russian parliamentary deputy since 1999 whose wealth comes from 30% stake in iron ore and steel company Metalloinvest. A private company, it's mulling an IPO. Like former business partner and fellow billionaire Lev Kvetnoi, was born in a small settlement near Moscow and studied at the same school of athletics, the Institute of Physical Culture. Later worked for Moscow's MontazhSpetsBank. With Kvetnoi joined billionaire Alisher Usmanov's metallurgical business; Kvetnoi was sent to Oskol Metal Works, while Skoch went to Lebedinsky Mining. Later Usmanov joined the two firms with a third to create the Metalloinvest conglomerate. Kvetnoi sold out, but Skoch remains a partner. Sponsors a literary competition for young authors called Debut.