MOSCOW-(MaraviPost)-Bloomberg Billionaires Index indicates that the fortunes of many wealthy Russians have plummeted this year, with some US$32bn wiped off as tensions intensify in Ukraine.

Topping the super-rich losses list is Gennady Timchenko, who owns stakes in Russian gas producer Novatek as well as other businesses. A third of his wealth disappearing since the beginning of the year, some US$6.47bn.

Another Novatek shareholder, Leonid Mikhelson, shed US$6.2bn while Lukoil Chairman Vagit Alekperov’s fortune dropped around $3.5bn in the same period.

The net worth of the country’s 23 billionaires currently stands at $343bn, according to the wealth list, down from U$375bn at year-end, with US/UK/EU anti-Russian sanctions incoming.

Source: www.expressiveinfo.com