Alexander Abramov – A Question-and-Answer Biography
Alexander Abramov
The Russian billionaire Alexander Abramov is a man of many faces. While he is a tough businessman, and founder of one of the largest steel companies in the world, he is equally at home in the thick of nature, taking part in different sports and hanging out with his friends and family.
Q: Where and when was Alexander Abramov born?
A: Abramov was born on February 28th, 1959. His full name is Alexander Grigoryevich Abramov and he is of Jewish descent. Abramov was born in Krasnodar, Russia.
Q: Where and what did Abramov get his education?
A: Alexander Abramov began his career as a scientist in the early 1980s. He went on to graduate from the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1982. Abramov headed a laboratory at the Joint Institute for High Temperatures, which, according to Bloomberg, was a “research body that studies high energy densities and shock wave physics and applied electrodynamics”. He has a Ph.D in Physics and Mathematics.
Q: How did Abramov shift from science to business?
A: Although Abramov started off working for Russia’s space and defense program, the collapse of the former Soviet Union and a decline of government funding as a result, led to his move into the world of business.
Together with some of his former classmates from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Abramov shifted into the world of steel by forming EvrazMetall. The business exported Russian steel from the beginning. The foundation of the company Evraz began with the acquisition of three major Russian steel plants between 2001 and 2003, namely The Novokuznetsk Iron and Steel Plant, the West Siberian Iron and Steel Plant and the Nizhny Tagil Iron and Steel Plant.
Q: How did Abramov make most of his wealth?
A: Evraz listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005, which was a pivotal time for Abramov. He and his partners sold Evraz shares and raised more than $400 million. Just one year later, they collected a further $3 billion when they sold just over 40% of Evraz to rival Russian businessman and billionaire, Roman Abramovich. Abramov turned his attention to gold, forestry and mobile technology before pairing up with Abramovich once more in 2013 when they bought a stake in the world’s second-largest nickel producer, Norilsk Nickel.
Q: What is Abramov’s net worth?
A: In June 2021, Forbes said that Abramov has an estimated net worth of just over $8 billion.
Q: Is Alexander Abramov married?
A: Yes. The 63-year-old is married to Svetlana. The couple have three children: Yegor, Natalya and Alexander Jr.
Q: What does Abramov do for recreation?
A: Abramov owns a massive country estate in Helena Bay, New Zealand. He regularly spends quality time there and in other locations around the world, playing sports, fishing and kayaking.
Q: Does Abramov give to charity?
A: Yes, he does. Abramov does a lot of public and charity work. He donates a fair portion of his fortune to different charities. He has also been granted the Russian Decoration for Beneficence for his philanthropic activities.
