Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, in 1957, Boris Rotenberg is a Russian-Finnish billionaire businessman, the co-owner of the SGM Group, and a central figure in Russian sports. His life is inextricably linked to his elder brother, Arkady Rotenberg, and their childhood friend, Vladimir Putin.

Boris was very involved in martial arts, particularly judo, from 1968 to 1978, training alongside Putin in Anatoly Rakhlin's sambo club. This shared discipline forged a powerful bond. In 1992, Boris moved to Helsinki, Finland, where he became a professional judo trainer and acquired Finnish citizenship. During the chaotic 1990s, he and his brother traded in petroleum products. This background in sports, international living, and early commodity trade provided the political and financial platform for his massive rise in Russian industry.

Boris Rotenberg's executive career is marked by strategic acquisitions and lucrative state contracts secured through his powerful connections. In 2001, he and his brother co-founded SMP Bank (Severny Morskoy Put Bank), which quickly expanded across 40 Russian cities. The bank became a major supplier of large-diameter gas pipes, aligning perfectly with the interests of Gazprom.

His wealth accumulation accelerated with massive, state-sponsored infrastructure projects. Boris was involved in 20 construction projects for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, winning contracts reportedly worth €5 billion. This included the major coastal highway to Adler, where the Olympic Park was constructed. This focus on state-sponsored construction, finance, and sports (he was President of FC Dynamo Moscow and the Russian Judo Federation) solidified his billionaire status. Following international sanctions in 2014, he and his brother were blacklisted, underscoring the political nature of their fortune.

Boris Rotenberg's philanthropy is heavily concentrated on sports and youth development, reflecting his background as a judo trainer. His executive role as President of the Russian Judo Federation and his support of the SMP Racing program are massive structural contributions to national athletic excellence and high-profile motorsports.

His wealth has also been channeled into building major sports facilities, such as the state-funded $180 million facility for the Yavara-Neva professional judo club (co-founded with his brother). This dedication to martial arts and sports development provides a powerful, national platform for his social influence.

Boris Rotenberg maintains the sharp, powerful style of a close political associate and industrial magnate. His attire is consistently bespoke and high-end, favoring tailored dark suits that reflect his status in both Moscow and his adopted home of Finland. His aesthetic is one of disciplined, measured authority.

His luxury lifestyle is global and includes properties in Finland and Russia. He is a major figure in motorsports, investing heavily in race car construction and racing teams (SMP Racing). His private jet (a Bombardier Challenger 300) was famously seized due to sanctions in 2019, underscoring the legal complexities of his fortune. His life is dedicated to the intersection of industrial power, high finance, and competitive sport.