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Mikhail Prokhorov

Mikhail Prokhorov

M. Prokhorov
1.45% | + $155.51M
$10.85 B ₹ 98,676 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #288 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Mikhail Prokhorov

Gender

Male

Age

60Y

Country

Russia

Born On

May, 1965

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Single

Children

Unknown

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Metals)

Primary Organization

Onexim Group

Titles

Founder

Sources of Wealth

Norilsk Nickel (Sold), Onexim Group

Industry

Metals, Mining, Investments, Sports

About Mikhail Prokhorov


M ikhail Prokhorov is a towering Russian oligarch who made a vast fortune in the metals and mining industry during the tumultuous privatization of state assets in the post-Soviet era. He partnered with Vladimir Potanin, and together they gained control of Norilsk Nickel, one of the world's largest producers of nickel and palladium. Prokhorov served as the CEO and was instrumental in restructuring the massive industrial company.

In 2007, just before the global financial crisis, Prokhorov astutely sold his stake in Norilsk Nickel for a combination of cash and stock, a deal that netted him a massive windfall and insulated him from the worst of the market crash. He has since focused on managing his wealth through his private investment vehicle, Onexim Group. He is also well known internationally for his ownership of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team, which he bought in 2010 and sold in 2019 to Joseph Tsai. He also made a brief foray into Russian politics, running against Vladimir Putin in the 2012 presidential election.

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Quick Reads


  • Made his fortune in the privatization of Norilsk Nickel, a major mining company.
  • Sold his stake in Norilsk Nickel for a massive cash windfall in 2007, just before the financial crisis.
  • Former owner of the Brooklyn Nets NBA franchise.
  • Ran against Vladimir Putin in the 2012 Russian presidential election.
  • He is also a citizen of Israel and Cyprus.

Early Life and Background


Mikhail Dmitrievich Prokhorov is a Russian businessman, the self-made billionaire Former Owner of the Brooklyn Nets (NBA) and a major figure in metals, mining, and finance. His career is rooted in metallurgy, strategic asset privatization, and high-profile political and sports ventures.

Prokhorov graduated from the Moscow Finance Institute (1989) with a degree in International Economic Relations. His philosophical approach centers on opportunistic acquisition, scale consolidation, and political influence (running for President of Russia in 2012). His structural wealth is tied to his immense stake in Norilsk Nickel (mining) and his successful exits from his industrial and sports assets.

  • Norilsk Nickel (Former Shareholder): The foundational source of his wealth, tied to the global dominance of nickel and palladium production (sold in 2008).
  • Brooklyn Nets (NBA) (Former Controlling Owner): The NBA franchise he acquired in 2010 and sold to Joseph Tsai in 2019/2020.
  • Political Role: He ran for President of Russia in 2012 (finishing third) and founded the Civic Platform political party.
  • Investment Strategy: His success is built on acquiring and restructuring state-owned industrial assets during privatization (metals, mining, finance).

Career Journey of Mikhail Prokhorov


Mikhail Prokhorov's strategic genius was his mastery of industrial privatization. He and his partner, Vladimir Potanin, founded the holding company Interros and acquired control of Norilsk Nickel (the world's largest nickel and palladium producer) in the mid-1990s. His structural contribution is immense: driving the privatization and globalization of Russia's industrial mining sector.

His public focus shifted to sports and politics. He acquired the New Jersey Nets (later Brooklyn Nets) in 2010 for $200 million, promising an NBA championship. In 2012, he ran for President of Russia, finishing third. He sold the Nets (at a massive profit) and his industrial assets to focus on private investment. His wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains from the Norilsk Nickel and Nets sales.

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Mikhail Prokhorov's Timeline


1989:

Graduates from the Moscow Finance Institute (Academic Achievement).

1995 (approx.):

Acquires Norilsk Nickel with Vladimir Potanin (Industrial Apex).

2008:

Sells his stake in Norilsk Nickel (Major Exit 1).

2010:

Acquires the New Jersey Nets (NBA) (Sports Acquisition).

2012:

Runs for President of Russia (Political Apex).

2020 (September):

Sells his remaining stake in the Brooklyn Nets to Joseph Tsai (Major Exit 2).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and major private investor (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Mikhail Prokhorov's wealth is concentrated in the liquid capital generated from the Norilsk Nickel and Brooklyn Nets sales and his private investment firm, Onexim Group.

  • Norilsk Nickel (Former Shareholder): The foundational source of his wealth, tied to the global dominance of nickel and palladium production (sold in 2008).
  • Brooklyn Nets (NBA) (Former Controlling Owner): The NBA franchise he acquired in 2010 and sold to Joseph Tsai in 2019/2020.
  • Political Role: He ran for President of Russia in 2012 (finishing third) and founded the Civic Platform political party.
  • Investment Strategy: His success is built on acquiring and restructuring state-owned industrial assets during privatization (metals, mining, finance).

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Mikhail Prokhorov's social impact is structural, stemming from Norilsk Nickel's role as a massive industrial employer and foundational supplier of essential metals globally. His investment in the Brooklyn Nets provided a major civic asset for New York City. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives (including the Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation).

His structural contribution is tied to the successful privatization and modernization of Russian industrial assets and his high-profile involvement in Russian politics.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Mikhail Prokhorov maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global financial and sports sectors.

Residing in Russia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, political influence, and sports patronage.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Former Controlling Owner of the Brooklyn Nets (NBA).
  • He ran for President of Russia in 2012.
  • He sold his stake in Norilsk Nickel (world's largest nickel producer) for massive gains.
  • He holds a degree in International Economic Relations.
  • He sold the Nets to Joseph Tsai (Alibaba co-founder) in a transaction valued at $2.3 billion (from a related search).
  • He is one of Russia's wealthiest businessmen.
  • His wealth is tied to the successful privatization and consolidation of Russian mining assets.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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