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Nikolai Buinov

Nikolai Buinov

N. Buinov
0.71% | + $41.53M
$5.88 B ₹ 53,503 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #702 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Nikolai Buinov

Gender

Male

Age

58Y

Country

Russia

Born On

July, 1967

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

1

Education

St. Petersburg State University Of Economics

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Oil & Gas)

Primary Organization

Irkutsk Oil Company

Titles

Founder & Chairman

Sources of Wealth

Irkutsk Oil Company

Industry

Energy, Oil & Gas

About Nikolai Buinov


N ikolai Buinov is a Russian oil and gas magnate, best known as the founder and majority shareholder of the Irkutsk Oil Company (INK). His story is one of building a major energy player from the ground up in the challenging post-Soviet landscape of Siberia. Unlike many of his contemporaries who acquired assets through the controversial privatizations of the 1990s, Buinov started his company in 2000. He and his father, a former Soviet oil official, acquired several under-explored oil licenses in the Irkutsk region of Eastern Siberia, an area not traditionally known for major oil production.

For years, Buinov and his team methodically explored and developed their assets, reinvesting profits into the business. The company's breakthrough came with the discovery of the large Yaraktinskoye and Markovksoye fields. A crucial turning point was securing partnerships and financing from international institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Goldman Sachs, which provided both capital and a stamp of legitimacy. INK also became a key supplier to the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline, giving it a direct route to lucrative Asian markets. Buinov has maintained a controlling stake in the company he built, making him one of Russia's few self-made energy billionaires who did not benefit from the loans-for-shares auctions.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder and majority owner of the Irkutsk Oil Company (INK).
  • Started his company in 2000 by acquiring licenses in Eastern Siberia.
  • Built the company without participating in the 1990s privatizations.
  • Attracted major international investors like Goldman Sachs and the EBRD.
  • His company is a key supplier to the ESPO pipeline to Asia.

Early Life and Background


Nikolai Mikhailovich Buinov is a Russian businessman, the self-made billionaire Chairman and CEO of Irkutsk Oil Company (INK), a major private oil and gas exploration and production company in Eastern Siberia. His career is rooted in geology, resource extraction, and strategic project development.

Buinov holds a degree in Geology and pursued graduate studies at the Irkutsk Polytechnic Institute. His philosophical approach centers on resource control, technological efficiency, and long-term asset hold in the essential oil and gas sector. His structural contribution is tied to pioneering private oil production in the remote regions of Eastern Siberia.

  • Irkutsk Oil Company (INK) (Chairman & CEO): The core private asset, a major Russian oil and gas exploration and production company (operating major fields in Eastern Siberia).
  • Industrial Focus: His success is built on scale extraction and vertical integration across the oil and gas production supply chain.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in industrial assets and leveraging the massive global energy commodity demand.
  • Academic Background: He holds a degree in Geology.

Career Journey of Nikolai Buinov


Nikolai Buinov's strategic genius was his commitment to high-risk resource development. He founded Irkutsk Oil Company (INK) in 1996, recognizing the immense, untapped potential of the Eastern Siberia oil and gas fields. Under his leadership, INK grew rapidly, securing major exploration licenses and developing production capacity. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering private oil production in challenging and remote regions of Russia.

His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global oil and gas resource sector.

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Nikolai Buinov's Timeline


1970s (approx.):

Graduates with a degree in Geology (Academic Achievement).

1996:

Founds Irkutsk Oil Company (INK) (Founding).

2010s:

INK expands rapidly, achieving major oil production milestones (Industrial Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder, Chairman, and CEO, guiding the massive energy giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Nikolai Buinov's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the private energy giant, Irkutsk Oil Company (INK), and his private investments.

  • Irkutsk Oil Company (INK) (Chairman & CEO): The core private asset, a major Russian oil and gas exploration and production company (operating major fields in Eastern Siberia).
  • Industrial Focus: His success is built on scale extraction and vertical integration across the oil and gas production supply chain.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in industrial assets and leveraging the massive global energy commodity demand.
  • Academic Background: He holds a degree in Geology.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Nikolai Buinov's social impact is structural, stemming from INK's role in providing essential oil and gas resources for global energy security. His companies contribute significantly to regional economic stability and job creation in Eastern Siberia. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization and scale of Russia's energy and resource sectors.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Nikolai Buinov maintains the professional, composed style of an industrial executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the high-capital energy sector.

Residing in Irkutsk, Russia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to resource control, technological innovation, and the long-term, stable growth of the oil and gas empire.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Chairman and CEO of Irkutsk Oil Company (INK), a major private oil and gas producer in Eastern Siberia.
  • His company was founded in 1996.
  • He holds a degree in Geology.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful privatization and resource development of Eastern Siberia.
  • He is known for maintaining a private profile despite his vast corporate interests.
  • His wealth is estimated at $2.1 billion (2024 estimate).
  • His philosophy emphasizes resource control and long-term asset hold.

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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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