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In the world today
Vladimir Melnikov

Vladimir Melnikov

V. Melnikov
0% | + $0.00M
$1.27 B ₹ 11,573 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2797 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Vladimir Melnikov

Gender

Male

Age

77Y

Country

Russia

Born On

March, 1948

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Fashion)

Primary Organization

Gloria Jeans

Titles

Founder & Chairman

Sources of Wealth

Gloria Jeans

Industry

Fashion, Retail, Apparel

About Vladimir Melnikov


V ladimir Melnikov is a self-made Russian billionaire who is the founder and chairman of the board of directors of Gloria Jeans, one of Russia's largest and most successful fast-fashion and apparel retailers. He founded the company in the early 1990s, during the turbulent post-Soviet era, after having been imprisoned during the Soviet period for the 'crime' of private enterprise. He has since built Gloria Jeans into a massive retail empire with hundreds of stores across Russia and other former Soviet countries.

Gloria Jeans is a vertically integrated company that designs, manufactures, and sells its own line of affordable, casual clothing, with a particular focus on denim. The brand is a household name in Russia and is often compared to international fast-fashion giants like H&M and Zara. The company remains privately held by Melnikov, and his ownership of this massive retail enterprise is the source of his billion-dollar fortune. He is known for his deep Orthodox Christian faith, which he has integrated into the culture of his company.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder and Chairman of the Russian fast-fashion retailer Gloria Jeans.
  • A self-made billionaire, he was imprisoned during the Soviet era for private enterprise.
  • His company is one of the largest apparel retailers in Russia.
  • Gloria Jeans is famous for its denim and other casual wear.
  • He is known for his devout Orthodox Christian faith.

Early Life and Background


Vladimir Vladimirovich Melnikov is a Russian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Executive of Gloria Jeans Group, a major Russian manufacturer and retailer of fashion apparel and denim. His career is rooted in retail, entrepreneurial audacity, and industrial manufacturing.

Melnikov's philosophical approach centers on scale, vertical integration (controlling the entire supply chain from design to manufacturing and retail), and long-term commitment to affordable mass-market fashion. He founded Gloria Jeans in 1988 in Rostov-on-Don, recognizing the immense, untapped domestic demand for modern, affordably priced clothing.

  • Gloria Jeans Group (Founder & Executive): The core private asset, a major manufacturer and retailer of fashion apparel and denim (operating hundreds of stores across Russia and the CIS).
  • Retail Pioneer: His success is built on scale manufacturing and vertical integration and dominating the domestic market for affordable, branded apparel.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in industrial assets and retail real estate and leveraging the massive Russian consumer growth story.

Career Journey of Vladimir Melnikov


Vladimir Melnikov's strategic genius was his commitment to controlling the supply chain. He founded Gloria Jeans in 1988, successfully building it into Russia's dominant mass-market apparel brand by vertically integrating manufacturing and retail. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern, scale apparel manufacturing and retail model that transformed the Russian retail sector.

He remains Founder and Executive, guiding the company's continuous expansion and technological modernization. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global apparel, retail, and manufacturing sectors.

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Vladimir Melnikov's Timeline


1988:

Founds Gloria Jeans Group (Founding).

2000s:

Gloria Jeans expands aggressively, achieving dominance in Russian mass-market apparel retail (Retail Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and Executive, guiding the massive private retail empire (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Vladimir Melnikov's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the private retail giant, Gloria Jeans Group, and his private investments.

  • Gloria Jeans Group (Founder & Executive): The core private asset, a major manufacturer and retailer of fashion apparel and denim.
  • Retail Pioneer: His success is built on scale manufacturing and vertical integration and dominating the domestic market for affordable, branded apparel.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in industrial assets and retail real estate and leveraging the massive Russian consumer growth story.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Vladimir Melnikov's social impact stems from Gloria Jeans Group's role as a massive industrial employer and provider of essential apparel and fashion, contributing significantly to the retail and manufacturing sectors in Russia. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives, often focused on youth development and local community welfare in Rostov-on-Don.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Vladimir Melnikov maintains the professional, pragmatic style of a corporate 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 global retail sector.

Residing in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to retail scale, strategic management, and industrial efficiency.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and Executive of Gloria Jeans Group (major Russian apparel retailer).
  • Gloria Jeans is a dominant mass-market brand, known for denim and affordable apparel.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful monetization and scale of the vertically integrated retail model.
  • He founded the company in 1988.
  • He holds an estimated net worth in the billions of dollars (2025 estimate).
  • His philosophy emphasizes scale, vertical integration, and cost efficiency.

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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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