Zee Beam News

MOSCOW, February 11, 2009 (RIA Novosti) - The global financial crisis has slashed the total wealth of Russia's top ten billionaires by 66% to $75.9 billion in the last 12 months, a leading Russian financial magazine said on Wednesday. According to Finans's 2008 rating, the combined wealth of Russia's top ten richest people was estimated at a record level of $221 billion. First place was held by Oleg Deripaska, the owner of aluminum giant RusAl, with $40 billion. (Richest Russians - Image Gallery) The 2008 list of Russia's ten richest people also included Roman Abramovich, the owner of London's Chelsea football club ($23 billion). This time last year, it was necessary to possess $15 billion to join the list of Russia's top ten richest people. That figure has now fallen to $4.5 billion, Finans said. Finans is to publish its new rating report on Russian billionaires on February 16.