It pays to be in Vladimir Putin's inner circle, apparently. In 2013, Putin's daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, married Kirill Shamalov. Putin was reportedly so grateful to marry his daughter off that Kirill allegedly received a $380 million stake in Russian petrochemical firm Sibur for just $100 shortly after the wedding. Kirill's father, Nikolay, is also an old friend of Vladimir Putin, which adds another layer of connection to this high-profile marriage. However, details about Katerina's relationship with her father remain private, as Putin is known to be fiercely protective of her personal life. Despite this secrecy, it is widely accepted that Katerina is indeed his younger daughter, and their wedding was a lavish affair held over three days at the Igora ski resort in February 2013.
The $380 million stake for only $100 is currently under investigation for corruption. This deal amounts to a 3.8% stake in a company valued at $10 billion. By paying only $100, Kirill acquired an asset worth 3.8 million times its market value! This suspicious transaction catapulted Shamalov to fame as the youngest Russian billionaire at the age of 32, and he is now 38 years old. The implications of such a deal raise eyebrows regarding the intertwining of wealth, power, and politics in Russia.
It was previously reported that a year after marrying Katerina, Kirill was able to secure a 17% stake in Sibur from a family friend, using a loan for the purchase. Sibur's valuation at the time was $10 billion, and upon completing the transaction, Kirill emerged as the second-largest shareholder with a 21% stake. Remarkably, it now appears that he only spent $100 on the initial stake. This discovery surfaced through leaked emails, revealing not just the questionable financial dealings but also the luxurious lifestyle afforded to the couple.
Beyond financial gains, Kirill received various lavish gifts for marrying Katerina, including a $5.4 million mansion in Biarritz and another home near Moscow, which required $8 million in renovations. However, the couple's relationship took a turn, leading to their divorce in 2018. Following the split, Kirill became involved with a Russian socialite residing in London, Zhanna Volkova. Their affair was exposed in 2017 when a photo surfaced of her dancing intimately with a man at a Valentine's Day party, with Volkova cleverly obscuring Kirill's face with an emoji. The circumstances surrounding these relationships illustrate the intertwining of personal and political relationships in Russia's elite circles.
| Name | Relationship | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Katerina Tikhonova | Daughter of Vladimir Putin | Married Kirill Shamalov in 2013 |
| Kirill Shamalov | Son-in-law of Vladimir Putin | Received a stake in Sibur shortly after marriage |
| Nikolay Shamalov | Father of Kirill Shamalov | Old friend of Vladimir Putin |
| Zhanna Volkova | Socialite | Involved in an affair with Kirill Shamalov |
- The intertwining of personal and political relationships in Russia's elite.
- How wealth can be accumulated through questionable means.
- The implications of corruption investigations on powerful families.
- The impact of personal relationships on political and financial power dynamics.
