 "Vladimir Potanin, Potanin,")
Even among the cream of eastern Europe’s wealthy, Vladimir Potanin stands out. One of Russia’s “original oligarchs,” the mining tycoon is the richest man in eastern Europe. His fortune of $28.2 billion ranks him 34th in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, between Li Ka-Shing and Elon Musk.
In an interview with Bloomberg this month, he spoke about his personal history and his views of the region’s transformation.
On the Soviet Union
“Many people still feel nostalgia for the Soviet Union as a strong power. We weren’t loved everywhere, but we were respected. Although the communist ideal lives on in many people’s minds, we must
