{{Short description|Russian businessman and oligarch}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Suleyman Kerimov | image = Suleyman Kerimov (cropped).jpg | alt = Suleyman Kerimov | birth_name = Suleyman Abusaidovich Kerimov | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|03|12|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Derbent]], [[Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic|Dagestan]], [[Soviet Union|USSR]] | education = [[Dagestan State University]] | children = 3, including [[Said Kerimov]] | office1 = [[Federation Council (Russia)|Russian Federation Senator]]<br />from [[Dagestan]] | term_start1 = 20 February 2008 | term_end1 = | office2 = Member of the [[State Duma]] | term_start2 = 19 December 1999 | term_end2 = 24 December 2007 | website = [http://www.kerimovfoundation.org/ Suleyman Kerimov Foundation] | native_name_lang = ru | native_name = {{nobold|Сулейман Керимов}} | caption = Kerimov in 2010 }}

'''Suleyman Abusaidovich Kerimov''' ({{langx|ru|Сулейма́н Абусаи́дович Кери́мов}}; {{langx|lez|Керимрин Абусаидан хва Сулейман}}; born 12 March 1966) is a Russian billionaire, oligarch,<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0338 |title=Treasury Designates Russian Oligarchs, Officials, and Entities in Response to Worldwide Malign Activity|website=home.treasury.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spisok-putina.org/en/personas/kerimov-2/|title=Kerimov (The database "PUTIN'S LIST")|website=www.spisok-putina.org|accessdate=30 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/french-police-detain-russias-secret-oligarch-in-nice/a-41473977 |title=French police detain Russia's 'secret oligarch' in Nice &#124; DW &#124; 21 November 2017 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2017 |title=Oligarch Suleiman Kerimow wurde in Frankreich festgenommen |newspaper=Die Welt |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article171046459/Ein-Trickser-von-Putins-Gnaden.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/portraet-sulejman-kerimow-oligarch-mit-ferrari-crash/5434864.html|title=Porträt Sulejman Kerimow: Oligarch mit Ferrari-Crash|website=www.wiwo.de|date=11 June 2008 |accessdate=30 November 2022}}</ref> philanthropist<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kavkazr.com/a/politik-milliarder-filantrop-suleyman-kerimov-i-ego-otnosheniya-s-dagestanom-i-chechney/33161304.html | title=Политик, миллиардер, филантроп. Сулейман Керимов и его отношения с Дагестаном и Чечней | date=17 October 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.devex.com/organizations/kerimov-foundation-47822 | title=Kerimov Foundation &#124; Devex }}</ref> and politician of [[Lezgins|Lezgin]] descent. Kerimov maintains close ties to [[Vladimir Putin]]'s administration in Russia,<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> and formerly enjoyed a close relationship with [[Ramzan Kadyrov]], the strongman of [[Chechnya]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Struggle Under Way For Control Of Strategic Russian Port |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/caucasus-report-cutthroat-competition-makhachkala-port/27919418.html |access-date=15 March 2022 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=13 August 2016 |language=en|last1=Fuller |first1=Liz }}</ref> More recently, Kerimov and Kadyrov [[#Conflict_with_Ramzan_Kadyrov|have fallen out]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/ru/kadyrov-prigrozil-krovnoj-mestu-senatoru-sulejmanu-kerimovu/a-70456276 | title=Кадыров пригрозил кровной местью сенатору Сулейману Керимову – DW – 10.10.2024 | website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/15/kadyrovs-blood-feud-is-a-new-escalation-in-his-power-play-a86695 | title=Kadyrov's 'Blood Feud' is a New Escalation in His Power Play | date=15 October 2024 }}</ref>

He entered politics in the 1990s. By 1999, he had gained control of Nafta Moskva, a former state oil trader. In the 2000s, Kerimov secured billions of dollars in loans from major Russian state‑owned banks, such as [[Sberbank]] and [[VTB Bank|VTB]].<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> Through these loans, he acquired substantial stakes in [[Gazprom]] and [[Uralkali]], as well as Sberbank.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> By 2008, his fortune had reached $21 billion,<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> although by 2022 it had declined to $11 billion.<ref name="Forbes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/suleiman-kerimov-family/?sh=55ab43e8174f|title=Suleiman Kerimov & family|website=[[Forbes]] |date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209194632/https://www.forbes.com/profile/suleiman-kerimov-family/?sh=55ab43e8174f |accessdate=30 November 2022|archive-date=9 December 2021 }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/suleiman-kerimov/ |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index |newspaper=Bloomberg.com}}</ref>

Since 2008, Kerimov has represented the [[Republic of Dagestan]] in the [[Federation Council of Russia]].<ref name="Suleyman Kerimov">{{cite news |url=http://www.kerimovfoundation.org/index.php/en/about-us/suleiman-kerimov |title=Suleyman Kerimov |work=Suleyman Kerimov Foundation |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

In 2011, he bought the football club [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala]], which subsequently made a series of high‑profile signings. The club acquired [[Samuel Eto'o]], making him the highest‑paid player in the world.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> In 2013, Kerimov drastically and abruptly reduced the team's funding, leading to a firesale of players.<ref>{{cite news |last=Appell |first=James |date=7 August 2013 |title=Anzhi Makhachkala: Why are big-spending Russians cutting back? |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23603167 |access-date=2 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Waele |first1=Jean-Michel De |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIlcDwAAQBAJ |title=The Palgrave International Handbook of Football and Politics |last2=Gibril |first2=Suzan |last3=Gloriozova |first3=Ekaterina |last4=Spaaij |first4=Ramón |date=2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-78777-0 |pages=273–274 |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2018, he was placed under sanctions by the [[United States Department of the Treasury]].<ref name=":2" /> In the wake of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Kerimov was sanctioned as a [[Russian oligarchs|Russian oligarch]] with close ties to [[Vladimir Putin|President Putin]] by the [[United States|US]], the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and the [[European Union|EU]] on 15 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Grace |title=Fiji issued a restraining order that stops a sanctioned Russian oligarch's $325&nbsp;million superyacht from leaving the country |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sanction-russia-oligarch-superyacht-fiji-restrain-suleyman-kerimov-amadea-putinj-2022-4 |access-date=29 April 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1150217/Russia.pdf |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref> Suleiman Kerimov has been the subject of scrutiny in the United States for a number of years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roush |first=Ty |date=2024-11-14 |title=U.S. Probing Citigroup's Alleged Ties To Sanctioned Russian Billionaire |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/11/14/us-probing-citigroups-alleged-ties-to-sanctioned-russian-billionaire/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=U.S. Treasury Blocks Over $1 Billion in Suleiman Kerimov Trust |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0841 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2022, Kerimov's son [[Said Kerimov]] resigned from the board of [[Polyus (company)|Polyus Gold]] and the family sold its stake in the company, valued at $6.3 billion, thereby relinquishing the position of majority shareholder.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 April 2022 |title=Sanctioned Russian's Family Sells $6 Billion Stake in Gold Miner |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-06/sanctioned-russian-s-family-sells-6-billion-stake-in-gold-miner |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Kerimov was born on 12 March 1966 in [[Derbent]], [[Dagestan]],<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> into a Dagestani [[Lezgins|Lezgin]] family. His [[Ancestral home|ancestral village]] is said to be [[Karakyure]] in the [[Dokuzparinsky District]]. He graduated from high school in 1983 and subsequently enrolled in the [[Civil engineering|Civil Engineering]] Department at the Dagestan Polytechnic Institute in 1984, although his [[Conscription in Russia#Late Soviet Union|obligatory military service]] in the [[Soviet Armed Forces|Soviet Army]] interrupted his studies barely a year later.<ref name="KFoundation">{{cite news |url=http://www.kerimovfoundation.org/index.php/en/about-us/suleiman-kerimov |title=Suleyman Kerimov |work=Suleyman Kerimov Foundation |access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> After completing his service in 1986, Kerimov resumed his studies at [[Dagestan State University]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120412033538/http://dgu.ru/english.html Dagestan State University]</ref> from which he graduated with a degree in [[financial accounting]] and [[economics]] in 1989.<ref name="MFK">{{cite news |url=http://www.mfk-bank.ru/en/about/management/shareholders/58/ |title=MFK International Finance Club |work=Suleyman Kerimov |access-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511071502/http://www.mfk-bank.ru/en/about/management/shareholders/58/ |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> While a student, he served as Deputy Chairman of the university's Trade Union Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persons – The Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund |url=http://gorchakovfund.ru/en/people/7098/ |website=gorchakovfund.ru |access-date=15 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117063910/http://gorchakovfund.ru/en/people/7098/ |archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> It was also at university that Kerimov met his wife, Firuza, the daughter of a former trade union leader.<ref name="themoscowtimes.com">{{cite news |last=Smolchenko |first=Anna |date=1 December 2006 |title=From TV Plant to Secretive Business Empire |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/from-tv-plant-to-secretive-business-empire/200535.html |access-date=12 November 2013 |work=The Moscow Times}}</ref>

Kerimov has said that he had dreamed of making money from an early age, an ambition that later prompted him to leave his native Dagestan in the early 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/ad4e8816-52d0-11e1-ae2c-00144feabdc0.html |title=Suleiman Kerimov, the secret oligarch |work=Financial Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

== Career == === Early career === Soon after his university graduation in 1989, Kerimov took a job as an economist at the Eltav electrical plant in [[Makhachkala]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kerimov Rebound From Morgan Stanley Meltdown Snags on Potash |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-10-23/kerimov-rebound-from-morgan-stanley-meltdown-hits-uralkali-snag |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=15 November 2015 |first1=Irina |last1=Reznik |first2=Yuliya |last2=Fedorinova |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=24 October 2013}}</ref> the capital of [[Dagestan]]. The [[state ownership|state-controlled]] plant supplied [[transistors]] and [[Semiconductors|semi-conductors]] to [[List of television manufacturers|television-makers]], while also producing [[diode]]s, [[microchips]] and [[halogen lamps]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/industry/docs/rus95/m_list.htm |title=Russian Defense Business Directory |work=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref> Kerimov was paid 150 [[Russian rouble|roubles]] (approximately $250 [[United States dollar|dollars]]) a month and he and his wife lived in a worker's hostel attached to the plant, where they shared one room of a two-room flat.<ref name="Catherine Belton">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ad4e8816-52d0-11e1-ae2c-00144feabdc0 |title=Suleiman Kerimov, the secret oligarch |author=[[Catherine Belton]] | work=FT Magazine |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref>

Eventually, Kerimov rose to the rank of [[Director-general|Deputy Director General]] at Eltav and began to dabble in investing alongside during the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|fall of the Soviet Union]].<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

=== Fedprombank === In 1993, Kerimov was put in charge of handling relations between Eltav and Fedprombank, a [[Moscow]] bank established by the electrical company.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> Fedprombank financed lagging industries and Kerimov and his associates soon became creditors to large [[Public utility|utility companies]], allowing them to continue to provide key services. Once the [[Economy of Russia|Russian economy]] stabilized, the debts were repaid with hefty returns for Fedprombank and, consequently, Kerimov.<ref name="descrier.co.uk">{{cite news |last=Holmund |first=Caroline |date=26 October 2013 |title=The impending downfall of Russia's 'Great Gatsby' |url=http://descrier.co.uk/world/2013/10/impending-downfall-russias-great-gatsby/ |access-date=12 November 2013 |work=The Descrier}}</ref>

In 1995, Kerimov was appointed to head the banking and trading company Soyuz-Finans, and by 1997, Kerimov had built a 50% stake in [[Vnukovo Airlines]] and used his leverage to take over Fedprombank, buying out his partners' shares.<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

=== Nafta Moskva === In late 1999, Kerimov bought a 55% stake in the oil trading company Nafta Moskva, the successor to the [[Government monopoly|Soviet monopoly]] firm Soyuznefteexport, for $50&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suleiman Kerimov – Finance Institutions in Mining |url=http://moneytometal.org/index.php/Suleiman_Kerimov |website=moneytometal.org |access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> By 2000, he had increased his stake of Nafta Moskva to 100%.<ref name="Suleiman Kerimov">{{cite news |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mt_profile/suleiman_kerimov/433795.html |title=Suleiman Kerimov |work=The Moscow Times}}</ref> Kerimov undertook a mass restructuring of the company, selling off all of the oil-related aspects and creating an investment and [[holding company]]. Nafta's investments in the mid-2000s included purchase of the business center Smolensky Passazh and AvtoBank.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paper: Kerimov Buys Smolensky Passazh {{!}} Business|url = http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/paper-kerimov-buys-smolensky-passazh/223427.html|website = The Moscow Times| date=6 May 2005 |access-date = 3 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Газета.Ru - Нефтяной пассаж |url=http://www.gazeta.ru/2005/09/29/oa_172426.shtml |website=gazeta.ru |access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref>

=== Gazprom and Sberbank investments === In 2003, Kerimov managed to secure a $43&nbsp;million loan from the state-owned [[Vnesheconombank (Russia)|Vnesheconombank]], which he invested in the oil and gas company [[Gazprom]].<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> Within the next year, share prices for the Russian gas company doubled and Kerimov was able to pay off the entirety of the loan within four months.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gazprom.com/f/posts/48/297688/11gazprom_eng.pdf |title=Annual Report 2003 |work=Gazprom Annual Report |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> In 2004 [[Sberbank]], now the largest bank in Russia and Eastern Europe, provided Kerimov with a loan of $3.2&nbsp;billion,<ref name="themoscowtimes.com" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gfmag.com/tools/best-banks/10925-biggest-banks-in-central-a-eastern-europe-2010.html |title=Biggest Banks in Central and Eastern Europe in 2010 |work=Global Finance |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes {{!}} Как заработать сотни процентов на недвижимости?|url = http://m.forbes.ru/article.php?id=48224|website = m.forbes.ru|access-date = 9 February 2016}}</ref> which was later repaid, and these funds were also invested in equities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.finanz.ru/novosti/aktsii/put-v-spisok-Forbes--shest-strategiy-uspekha-4598495 |title=Six Strategies for Success (in Russian) |work=Finanz |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref> By 2008, Kerimov had amassed a 5% stake in Gazprom, a 6% stake in Sberbank, along with an estimated fortune of $17.5&nbsp;billion, making him the 36th richest man in the world.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> However, in mid-2008, Kerimov sold all his Gazprom and Sberbank shares.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/suleiman-kerimov/ |title=Profile of Suleiman Kerimov |work=Forbes |access-date=6 December 2015}}</ref>

=== Polymetal === In November 2005, Kerimov's Nafta Moskva acquired [[Polymetal International|JSC Polymetal]], one of Russia's largest gold and silver mining companies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.polymetalinternational.com/about-us/history.aspx |title=Company History |work=Polymetal |access-date=12 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113182556/http://www.polymetalinternational.com/about-us/history.aspx |archive-date=13 November 2013}}</ref> In 2007, he took the company public on the [[London Stock Exchange]], then sold 70% of his shares in 2008 before gold would go on to climb to an all-time high in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d00019c6-3b99-11dd-9cb2-0000779fd2ac.html |title=Kerimov Sells Control of Polymetal |work=Financial Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://goldnews.bullionvault.com/gold-price-090620132 |title=Gold Price Peak, Two Years On |work=BullionVault |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> In 2008, Kerimov sold control over Polymetal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/d00019c6-3b99-11dd-9cb2-0000779fd2ac,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fd00019c6-3b99-11dd-9cb2-0000779fd2ac.html%3Fsiteedition%3Duk&siteedition=uk&_i_referer= |title=Kerimov Sells Control of Polymetal |date=16 June 2008 |website=Financial Times |last=Bream |first=Rebecca}}</ref>

===Role in the 2008 financial crisis=== As markets around the world began to tighten in 2007, Kerimov and his associates expected that [[Russia]] would suffer more than the West from the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> A concerted effort was thus made to build closer ties with Western banks. Kerimov decreased his stakes in [[Gazprom]] and other Russian [[Blue chip (stock market)|blue chips]] and approached [[Wall Street]], proposing to invest the vast majority of his fortune to defend the institutions from [[Short (finance)|short-sellers]].<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> In return, it was expected that Kerimov would receive favorable lending terms for future loans.<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

In 2007, Kerimov invested billions in [[Morgan Stanley]], [[Goldman Sachs]], [[Deutsche Bank]], [[Credit Suisse]] and other financial institutions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Suleyman Kerimov |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/suleiman-kerimov/ |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> Though neither Kerimov nor the Western banks have disclosed the exact size of his investment, it was sizeable enough for Kerimov to receive a call from the [[United States Department of the Treasury|United States Treasury]] during the darkest days of the economic crisis imploring the [[Russian oligarch]] not to sell his stakes.<ref name="ft.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ad4e8816-52d0-11e1-ae2c-00144feabdc0 |title=Suleiman Kerimov, the secret oligarch |author=Catherine Belton |work=FT Magazine |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

=== Polyus Gold === Following his losses during the [[2008 financial crisis]], Kerimov shifted his investment strategy to buying stakes large enough to influence the strategies of the companies he invests in.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-23/kerimov-rebound-from-morgan-stanley-meltdown-hits-uralkali-snag.html |title=Kerimov Rebound From Morgan Stanley Meltdown Snags on Potash |work=Bloomberg |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> In 2009, Nafta Moskva bought a $1.3&nbsp;billion stake (37% stake) in OAO [[Polyus Gold]], [[Russia]]'s largest [[gold]] producer, from [[Vladimir Potanin]].<ref name="bloomberg.com" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/kerimov-will-boost-polyus-stake-to-37/376359.html |title=Kerimov Will Boost Polyus Stake to 37% |work=The Moscow Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

Later the stake was increased up to 40.2%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New owners for Polyus Gold? {{!}} Russia Oil and Gas, Metals and Mining News|url = http://rusmininfo.com/news/25-01-2013/new-owners-polyus-gold|website = rusmininfo.com|access-date = 9 February 2016}}</ref> In 2012 the company held an IPO on the London Stock Exchange.<ref>{{Cite news |title=London's Russian IPOs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2012-05-10/londons-russian-ipos |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=11 May 2012 |access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref>

In 2015 Kerimov's share in Polyus Gold was transferred to his son, [[Said Kerimov|Said]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/said-kerimov-may-buy-up-remaining-polyus-gold-shares-1441216694 |title=Said Kerimov May Buy Up Remaining Polyus Gold Shares |last=MacDonald |first=Alex |date=2 September 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=1 February 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/russia-polyus-gold-intl/update-1-co-owner-of-russias-polyus-gold-makes-offer-for-remaining-60-pct-stake-idUKL5N12049H20150930 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202071458/https://uk.reuters.com/article/russia-polyus-gold-intl/update-1-co-owner-of-russias-polyus-gold-makes-offer-for-remaining-60-pct-stake-idUKL5N12049H20150930 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2018 |title=UPDATE 1-Co-owner of Russia's Polyus Gold makes offer for remaining 60 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=1 February 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Property developer PIK Group === In the spring of 2009, shareholders of Russia's construction giant [[PIK Group]] sold 25% of their company's shares to Kerimov.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pik-kerimov-idUSL193674520090401 |title=Kerimov buys stake in Russian developer PIK |date=1 April 2009 |work=Reuters}}</ref> PIK required extra funding after their debt level reached $1.98&nbsp;billion, and the value of their capital fell by more than 40 times to $279.9&nbsp;million. Nafta Moskva later increased its stake in PIK Group to 38.3%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/business/2012/04/03/4120737.shtml |title=PIK was returned to Kerimov |author=Ekaterina Tkachenko |date=April 3, 2012 |publisher=Gazeta.ru |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref>

In December 2013 Kerimov sold his shares to property investor [[Sergei Gordeev]] and businessman [[Alexander Mamut]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/kerimov-sells-pik-stake/491947.html |title=Kerimov Sells PIK Stake |date=23 December 2013 |website=The Moscow Times}}</ref> who owns a stake in precious metals miner Polymetal.

=== Uralkali === In June 2010, Kerimov and his partners [[Alexander Nesis]] and [[Filaret Galchev]] together paid [[Dmitry Rybolovlev]] an estimated $5.3&nbsp;billion for a 53% stake in Russian [[potash]] giant [[Uralkali]], which, together with Belaruskali, at the time made up the duopoly that controlled 70% of the global potash market: the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC).<ref name="Suleiman Kerimov" /><ref name="ft.com" /><ref name="bloomberg.com" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Rybolovlev in talks to sell Uralkali stake |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/8b484088-69b4-11df-8432-00144feab49a,Authorised=false.html?siteedition=intl&_i_location=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.ft.com%252Fcms%252Fs%252F0%252F8b484088-69b4-11df-8432-00144feab49a.html%253Fsiteedition%253Dintl&_i_referer=&classification=conditional_standard&iab=barrier-app |newspaper=Financial Times |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=7 December 2015 |issn=0307-1766 |first=Catherine |last=Belton |author-link=Catherine Belton}}</ref> Kerimov secured substantial loans from Russia's [[VTB]] bank for the [[Uralkali]] takeover.<ref name="ft.com" />

In July 2013, [[Uralkali]] announced it was pulling out of the BPC cartel, dropping prices and increasing production to maximum capacity in a grab for market share.<ref name="ft.com" /> The immediate consequences on the global economy were a 25% drop in [[potash]] prices to around $340 a tonne, harming the prospects of both [[Canpotex|Canadian producers]] and the [[Economy of Belarus|Belarusian economy]]. Belarusian authorities estimate they may lose up to $1&nbsp;billion a year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Clash-Over-Oligarch-Kerimov-Devolves-Into-Gas-Dispute-with-Belarus.html |title=Clash Over Oligarch Kerimov Devolves into Gas Dispute with Belarus |work=OilPrice.com |access-date=13 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/companies-and-industries/potash-uralkali/ |title=Potash price shocker: short-term dive or new pricing paradigm? |work=Canadian Business |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.euobserver.com/rakhlei/2013/08/28/hostage-of-love/ |title=Hostage of Love |work=EU Observer |access-date=12 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113175500/http://blogs.euobserver.com/rakhlei/2013/08/28/hostage-of-love/ |archive-date=13 November 2013}}</ref>

Two weeks after Uralkali's July announcement, Belarusian prime minister [[Mikhail Myasnikovich]] responded by inviting Kerimov and the Uralkali managers to Minsk to discuss the current situation. Uralkali's then-CEO {{Ill|Vladislav Baumgertner|ru|Баумгертнер, Владислав Артурович}} attended in Kerimov's place and was arrested by state security forces and charged with "[[abuse]] of power".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/uralkali-blasts-prosecution-its-ceo-belarus |title=Uralkali Blasts Prosecution of its CEO in Belarus |agency=Associated Press |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Russian CEO Jailed in Potash Dispute |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323407104579036681033953294 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=7 December 2015 |issn=0099-9660 |first=Lukas I. |last=Alpert}}</ref>

In the meantime, Belarus also opened a criminal investigation into other Uralkali employees and its main shareholder Suleyman Kerimov. Baumgertner was held in a Belarusian KGB jail until a plan to change ownership of Uralkali was announced, and Belarus then extradited Baumgertner to Russia.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Belarus Extradites Uralkali CEO Baumgertner to Russia |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-21/belarus-agrees-to-extradite-uralkali-ceo-baumgertner-to-russia |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=7 December 2015 |first=Yuliya |last=Fedorinova |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=21 November 2013}}</ref> Belarus put Kerimov on the national wanted list, and also requested [[Interpol]] to publish a [[Red Notice]] for him. Interpol clarified later that no Red Notice had been issued and that the request was political in nature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PR106 / 2013 / News / News and media / Internet / Home – INTERPOL |url=http://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-media/News/2013/PR106 |website=interpol.int |access-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> The Belarusian authorities later withdrew the case against Kerimov and closed the criminal investigation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20150220/273207189.html |title=Criminal charges against former Uralkali CEO Baumgertner dropped |date=20 February 2015 |website=Rapsi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Criminal charges against former Uralkali CEO Baumgertner dropped |url=http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20150220/273207189.html |website=RAPSI |date=20 February 2015 |access-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> By December 2013, Kerimov sold 21.75% of Uralkali shares to [[Mikhail Prokhorov]] for US$3.7&nbsp;billion<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-uralkali-idUSBRE98C0NM20130913 |title=Kerimov selling $3.7&nbsp;billion Uralkali stake to Russian banker-reports |date=13 September 2013 |work=Reuters |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and 19,99% (for approximately US$2.9&nbsp;billion) to Uralchem.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-02/uralchem-owner-mazepin-agrees-to-buy-20-uralkali-stake.html |title=Uralchem Owner Mazepin Agrees to Buy 20% Uralkali Stake |date=2 December 2013 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=25 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325224232/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-12-02/uralchem-owner-mazepin-agrees-to-buy-20-uralkali-stake |last=Fedorinova |first=Yuliya}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-uralche-uralkali-idUKBRE9B10AR20131202 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726231131/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-uralche-uralkali-idUKBRE9B10AR20131202 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 July 2019 |title=Uralchem shareholders to buy 20 percent of Russia's Uralkali |date=2 December 2013 |work=Reuters |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Media portrayal of business style === ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine describes Kerimov as one of the most private Russian billionaires, who has not given a single interview over 20 years in business.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abakumova |first=Mariya |date=22 April 2010 |title=Как заработать сотни процентов на недвижимости? |trans-title=How to make hundreds of percentage points return on investments in real estate |url=http://www.forbes.ru/ekonomika/nedvizhimost/48224-kak-zarabotat-sotni-protsentov-na-nedvizhimosti |access-date=28 December 2015 |website=forbes.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

Moscow Times quoted a former deputy editor of ''Forbes'' Russia Kirill Vishnepolsky as describing Kerimov as a "Russian Warren Buffett" for a similarly astute investment style.<ref name="themoscowtimes.com" /> A senior Moscow banker is reported to have said of Kerimov: "Sometimes it is difficult to talk to him. He is always a few steps ahead of you. For foreigners, it is next to impossible, even those used to a Russian environment. He is very quick and creative, in a sense that ideas come to him that don't come to other people".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Suleiman Kerimov, the secret oligarch |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/ad4e8816-52d0-11e1-ae2c-00144feabdc0.html |newspaper=Financial Times |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=1 February 2016 |issn=0307-1766 |first=Catherine |last=Belton}}</ref> Kerimov reportedly made extensive use of leverage for his investments, according to financiers and bankers active in Russia.<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

== Other investments == === FC Anzhi Makhachkala === In 2011, Kerimov purchased [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala]], his hometown [[Association football|football]] club which competes in the [[Russian Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web |agency=[[RIA Novosti]] | url=http://sport.rian.ru/sport/20110118/323273254.html |title=Сенатор Керимов приобрел футбольный клуб "Анжи" | date=18 January 2011 |access-date=7 October 2012}}</ref>

In March 2012, it was reported that Kerimov had given the club a [[List of Russian football transfers summer 2012#Anzhi Makhachkala|summer transfer budget]] of over €230&nbsp;million, in an attempt to qualify for the [[UEFA Champions League]] within the next three seasons.<ref name="Джусойти 1">{{Cite news |title=Сулейманово решение |url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2250011 |newspaper=Газета "Коммерсантъ" |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=14 January 2016 |pages=1 |issue=140 |first1=Афсати |last1=Джусойти |first2=Алексей |last2=Доспехов |first3=Петр |last3=Кузнецов |first4=Юлия |last4=Рыбина}}</ref>

Apart from FC Anzhi, Kerimov financed the construction of a modern football stadium [[Anzhi Arena]] for 30,000 spectators and teams from Anzhi's Youth Football Academy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anzhi Stadium Unveiled in Dagestan {{!}} Business|url = http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/anzhi-stadium-unveiled-in-dagestan/480953.html|website = The Moscow Times| date=3 June 2013 |access-date = 14 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Официальный сайт ФК "Анжи" |url=http://www.fc-anji.ru/academy/ |website=fc-anji.ru |access-date=14 January 2016}}</ref>

In August 2013, as a part of new long-term strategy for the club, it was decided to scale back the club's annual budget by $50–70&nbsp;million, down from their previous outlay of $180&nbsp;million a season.<ref name="Джусойти 1" /> The club sold some international players and recruited Russian young players instead.<ref name="Джусойти 1" />

Kerimov sold the club to Osman Kadiyev on 28 December 2016.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[FC Anzhi Makhachkala]] | url=http://www.fc-anji.ru/news/ru/club_news/oficial_noe_zajavlenie_fc_anji281216/ |script-title=ru:Официальное заявление ФК "Анжи" |date=28 December 2016 |language=ru}}</ref>

== Business controversies and investigations == === Business controversy over Nafta Moskva === Shortly after Kerimov bought into Nafta Moskva, the company found itself in a conflict with businessman Andrei Andreev.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> Andreev's assets were transferred to Nafta Moskva, Millhouse Capital and Basic Element. Further dispute brought the parties to the court.

In July 2004 Andreev and Nafta Moskva reached an amicable settlement and the dispute was resolved.<ref name="themoscowtimes.com" />

=== Moskva Hotel ownership and associated issues === Nafta Moskva, controlled by Kerimov, acquired a 25% stake in the [[Hotel Moskva (Moscow)|Hotel Moskva]] project, a multibillion-dollar project to construct a replica of the enormous Stalin-era luxury hotel demolished in 2004. in February 2009, closing the deal by January 2010.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://lenta.ru/lib/14172983/full/ |title=Suleiman Kerimov. Full Profile (in Russian) |work=Lenta.ru |access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref> In September 2010, Member of [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Russian Parliament]] [[Ashot Egiazaryan]] accused Kerimov of conspiring with the [[Government of Moscow|city government of Moscow]] to forcibly acquire his 25% stake in the project.<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> After claiming he received death threats, Egiazaryan fled to the [[United States]] to seek asylum and filed lawsuits in a civil court in [[Cyprus]], the [[London Court of International Arbitration]] and on [[United States Congress|Capitol Hill]] claiming that a campaign of threats of criminal prosecution and armed police raids forced him to give up his shares.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/feb/07/fearful-russian-lawmaker-in-us-egiazaryan/?print=1 |title=Fearful Russian lawmaker Egiazaryan in US |work=Knox News |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> According to Kerimov's lawyer Mr Egiazaryan transferred his interest in the Moskva Hotel as part of a legitimate business deal but was overextended and was deep in debt. Mr Egiazaryan was facing financial ruin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2011/02/06/yegiazaryan-speaks-about-death-threats-a4791 |title=Yegiazaryan Speaks About Death Threats |date=February 6, 2011 |publisher=The Moscow Times |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-07-24/yegiazaryan-putin-kerimov-rotenberg-supreme-court-russia-moscow |title=Exiled in Beverly Hills, a refugee from Putin's Russia fights to keep his $200-million fortune |author=Laurence Darmiento |date=July 24, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref>

Pending deliberation by the courts, Kerimov's assets were frozen, upsetting [[Uralkali]]'s $39&nbsp;billion joint bid with Chinese company [[Sinochem Group|Sinochem]] for the Canadian [[Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan|Potash Corp]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ef30542c-c67b-11df-8a9f-00144feab49a.html?siteedition=intl&siteedition=intl |title=Russian Tycoon's Assets Frozen |work=Financial Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1e6bf9b2-cbf4-11df-bd28-00144feab49a.html |title=Sinochem struggles to mount Potash bid |work=Financial Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> The Nicosia district court in Cyprus lifted Kerimov's billion dollar asset freeze in February 2011, arguing that the plaintiffs "failed to prove the urgency of their petition."<ref name="http">{{cite news |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/cyprus-court-releases-6bln-in-kerimov-assets/431098.html |title=Cyprus Court Releases $6Bln in Kerimov Assets |work=The Moscow Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> According to Egiazaryan's lawyer, Andreas Haviaras, the Cyprus ruling was based on "technicalities" and did not prejudge the merits of the case.<ref name="http" />

The hotel reopened in 2014 under the Four Seasons brand. In October 2015, Suleiman Kerimov sold his interest in the property to businessmen Yury and [[Alexey Khotin]] for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-hospitality-newsletter-oct-2015-en/$FILE/ey-hospitality-newsletter-oct-2015-en.pdf |title=EY Hospitality Newsletter, October 2015 |work=EY Publication |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref>

=== French tax evasion case === In November 2017, Kerimov was arrested by French police at [[Nice airport]] in connection with a [[tax evasion]] case concerning his alleged purchase of several luxury residences on the [[French Riviera]] via [[shell companies]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.unian.info/m/world/2255641-russian-billionaire-lawmaker-detained-by-french-police-for-tax-evasion-media.html |title=Russian billionaire lawmaker detained by French police for tax evasion |agency=[[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency]] | date=21 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-parliament-france-investigatio/russian-billionaire-put-under-formal-investigation-in-france-idUSKBN1DM2X6 |title=Russian billionaire under investigation in France |date=22 November 2017 |work=Reuters}}</ref> The charges were dismissed the following June.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sebag |first1=Gaspard |last2=Fedorinova |first2=Yuliya |date=28 June 2018 |title=Russian Billionaire Kerimov Beats French Laundering Charges |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-28/russian-tycoon-kerimov-wins-dismissal-of-french-criminal-charges |work=Bloomberg}}</ref> In March 2019, French prosecutors placed Kerimov under formal investigation "on suspicion of complicity in tax fraud". He was released on bail of €20&nbsp;million and his lawyer plans to appeal the accusation of fraud.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/605606a6-4b25-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 |title= France opens new tax fraud probe into Russian oligarch Kerimov |website=Financial Times |date=20 March 2019 |language=en-GB |access-date=26 July 2019 |last1=Keohane |first1=David}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tass.com/politics/1049526 |title=French prosecutors launch new probe against Russian senator |agency=TASS |access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref>

=== Sanctions === In April 2018, the United States imposed [[International sanctions during the Ukrainian crisis|sanctions]] on [[List of people sanctioned during the Ukrainian crisis|Kerimov and 23 other Russian nationals]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20180406.aspx |title=Ukraine-/Russia-related Designations and Identification Update |date=6 April 2018 |website=[[United States Department of the Treasury]] | access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://meduza.io/news/2018/04/06/ssha-vveli-sanktsii-protiv-36-rossiyskih-biznesmenov |title=США ввели санкции против семи российских олигархов и 17 чиновников из "кремлевского списка" |trans-title=The US imposed sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs and 17 officials from the "Kremlin list" |date=6 April 2018 |website=[[Meduza]] | access-date=6 April 2018 |language=ru}}</ref>

Kerimov is one of many Russian [[Russian oligarchs|oligarchs]] named in the [[Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act]], CAATSA, signed into law by President [[Donald Trump]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 241 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 Regarding Senior Foreign Political Figures and Oligarchs in the Russian Federation and Russian Parastatal Entities |url=https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rJRW6xrdtLJE/v0 |date=29 January 2018 |format=PDF}}</ref> Also sanctioned by the [[UK]] government on 15 March 2022 in relation to the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref name="auto"/>

== Political career == From 1999 to 2003, Kerimov was a member of the [[State Duma]] of the [[3rd State Duma|3rd Convocation]], the [[lower house]] of the [[Federal Assembly of Russia]], as well as a member of the State Duma Committee for Security.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.komitet2-16.km.duma.gov.ru/|title=Комитет ГД по безопасности и противодействию коррупции|website=www.komitet2-16.km.duma.gov.ru|accessdate=30 November 2022}}</ref> From 2003 to 2007, while continuing his role on the Committee for Security, he was also a member of the 4th Convocation and Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Physical Education, Sports and Youth. He first gained a seat in parliament with the [[Political party LDPR|Liberal Democratic Party]], led by [[Vladimir Zhirinovsky]].<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

Since 2008, Kerimov has served as a member of the [[Federation Council (Russia)|Federation Council]] of the [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Federation Assembly]] of the [[Russia]]n Federation – the [[upper house]] of the Federation Assembly— and represents the [[Dagestan|Republic of Dagestan]].<ref name="Suleyman Kerimov" /> In response to the [[Federal Assembly (Russia)|Russian parliament]]'s passage of a bill prohibiting government officials from holding foreign-issued securities and bank accounts abroad, Kerimov transferred his assets to the trusts controlled by Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, a charity registered in [[Switzerland]], in May 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/kerimov-transfers-assets-to-swiss-charity/479632.html |title=Kerimov Transfers Assets to Swiss Charity |work=The Moscow Times |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> This way, he retained both his position in the [[Federation Council (Russia)|Federation Council]] and beneficiary rights to his business assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.ru/news/238534-suleiman-kerimov-doveril-biznes-blagotvoritelnomu-fondu |title=The Swiss Patron: Kerimov transferred his business assets to his charitable foundation |author=Ivan Osipov |date=April 30, 2013 |work=Forbes |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref> Later, Kerimov's son Said became the sole beneficiary of the said trusts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nashagazeta.ch/news/economie/shveycarskie-podstavnye-lyudi-rossiyskogo-oligarha |title=Des hommes et des femmes de paille suisses pour un oligarque russe |author=Zarrina Salimova |date=April 13, 2022 |publisher=Nashagazeta.ch |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref> Suleiman Kerimov was re-elected to the Federation Council in September 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/37079/ |title=Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of September 26-October 2 |newspaper=Caucasian Knot |access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref>

== Conflict with Ramzan Kadyrov== {{See also|Ramzan Kadyrov-Suleyman Kerimov conflict}} In October 2024, the [[Chechnya|Chechen]] strongman [[Ramzan Kadyrov]] said he was ready to formally declare a blood feud against Kerimov and two Russian State Duma members who he said were planning to order his assassination. In a post on [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] on Wednesday evening, October 9, Kadyrov said he had held a meeting with commanders and heads of Chechnya's security forces. Along with the post, he also posted a nine-minute video with excerpts from the meeting, in which he speaks mostly in Chechen.

As [[TASS]] reports, Kadyrov mentioned Kerimov and State Duma deputies Bekkhan Barakhoev and Rizvan Kurbanov "in the context of the incident in the [[Wildberries]] office." At the same time, in the video, Kadyrov speaks part of the text in Russian. In his speech, you can indeed hear the names of Kerimov and two deputies, but at this point the head of Chechnya is no longer talking about Wildberries.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/ru/kadyrov-prigrozil-krovnoj-mestu-senatoru-sulejmanu-kerimovu/a-70456276 | title=Кадыров пригрозил кровной местью сенатору Сулейману Керимову – DW – 10.10.2024 | website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-chechnya-ramzan-kadyrov-blood-feud-assassination-lawmakers-rcna174820 | title=Chechnya's Kadyrov threatens 'blood feud,' accuses Russian MPS of plotting his murder, state media reports | website=[[NBC News]] | date=10 October 2024 }}</ref>

[[Sergey Melikov]], [[Putin]]-appointed head of [[Dagestan]], supported Kerimov, claiming that the latter 'can count on the support of the Dagestani people'.<ref>{{cite web | title=Глава Дагестана ответил на угрозы Кадырова в адрес Керимова – DW – 13.10.2024 | url=https://www.dw.com/ru/glava-dagestana-otreagiroval-na-ugrozy-kadyrova-sulejmanu-kerimovu/a-70480980 | website=[[Deutsche Welle|DW]] | date=13 October 2024 }}</ref>

== Personal life == Kerimov's father was a [[lawyer]] at a [[criminal investigation]] institution, while his mother was an [[accountant]] for the [[Sberbank|Savings Bank of Russia]].<ref name="KFoundation" /> He is married and has three children.

In October 2011, Kerimov used his connections to fly Western financial figures such as [[Jamie Dimon]] of [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan]], [[Richard Parsons (businessman)|Richard Parsons]] of [[Citigroup]] and [[Stephen A. Schwarzman|Stephen Schwarzman]] of [[Blackstone Group|Blackstone]] to [[Moscow]] in support of [[Dmitri Medvedev|Medvedev]]'s initiative to turn Moscow into an "international financial centre".<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

=== Wealth === [[File:Ice - yacht.JPG|thumb|left|From 2005 to 2015, Suleyman Kerimov owned the superyacht, ''[[Ice (yacht)|Ice]]''.]] [[File:Mistral Yacht Kieler Foerde.JPG|thumb|left|The superyacht ''Amadea'']]

In 2006 Kerimov was listed among the world's 100 richest people and as Russia's eighth richest man ranked by ''Forbes''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suleiman Kerimov, The World's Richest People |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/FDAK.html |access-date=3 January 2016 |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJQ145yt7G0C |title=100 Richest People in the World for Smartphones and Mobile Devices – Illustrated History of Their Life and Wealth |date=1 January 2007 |publisher=MobileReference |isbn=978-1-60501-123-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia's Richest, Twice as Rich {{!}} News |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2006/3/article/russias-richest-twice-as-rich/206312.html |access-date=3 January 2016 |website=The Moscow Times}}</ref> He had a net worth of $6.9&nbsp;billion as of 2014, with the previous years' net worth estimated at $7.1&nbsp;billion (2013) and $6.5&nbsp;billion (2012).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suleiman Kerimov |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/suleiman-kerimov/ |access-date=3 January 2016 |website=Forbes}}</ref>

In 2020, Kerimov's fortune doubled due to a sharp rise in gold prices. In August 2020, he became the richest businessman in Russia for a while. His family's fortune almost entirely based on the 77 percent holding in [[Polyus (company)|Polyus]] gold company was estimated at $24.7&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2020 |title=How did Suleiman Kerimov amass a $25 bln fortune? |url=https://thebell.io/en/how-did-suleiman-kerimov-amass-a-25-bln-fortune/}}</ref> At the end of 2020, the value of the assets of the Kerimov family was estimated at $20.9&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 December 2020 |title=Десять российских миллиардеров за год разбогатели на $33 млрд: топ-10 бизнесменов по росту состояния в 2020-м |url=https://www.forbes.ru/milliardery-photogallery/417163-desyat-rossiyskih-milliarderov-za-god-razbogateli-na-33-mlrd-top-10 |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> By 2022, his wealth had decreased to $11&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Forbes.com" /><ref name="ReferenceA" /> He keeps vast assets through networks of offshore companies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2022 |title=An oligarch's nephew, a tattoo artist and $700&nbsp;million in secret transfers traced to a Putin ally – ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/kerimov-putin-banks-secret-transfers-offshore/ |access-date=12 April 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 2022 |title=Hidden wealth of one of Putin's 'inner circle' revealed |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61028866 |access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>

He owns a villa in Cap d'Antibes, France ([[Villa Hier]]).<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> On 26 November 2006, in [[Nice, France]], Kerimov was seriously injured after losing control of a $650,000 [[Ferrari Enzo]] on the [[Promenade des Anglais]].<ref>{{cite news |date=27 November 2006 |title=Suleiman Kerimov Badly Injured in Car Wreck |work=Kommersant |url=http://www.kommersant.com/p725048/Suleiman_Kerimov/ |url-status=dead |access-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730140738/http://www.kommersant.com/p725048/Suleiman_Kerimov/ |archive-date=30 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="Catherine Belton" /> He suffered severe burns as a result of the accident.<ref name="Catherine Belton" />

Known for spending much of his fortune on parties, the Russian billionaire has paid for celebrities such as [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Shakira]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/node/143321 |title=World's 100 Largest Yachts 2008 #21: Ice |work=Power & Motoryacht |access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref> [[Amy Winehouse]]<ref name="Catherine Belton" /> and [[Jessie J]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/russian-tycoon-pays-300k-for-jessie-98286 |title=Russian tycoon pays £300k for Jessie J to perform at bash |work=The Mirror |access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref> to perform at his events.

From 2005 to 2015, Kerimov owned one of the world's largest private [[yachts]], which is known as ''[[Ice (yacht)|Ice]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.clubyacht.net/yachts-and-owners/suleyman-kerimov-and-his-superyacht-ice/ |title=Suleyman Kerimov and his Superyacht Ice |work=Club Yacht |access-date=30 April 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> Previously known as ''Air'', she was built by German company [[Lürssen]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://yachts.monacoeye.com/yachtsbysize/pages/ice01.html |title=Ice |work=Monaco Eye |author=Roger Lean-Vercoe |access-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> ''Ice'' measures {{convert|295|ft|m|abbr=off}} in length, and can reach a speed of {{convert|18.6|kn|km/h mph}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boatinternational.com/yacht-features/iconic-yachts-ice/ |title=Iconic yachts: Ice |work=Boat International |access-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> She has won the Superyacht of the Year award at the World Superyacht Awards in 2006, and is currently the 78th largest yacht in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/the-register/top-100-largest-yachts/?sortby=length&filter_country&filter_builder&pg=4 |title=Top 100 largest yachts |work=Boat International |access-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> He sold ''Ice'' to The Ministry of Defence for the Republic of [[Equatorial Guinea]] in 2015.<ref name="Helmer2017-11-28">{{cite news |url=http://johnhelmer.net/high-stakes-game-of-hide-and-seek-at-suleiman-kerimovs-villas-in-cap-dantibes/ |title=High Stakes Game of Hide and Seek at Suleiman Kerimov's Villas in Cap D'Antibes |date=28 November 2017 |work=JohnHelmer.net |location=Moscow |last=Helmer |first=John |author-link=John Helmer (journalist) |access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="SuperYachtIce">{{cite web |url=https://www.superyachtfan.com/superyacht_ice.html |title=All You Need to Know About Suleiman Kerimov and his Yacht ICE |work=SuperYacht Fan website |access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="FullStory2018-01-27">{{cite news |url=https://www.beam.land/yachts/the-full-story-of-the-yacht-bought-by-equatorial-guinea-869 |title=The full story of the yacht bought by Equatorial Guinea |date=27 January 2018 |work=Beam.Land website |access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref>

In 2022 there were reports that he was the owner of the superyacht ''Amadea''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/fiji-investigates-arrival-russian-oligarchs-vessel-questions-captain-2022-04-14/ |title=Fiji investigates arrival of Russian oligarch's vessel, questions captain |publisher=[[Reuters]] | date=14 April 2022 |access-date=14 April 2022}}</ref> In April 2022, it was seized by [[Fiji]] police at Lautoka Port as Fijian high court granted a restraining order to Fiji Police to restrain it for being allegedly linked with Kerimov.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun/Pacnews |first=Fiji |title=Fiji police seize Russian superyacht Amadea |url=https://www.mvariety.com/news/fiji-police-seize-russian-superyacht-amadea/article_c2e73a9c-bbb6-11ec-a70c-cfeae277aec8.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |website=Marianas Variety News & Views |language=en}}</ref> In May 2022, Fiji's High Court ruled that US authorities can seize the yacht.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Court in Fiji approves U.S. warrant to seize Russian-owned mega-yacht |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-oligarch-yacht-fiji-suleiman-kerimov-amadea/ |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=3 May 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> A possible [[Fabergé egg]] was found aboard the yacht.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/agents-find-alleged-faberge-egg-on-russian-yacht-seized-by-us | title=Faberge Egg Was Found Aboard Seized Russian Yacht, US Says | newspaper=[[Bloomberg.com]] | date=21 July 2022 }}</ref> In February 2024, US authorities revealed their desire to auction the yacht due to its "excessive" upkeep. The yacht reportedly costs $7 million a year to maintain and monthly costs include $360,000 to pay the crew, $165,000 on maintenance and other expenses, and $75,000 on fuel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/russian-oligarchs-seized-yacht-costs-7-million-year-maintain-us-says-2024-02-12|title=Russian oligarch's seized yacht costs $7 million a year to maintain, US says|website=Reuters |date=12 February 2024|access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy === [[File:The opening of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque (2015-09-23) 03.jpg|thumb|Kerimov, [[Mahmoud Abbas]], [[Vladimir Putin]] and [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] opened Moscow's Cathedral Mosque, 23 September 2015.]]

Kerimov established the Suleyman Kerimov Foundation in 2007.<ref name="WelcomeSKF">{{cite news |url=http://www.kerimovfoundation.org/index.php/en/ |title=Welcome |work=Suleyman Kerimov Foundation |access-date=13 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sazonov |first1=Alex |last2=Meyer |first2=Henry |date=23 August 2013 |title=Russia's wealthiest feeling more charitable |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/russias-wealthiest-feeling-more-charitable/2013/08/21/4d52b19a-06d3-11e3-9259-e2aafe5a5f84_story.html |access-date=15 March 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The Kerimov Foundation has donated to mosque and church constructions, as well as sent thousands of pilgrims to [[Mecca]] on [[Hajj]] annually.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dagestani students to go on Hajj for free |work=IslamDag.info |url=http://www.islamdag.info/news/2329}}</ref> Kerimov spent $100&nbsp;million on the construction of the [[Moscow Cathedral Mosque]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 September 2015 |title=Putin praises anti-extremism efforts as Moscow mosque reopens – BBC News |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34335519 |access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=One of Europe's Biggest Mosques to Open in Moscow {{!}} News |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/one-of-europes-biggest-mosques-to-open-in-moscow/534609.html |access-date=3 January 2016 |website=The Moscow Times|date=22 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>"[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34335519 Putin praises anti-extremism efforts as Moscow mosque reopens]". BBC News. 23 September 2015.</ref>

Kerimov was involved in the reconstruction of the Zarechenskaya secondary school, an advanced comprehensive school west of [[Moscow]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Сулейман Керимов получил орден "За заслуги перед Московской областью" от губернатора Андрея Воробьёва |url=http://governors.ru/news/Suleyman-Kerimov-poluchil-orden-Za-zaslugi-pered-Moskovskoy-oblastyu-ot-gubernatora-Andreya/28268 |access-date=19 February 2017 |website=governors.ru |language=ru-RU}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 February 2017 |title=Губернатор Андрей Воробьёв наградил орденами олигарха Керимова и его жену |language=ru |newspaper=moskva.glavny.tv |url=https://moskva.glavny.tv/news/49423 |url-status=dead |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716054014/https://moskva.glavny.tv/news/49423 |archive-date=16 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 February 2017 |title=Губернатор Андрей Воробьёв наградил орденами олигарха Керимова и его жену |language=ru |work=moskva.glavny.tv |url=https://moskva.glavny.tv/news/49423 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716054014/https://moskva.glavny.tv/news/49423 |archive-date=16 July 2018}}</ref> Kerimov is a sponsor of the Sirius educational centre for gifted children, located in Sochi and Dagestan.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Колесников |first1=Андрей |title=Ребятам о деньжатах |newspaper=Коммерсантъ |url=http://kommersant.ru/doc/3042676 |access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Center for Gifted Children to be opened in Dagestan |url=http://www.riadagestan.com/news_en/society/center_for_gifted_children_to_be_opened_in_dagestan_/ |access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sirius Altair educational centre for gifted children opens in Dagestan, Russia |language=en-US |work=Getty Images |url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/head-of-dagestan-ramazan-abdulatipov-speaks-at-a-ceremony-news-photo/657221242#head-of-dagestan-ramazan-abdulatipov-speaks-at-a-ceremony-held-at-the-picture-id657221242 |access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sirius Altair educational centre for gifted children opens in Dagestan, Russia |language=en-GB |work=Getty Images |url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/schoolchildren-attend-a-ceremony-held-at-the-dagestan-state-news-photo/657218976#schoolchildren-attend-a-ceremony-held-at-the-dagestan-state-technical-picture-id657218976 |access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Robin |date=29 May 2017 |title=Good News for Dagestan's Gifted and Talented Students |url=http://finallygoodnews.net/2017/05/29/good-news-dagestans-gifted-talented-students/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813181851/http://finallygoodnews.net/2017/05/29/good-news-dagestans-gifted-talented-students/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 August 2017 |access-date=16 July 2017 |website=Finally Good News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ЛезгиЯр |title=Рамазан Абдулатипов наградил Сулеймана Керимова (Указ) – 15 Марта 2016 - Сулейман Керимов |url=http://lezgi-yar.ru/news/ramazan_abdulatipov_nagradil_sulejmana_kerimova_ukaz/2016-03-15-4174 |access-date=30 April 2017 |website=lezgi-yar.ru}}</ref>

Kerimov is head of the supervisory board of the Russian Wrestling Federation, and is a member of the [[Gorchakov Fund|Gorchakov Foundation]]'s supervisory board.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees – Gorchakov Fund |url=http://gorchakovfund.ru/about/trustees/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202015014/http://gorchakovfund.ru/about/trustees/ |archive-date=2 February 2015}}</ref> The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) honored Kerimov the "Gold Medal" in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wrestrus.ru/users/658 |title=Сулейман Керимов {{!}} Федерация спортивной борьбы России|website=wrestrus.ru|access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref>

On 20 March 2017, Kerimov was awarded the [[Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"]], II class by President Vladimir Putin for his outstanding contribution to the development of parliamentarianism and legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201703200043?index=4&rangeSize=1 |title=Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации |website=publication.pravo.gov.ru |access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref> {{Clear}}

== See also == * [[List of Russian billionaires]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Commons category-inline}} {{Current Russian Federation senators}} {{Privatization in Russia}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerimov, Suleyman}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Derbent]] [[Category:Russian people of Lezgian descent]] [[Category:Liberal Democratic Party of Russia politicians]] [[Category:Members of the Federation Council of Russia (after 2000)]] [[Category:Russian billionaires]] [[Category:Russian football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:Russian oligarchs]] [[Category:FC Anzhi Makhachkala]] [[Category:Russian individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions]] [[Category:Russian individuals subject to European Union sanctions]] [[Category:Russian individuals subject to United Kingdom sanctions]] [[Category:Third convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]] [[Category:Fourth convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]] [[Category:Dagestan State University alumni]]