# Valentin Gapontsev

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Russian-American billionaire (1939–2021)

Valentin Gapontsev Валентин Гапонцев Gapontsev in 2011 Born Valentin P. Gapontsev (1939-02-23)23 February 1939 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union Died 22 October 2021(2021-10-22) (aged 82) Citizenship Russian and American Education Lviv Polytechnic National University Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Occupation Laser physicist Known for Founder, CEO and chairman, IPG Photonics Spouse Married Children 1

**Valentin P. Gapontsev** (23 February 1939 – 22 October 2021)[1] was a Russian-American laser physicist, [billionaire](/source/Billionaire), and the founder, CEO, and chairman of [IPG Photonics](/source/IPG_Photonics). At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at US$2.3 billion.[2]

## Early life

Valentin Gapontsev was born in Moscow, the son of an artillery captain.[3] The family moved to [Lviv](/source/Lviv) in 1946, and he spent the next 20 years there.[3] Graduating from the [Lviv Polytechnic National University](/source/Lviv_Polytechnic_National_University) in 1961, he completed a doctoral program in the [Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology](/source/Moscow_Institute_of_Physics_and_Technology).[4]

## Career

After completing his doctorate, he joined the [Soviet Academy of Sciences](/source/Soviet_Academy_of_Sciences) [Institute of Radio-engineering and Electronics](/source/Institute_of_Radio-engineering_and_Electronics) in 1967, where he specialized in laser material physics, researching synthesis of [active gain medium](/source/Active_gain_medium) materials.[4][5]

In 1990, Gapontsev founded [IPG Photonics](/source/IPG_Photonics) at age 51. In a small laboratory near [Moscow](/source/Moscow%2C_Russia), he and his team invented a way to make [fiber laser](/source/Fiber_laser) technology practical.[6] His first contract was a $750,000 sale to [Italtel](/source/Italtel), fulfilled by establishing IPG Laser GmbH factory in [Burbach](/source/Burbach%2C_North_Rhine-Westphalia), which was employing 500 workers in 2011.[4]

In mid-1990s, he expanded his business into the US by partnering with [Dallas](/source/Dallas)-based [RELTEC](/source/General_Electric_Company#Marconi_plc_(1999–2002)) Communications to produce 10,000 [optical amplifiers](/source/Optical_amplifiers) for new [BellSouth](/source/BellSouth) fiber network, which was being built to connect 5 millions of US households to Internet. [IPG Photonics](/source/IPG_Photonics) was incorporated in the US in 1998.[4] After moving his firm to the US, he raised $100 million investment from [Merrill Lynch](/source/Merrill_Lynch) and [Apax Partners](/source/Apax_Partners).[7] IPG specializes in production of telecommunications and industrial high-power lasers. According to Forbes, Gapontsev's firm controlled 80% of the high-power [fiber laser](/source/Fiber_laser) market in 2011.[4] Its revenue reached $1.4 billion in 2017.[7] Gapontsev and his family own 47.6% of IPG.[8]

In 2011, Gapontsev received the Russian Federation National Award in Science and Technology.[1]

In 2019, Gapontsev was erroneously sanctioned as a "[Russian oligarch](/source/Russian_oligarch)". The decision was later reversed by the [US Treasury](/source/US_Treasury).[9]

In 2020, *[Forbes](/source/Forbes)* ranked him No. 359 on the Forbes 400 of the richest people in America.[10]

## Personal life

He was married, with one child, and lived in [Worcester, Massachusetts](/source/Worcester%2C_Massachusetts).[2]

Gapontsev died on 22 October 2021. The cause of death is unknown, but it is known that he had cancer.[11] The official corporate memorial encourages donations to local surgical oncology and liver and pancreas research funds.[12]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kremlin.ru_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kremlin.ru_1-1) ["Valentin Gapontsev"](http://en.kremlin.ru/supplement/960). *President of Russia*. Retrieved 7 February 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Forbes_profile_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Forbes_profile_2-1) ["Forbes profile: Valentin Gapontsev"](https://www.forbes.com/profile/valentin-gapontsev/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-spie.org_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-spie.org_3-1) ["Independent Thinker: Valentin Gapontsev of IPG Photonics"](https://spie.org/membership/spie-professional-magazine/spie-professional-archives-and-special-content/july-2007/independent-thinker?SSO=1). *spie.org*. Retrieved 7 February 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-forbesruhv_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-forbesruhv_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-forbesruhv_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-forbesruhv_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-forbesruhv_4-4) Kutuzov, Roman (25 April 2011). ["Он ушел из науки в бизнес в 51 год. Сейчас у него $800 млн"](https://www.forbes.ru/rating/ekonomika/lyudi/67109-russkaya-hvatka) [He left science for business at 51. Now he's worth $800mln]. *Forbes*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140117024307/http://www.forbes.ru/rating/ekonomika/lyudi/67109-russkaya-hvatka) from the original on 17 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Hagerty, James R. (9 November 2021). ["Russian Scientist Brought Laser Technology to U.S."](https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-scientist-brought-laser-technology-to-u-s-11636120801) *The Wall Street Journal*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Hecht, Jeff (28 October 2021). ["Valentin Gapontsev leaves behind impressive tech legacy"](https://www.laserfocusworld.com/blogs/article/14213036/valentin-gapontsev-leaves-behind-impressive-tech-legacy). *Laser Focus World*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wapo18_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wapo18_7-1) Mufson, Steven (3 August 2018). ["The tribulations of 'oligarch' No. 27"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-tribulations-of-oligarch-no-27/2018/08/02/8304c30c-8eb7-11e8-b769-e3fff17f0689_story.html). *The Washington Post*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180804111356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-tribulations-of-oligarch-no-27/2018/08/02/8304c30c-8eb7-11e8-b769-e3fff17f0689_story.html?utm_term=.1ad1dcdef608) from the original on 4 August 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** MAIN, Peter S. Cohan WALL &. ["Valentin Gapontsev, Worcester's aging billionaire"](http://www.telegram.com/article/20121202/COLUMN70/312029994). *telegram.com*. Retrieved 7 February 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mufson, Steven (11 September 2019). ["Treasury admits Russian-born physicist shouldn't be on oligarch list that it cribbed from Forbes"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/treasury-admits-russian-born-physicist-shouldnt-be-on-oligarch-list/2019/09/11/41e06db2-d4c1-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html). *The Washington Post*.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Valentin Gapontsev & family"](https://www.forbes.com/profile/valentin-gapontsev/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 13 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Умер российский миллиардер Валентин Гапонцев"](https://www.azerbaycan24.com/ru/umer-rossiyskiy-milliarder-valentin-gapontsev/). *www.azerbaycan24.com* (in Russian). 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["In Memoriam: Dr. Valentin Gapontsev"](https://www.ipgphotonics.com/in-memoriam.html). *www.ipgphotonics.com*. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.

## External links

- [Published works](https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/V-P-Gapontsev-2004688229)

- [Patents](https://patents.google.com/?inventor=Valentin+Gapontsev)

Authority control databases: Academics Scopus

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Valentin Gapontsev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentin_Gapontsev) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentin_Gapontsev?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.