Mikhail Prokhorov: Democracy Now in Russia

"What worked before does not work now. Look in the streets. People are not happy."


"Stability at any price is no longer acceptable for Russians." 


"I am against any revolution, because I know the history of Russia. Every time we have revolution, it was a very bloody period." 

"We now have all the pieces in place to move very fast to being a real democracy." 

Mikhail Prokhorov, age 46

Russia's third-richest person, $18 billion net worth

owner, New Jersey Nets basketball team

Game On In Russia: Billionaire to take on Putin

It is JUMP BALL ball in Russia for the 2012 presidential election.


It looks like Nets basketball team owner Mikhail Prokhorov vs. Vladmir Putin.


The Russian billionaire tycoon and world sports fan said he will run against Vladimir Putin in next year's presidential election. 

"These past two-and-a-half months, my colleagues and I have been quietly and calmly working to build an infrastructure that will allow us to gather two million signatures."

Orlando Magic basketball star Dwight Howard could not be reached for comment by your Think Billion$ blog.

Russian billionaires are coming back strong

According to the annual rankings of the richest Russians published by Finans magazine, Russia now has 114 billionaires.

Vladimir Lisin (picture left) tops the list with a net worth of $28 billion. He is described as "the low profile chairman" of NLMK Steel.

Second on the list is Mikhail Prokhorov with a $22 billion net worth. Avid readers of the Think Billions blog will know Mikhail as the new hapless owner of the New Jersey Nets with their even more hapless attempt at landing Carmelo Anthony. Regardless of the management and basketball strategies of the New Jersey Nets, Prokhorov has tripled his net worth over the last three years.

Third on the list is Alisher Usmanov of Metalloinvest another metals company. He is also a shareholder in the Arsenal Football Club.

The New Jersey Nets still can't close on Carmelo Anthony

Mysterious Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and his millionaire band leader Jay-Z still can't close on Carmelo Anthony.


Conclusion: The Nets still suck!


related article: Nets’ pitch to ’Melo: swing and miss?






UPDATE 1/20/11: No ’Melo, just more drama for Nets

Russian billionaire Prokhorov brings his game to the NBA

Mikhail Prokhorov may help fund the construction of an arena for the New Jersey Nets, a spokesman for the billionaire’s holding company said Thursday.

Prokhorov, Russia’s wealthiest man and an avid basketball fan, is considering funding the stadium after being approached by someone involved in building Barclays Center, which is planned to go up in Brooklyn, Onexim spokesman Igor Petrov told The Moscow Times.

“The possibility exists” that Prokhorov will participate in the project, Petrov said, declining to say how much he would contribute.

Though Barclays has never disclosed the cost of the project, reports have said the stadium’s construction will cost around $800 million.

Prokhorov was rumored to have been in talks with Nets management in July to acquire a piece of the franchise.

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