The World’s Billionaires is an annual ranking of the world’s wealthiest people. The list is assembled and published by the American business publication Forbes, every March: http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/
Filter the list by country (Russia) thus selecting a list of Russian billionaires. Select the top 25 of them. Examine their profiles, such as their age, education, marital status, activities during the Soviet era. Look for additional sources on the web, if necessary. Display your finding as a table (use this one below or any other format that you prefer):
| Name | Age | Place of birth | Education (where, degree, major) | Family status | Areas of business | Profession in the USSR | Political views (if known) | Else? |
Answer these questions:
1. What common tendencies (trends) do you find in these billionaire’s profiles? Describe in 1-2 paragraphs.
2. What do these tendencies tell (if anything) about the nature of the most successful business in Russia? Describe in 1-2 paragraphs.
3. From your personal view, which of these individuals could become influential political leaders in the near future and why? If you were president of the United States, which of these individuals would draw your attention today (in the context of US-Russia relations) and why? Describe in 2-3 paragraphs.