Early Life
Rinat Akhmetov was born on September 21, 1966, in Donetsk, Ukrainian SSR, to a working-class family. His father was a coal miner, and his mother worked in a shop. Akhmetov is of Volga Tatar ethnicity and a practicing Sunni Muslim. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Donetsk National University in 2001.
Rise to Success
Akhmetov's business career began in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He started by trading coal and coke. He founded ARS in 1992, a company that processed coal into coke. Over time, he acquired and consolidated assets in the mining and metals industries. His significant business holdings are managed by System Capital Management (SCM), which became the largest financial and industrial group in Ukraine. He also became the owner and president of the Ukrainian football club FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
Key Business Strategies
Akhmetov's strategy involved strategic investments in the metals and energy sectors, particularly through Metinvest and DTEK. He focused on vertically integrated business models, from mining to processing and sales. Through SCM, he has invested billions in modernizing Ukrainian infrastructure. His enterprises have expanded both domestically and internationally, making substantial contributions to the Ukrainian economy through employment and tax contributions.
Philanthropy
Akhmetov is known for his extensive philanthropic activities through the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. The Foundation focuses on addressing social issues in Ukraine, including providing medical aid, supporting children's programs, and offering humanitarian relief. The Foundation has provided over 13 million food kits and aid to more than 18 million people. During the war, SCM businesses, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, and Shakhtar Football Club have collectively provided over $350 million to support Ukraine, the military, and civilians.