Mikhail Prokhorov: a billionaire bachelor with presidential ambitions

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov announced on Monday that he had made “the most serious decision” of his life; to challenge Russia's powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March 2012 presidential elections.

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© RIA Novosti . Evgeni Feldman

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Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov announced on Monday that he had made “the most serious decision” of his life; to challenge Russia's powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March 2012 presidential elections.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf

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The director general of the Onexim investment fund and the Polus Gold mining company, Prokhorov is ranked Russia’s 3rd richest man worth an estimated $18 billion.

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© RIA Novosti . Kirill Kallinikov

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Aged 46, Prokhorov is still not married.

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© RIA Novosti . Artyom Zhitenyov

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Prokhorov quit as leader of the Right Cause party in mid-September after accusing the Kremlin of turning the party into a puppet.

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© RIA Novosti . Vitali Belousov

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In 2010, Prokhorov purchased an 80-percent share in the U.S. New Jersey Nets basketball team and a 45-percent share in the Barclays Center sports arena construction project in Brookline.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Pesnya

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The businessman, who is 2.05 meters (6.7 feet) tall, enjoys playing in charity basketball matches.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Kudenko

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In December 2010, Prokhorov launched a project to produce Russia's first gas-electric hybrid cars, Yo-mobiles.

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© RIA Novosti . Ilya Pitalev

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Prokhorov also heads the Russian Biathlon Federation.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Fedorenko

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As he announced his presidential bid, Prokhorov described his potential voters as representatives of the middle class.