The Russian billionaire and his controversies |
Posted: December 31, 2018 |
The famous Russian billionaire – Dmitry Rybolovlev – especially famous for his numerous numbers of controversial acts and frauds. He is basically an investor and a businessman. As the owner of the potash producer Uralkali, Rybolovlev has gained his popularity and became a billionaire after becoming the President of AS Monaco – a football club in Monaco in 2011. In the month of October in 2018, when his net worth became $6.8 million, Forbes has ranked him 242nd among their list of billionaires.
But still, Rybolovlev is known as one of the high-profile and most famous suspected victims. The most popular charges against him include the pollution of the Kama river, the murder charges and judgment, the liberation of Georgi Bedjamov, Football leaks scandal, Panama paper scandals and many more. The auction of “Salvator Mundi” is another important controversy amongst these. Salvator Mundi and Rybolovlev:In November 2017, “Salvator Mundi” has sold at a record price from the auction house of Christie. It is claimed that this is the last painting by the legend Leonardo da Vinci himself by his own hands. The painting was sold for really a surprising, record-making $400M and the final price with fees was over $450M. The selling procedure of this painting was controversial for a few reasons. These include the mind-numbing painting itself and numerous numbers of questions and doubts related to this sale. The painting’s restoration, authenticity and provenance are the main concerning points. Among these serious doubts, anyone may initially overlook another elephant in the room – the actual identity of the vendor which is directly related to Dmitry Rybolovlev. When this much of money is involved here, it generally needs to follow the source. Here, anyone can find out that the money is completely sourced to the Russian billionaire himself. Actually, Rybolovlev’s family trust has sold this painting through the Christie’s auction and that too to a hidden buyer. Rybolovlev: the art collector:As an art collector, Rybolovlev is the owner of many classic paintings of world-famous artists. His collection includes paintings by Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin, Amedeo Modigliani, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko. In February 2015, it was investigated and reported that Rybolovlev may have been the victim of a complex art fraud apparently perpetrated by another art dealer Yves Bouvier. The later one was accused of charges of complicity and fraud in money laundering. In 2016, it was reported that Rybolovlev has bought three stolen paintings of Picasso from the art dealer Olivier Thomas. At that time, Rybolovlev came again at the center of fraud controversy. It is also said that Rybolovlev has involved in an extended legal battle with the “Freeport king” Yves Bouvier and Sotheby’s over apparent overpayment in the buying of the painting by Rybolovlev. Rybolovlev and other controversies:Dmitry Rybolovlev is also familiar for some other reasons which may include buying a beach mansion. In 2008, he paid approximately $95M to buy a mansion from Donald Trump. It is said that the huge money has come from the controversial Christie’s auction of “Salvator Mundi”. He is also known for apparently using his collection of art to shield wealth from his wife during the divorce and the conflict came into the light in the Panama Papers controversy. On the other hand, Rybolovlev’s divorce is known as the most expensive divorce in the world with $4.8 billion of a record-settlement. Basically, this priceless Leonardo piece was sold in such a high-price range which almost no museum could afford, and that painting was sold to totally an unknown buyer. But for art’s sake, Leonardo’s last creation was ultimately sold to the highest buyer but not to the most dedicated or the most knowledgeable scholar. It is hardly beneficiary to the artist or to the society. Dmitry Rybolovlev is the name with lots of wealth and controversies simultaneously.
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