The acquisition of a 1.96% stake in Facebook for $200 million in 2009 marked a turning point in the career of a man who transitioned from the study of particle physics to global venture capital. Born in Moscow in 1961, he eventually renounced his Russian citizenship in August 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.
Early Scientific Training
The son of Soviet intellectuals, he graduated from the Faculty of Physics at Lomonosov University in 1985. His early professional life involved theoretical research at the Lebedev Physical Institute under the supervision of Vitaly Ginzburg. During this period as a doctoral candidate, he developed a personal connection with the physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov.
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Following a period spent selling DOS computers, he moved to the United States to earn an MBA at the Wharton School, becoming the first non-émigré from the Soviet Union to do so. Between 1990 and 1995, he worked for the World Bank as a specialist on Russian private sector banking. He subsequently took executive roles at Alliance-Menatep and served as deputy chairperson of Menatep Bank until 1998.
Building Digital Infrastructure
In 1999, he co-founded the investment incubator NetBridge with Gregory Finger. The firm focused on importing US internet business models into Russia, launching ventures such as the portal List.ru and the auction site Molotok.ru. By 2001, NetBridge merged with Port.ru, forming Mail.ru. He led the company through an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 2010, which achieved a market valuation of $5.6 billion.
Global Investment Strategy
He founded Digital Sky Technologies (DST) in 2005 to manage international technology assets, later creating the independent firm DST Global. Beyond his stake in Facebook, his investment portfolio included companies like Zynga and Groupon. He served on the Commission on Modernization under Dmitry Medvedev between 2009 and 2012. After relocating to Israel in 2005 and later to California in 2014, he remained involved in high-profile technology funding.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Moscow
- Education: MSU Faculty of Physics, The Wharton School
- Citizenship: Israel
- Former chairperson: Mail.ru Group
- Founder: DST Global
- Renounced Russian citizenship: August 2022
Questions readers ask
What was his original field of study?
He studied theoretical physics and was a doctoral candidate in particle physics.
Did he have ties to the Russian government?
He served on the Russian Commission on Modernization between 2009 and 2012 but has since renounced his Russian citizenship.
Achievements
- Educated at MSU Faculty of Physics and The Wharton School
