Roman Abramovich remains at the top of the Forbes richest Russians’ list.

Roman Abramovich, the governor of Chukovka, is still, according to Forbes Magazine, the richest man in Russia - with a fortune worth an estimated $19.2 billion. ‘In the year since the publication of the last list, the total wealth of those included has grown from $248 billion to $337 billion, up by 36% - which is six times higher than the growth rate of the country’s GDP. The average fortune of those included in “the golden hundred” is $3.4 billion,’ a press-release marking the publication of ‘the golden hundred’ says. It goes on to say that ‘The list clearly marks the return of the state to the economy’. In 2004, 41 of those included were involved in the oil and gas industry. The current list includes only 18. The list also has 13 newcomers and one entrepreneur making a comeback after a year’s absence. Builders and retailers did best. . . The authors of the release also say that profits dropped for those who invested in agriculture and hydrocarbon-production, and that the average age of those listed is 45, while the average age of the richest billionaires in the world is 62.

(Interfax, 19.04.2007)