PLACE OF ORIGIN/ETHNIC AFFILIATION
Blavatnik was born in Odessa to a Jewish family, His family emigrated to the United States in 1978.
EDUCATION
Attended Moscow State University of Railway Engineering, but did not complete his coursework due to the family's request for emigration visas.
Received a masters in computer science from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1989.
CAREER HISTORY
In 1986, Blavatnik founded Access Industries, an international conglomerate company located in New York, of which he is chairman and president. Access has long-term holdings in Europe and North and South America. Initially, he moved into Russian investments, just after the fall of communism. He and a friend from university, Viktor Vekselberg, formed the Renova investment vehicle, and then the two joined with Mikhail Fridman's Alfa Group to form the AAR venture.[8] Access has since diversified its portfolio to include investments in industries such as oil, entertainment, coal, aluminum, petrochemicals and plastics, telecommunications, media, and real estate.
AAR gained a controlling stake in Russian oil company TNK through privatization auctions, then in 2003 sold a 50% stake to British Petroleum to form TNK-BP, one of Russia's largest oil companies, where Blavatnik served on the board of directors. On March 21, 2013, Rosneft completed its $55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP. Blavatnik also has interests in UC Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer, where he sits on the board.
In early 2010, Access Industries was reported as one of the handful of bidders for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
On May 6, 2011, Warner Music Group announced its sale to Access for US$3.3 billion.[15] On July 20, 2011, an Access affiliate acquired Warner Music Group for $3.3 billion. Blavatnik also owns AI Film, the independent film and production company that’s behind acclaimed film Lee Daniels’ The Butler and the summer 2015 release Mr. Holmes. He was an early investor in Rocket Internet and Beats Music, helped finance fashion designer Tory Burch, and in 2013 paid $115 million for wireless spectrum in Norway.
SPOUSE
Blavatnik is married to Emily Appelson Blavatnik. The couple have four children.
FRIENDS/KNOWN ASSOCIATES
Religion
Jewish
ADDRESS
He owns a grade II listed building in Kensington Palace Gardens which is valued at £200 million.