And finally…Putin it away for a rainy day

Vladimir Putin has named as (maybe) the richest man in the world.

Despite never appearing on any official rich lists - most notably the archetypal Forbes table - the International Business Times has reported that the Russian president could have as much as $200 billion squirrelled away,

Such a fortune put Putin far out in front of current Forbes number one, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is currently said to be worth of $75 billion.

“We value individuals’ assets - including stakes in public and private companies, real estate, yachts, art and cash - and take into account estimates of debt. We also consult an array of outside experts in various fields,” Forbes said in 2015.

However, the magazine said that while some people “cooperate” others don’t – it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine that Putin may be keen to belong to the later category.

His secrecy could also likely be linked to the other possible reason for his absence from the famous rundown, as Forbes doesn’t include “dictators who derive their fortunes entirely as a result of their position of power.”

Forbes has not stated which is the reason that Putin has never appeared on its list.

Although a recent Time Magazine report estimated Putin’s net worth to be nearer $70 billion, Bill Browder, an author, and former fund manager in Russia, told CNN that he believes the $200 billion reported by the International Business Times to be approximate.

“After 14 years in power of Russia, and the amount of money that the country has made, and the amount of money that hasn’t been spent on schools and roads and hospitals and so on, all that money is in property, bank - Swiss bank accounts - shares, hedge funds, managed for Putin and his cronies,” he revealed.

Russian businessman Sergei Pugachev, a former friend of Putin’s, told the Guardian: “Everything that belongs to the territory of the Russian Federation Putin considers to be his. Everything - Gazprom, Rosneft, private companies. Any attempt to calculate it won’t succeed… He’s the richest person in the world until he leaves power.”