Quick bio: Mikhail Shelkov
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mikhail Evgenevich Shelkov |
| Date of birth | March 30, 1968 |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Known for | Majority owner of VSMPO AVISMA (titanium producer); founder of the Empathy Foundation |
| Roles noted in media | Deputy Chairman of the Board at VSMPO AVISMA |
| Main philanthropy focus | Education, teachers, students, culture and science |
| Reported wealth source | Titanium, metallurgy, finance |
| Public profile trackers | Forbes Real Time Billionaires |
| Notable locations | Verkhnyaya Salda (VSMPO AVISMA base), Tula and Sverdlovsk regions (charity programs) |
| Official charity site | Empathy Foundation |
Early career and rise in business
Mikhail Shelkov is a financier who moved into industry and became the main private owner behind VSMPO AVISMA through Industrial Investments LLC. VSMPO AVISMA makes titanium and titanium alloys for many sectors, including aerospace. It is the world’s largest titanium producer and has supplied parts for major aircraft makers.
He is also listed as Deputy Chairman of the Board at VSMPO AVISMA, showing his direct link to the firm’s leadership. Forbes tracks him in its billionaire list, where his wealth mainly comes from titanium.
VSMPO AVISMA and titanium
VSMPO AVISMA is a leading name in titanium production. Before 2022, it supplied many international customers in aerospace and other fields. The company is based in Verkhnyaya Salda, Russia, and has operated sites or offices abroad. After 2022, trade rules and licenses changed, but it remains the main Russian titanium producer, mostly owned by Industrial Investments, which is tied to Shelkov.
The company has a formal structure with a board and CEO, which shows decisions are made through governance, not by one man alone.
Charity: the Empathy Foundation
In 2019, Shelkov founded the Empathy Foundation. The foundation supports education, science, culture, and art. Its programs include extra monthly support for teachers, training for educators, help for talented students, and free classes for children. It also organizes contests for teachers and an engineering accelerator for youth.
These projects first started in the Sverdlovsk region and later expanded to Tula and other areas. In 2025, reports marked the foundation’s five year anniversary, noting continued extra payments for teachers in Verkhnyaya Salda and nearby towns.
Other public projects and interests
Reports sometimes connect Shelkov to cultural and tech projects in Tula, such as the Oktava factory project. He also supports education and youth activities, including engineering clubs and chess events. His charity site and official news are the best sources to confirm these projects.
Wealth and rankings
Forbes’ real time tracker shows his changing net worth, tied to titanium and market moves. His place on the list can go up or down with commodity prices and contracts, but he remains among global business figures.
Legal issues and sanctions related reporting
Since 2022, media coverage of Russian industry leaders has grown. Several outlets reported on whether Shelkov was sanctioned and how companies handled titanium trade. In July 2022, it was noted that he had not been sanctioned by some Western governments.
In January 2023, Ukraine’s High Anti Corruption Court ordered the confiscation of assets related to VSMPO Titan Ukraine. Ukrainian agencies have also claimed schemes involving titanium raw materials and their destinations. These are official allegations, and outcomes can change as cases move forward.
Investigative outlets have also written about VSMPO AVISMA’s ownership, sanctions impact, and business moves after 2022. These reports give extra detail but can reflect editorial views, so they should be read alongside primary sources.
How to read the public record
To understand a figure like Mikhail Shelkov, it helps to balance different sources:
- Primary: company pages and the Empathy Foundation site show how he presents his work.
- Business trackers: Forbes lists and company fact sheets show wealth and roles.
- Wire services and court reports: these provide leadership, sanctions, and legal updates.
- Investigative media: these add context and detail, but should be checked against other sources.
Legacy and public image
Supporters point to his giving to teachers, education, and youth as proof of social commitment. Critics focus on court actions and investigations tied to titanium supply and industry links during wartime. Both views appear in open sources, so the full picture comes from following courts, regulators, and trusted news.
Final note
Mikhail Shelkov is a businessman and philanthropist with strong ties to titanium production and education programs. His career and charity work show both business success and public giving, while legal actions and sanctions reports highlight the challenges of operating in today’s global climate.
Frequently asked questions
1) Who is Mikhail Shelkov?
He is a Russian businessman and major private owner linked to VSMPO AVISMA. He also founded the Empathy Foundation.
2) What is VSMPO AVISMA?
It is a large Russian producer of titanium and alloys used in aerospace and other industries.
3) What does the Empathy Foundation do?
It supports teachers, trains educators, helps students, and runs contests and free classes.
4) Is Shelkov active in company leadership?
Yes, he is listed as Deputy Chairman of the Board at VSMPO AVISMA.
5) How rich is he?
Forbes tracks his wealth in real time, based mainly on titanium.
6) Has he faced sanctions?
As of mid 2022, some reports said he had not been sanctioned by certain Western governments. Later, Ukraine took legal action against assets tied to him.
7) What legal actions are linked to him in Ukraine?
Ukraine’s anti corruption court ordered confiscation of some assets in 2023. Agencies there have also made other claims.
8) Does he fund projects outside education?
Yes, he has supported cultural and tech projects in Tula and other areas.
9) Why is titanium important here?
Titanium is light and strong, used in aircraft and high tech industries. VSMPO AVISMA is a top supplier.
10) Where can I verify information about him?
The Empathy Foundation site shows charity work. Forbes covers wealth. Major wires like Reuters report on company and legal news.
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