Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Len Blavatnik and his 21-year-old son, Ariel Michael Blavatnik, have been granted honorary Greek citizenship.
The decision was made by a Presidential Decree, based on a provision in the Greek Citizenship Code that allows for the naturalization of foreigners who have provided exceptional services to the country or whose naturalization would serve the nation’s interests.
The decree cited Blavatnik’s “global influence and philanthropic contribution” in education and science, with a focus on innovation, as the reason for the decision. His son was included for “assisting him in the above action.”
Len Blavatnik: A fortune built from business and investments
Ranked 65th on the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people with a net worth of $31.3 billion, Len Blavatnik is a prominent figure in global business. Born in Ukraine and raised in Moscow, he immigrated to the US in 1978. He built his fortune primarily through his investment company, Access Industries, with significant profits coming from his stake in the Russian oil company TNK-BP, which he sold for $7 billion in 2013.
In 2011, Blavatnik acquired Warner Music for $3.3 billion, and his decision to list it on the stock exchange in 2020 quadrupled its value. His company also holds stakes in major corporations like LyondellBasell, Calpine, and Opendoor.
Philanthropy and influence
A dual American and British citizen, the 68-year-old Blavatnik is also a well-known art collector and Broadway producer. He has donated over $1 billion to universities and research institutions, including Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and Yale.
The Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford, which aims to educate future leaders, has even hosted members of the Greek government as speakers, highlighting his global influence.
Related: Telly Savalas’ Family Honored With Greek Citizenship in LA
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