Mikhail Prokhorov
A towering Russian metals magnate who briefly owned an NBA team and challenged the political establishment before retreating from public view.
Born 1965 (age 61)·Russian entrepreneur and politician·Birthday: May 3·Generation X
Biography
Mikhail Prokhorov emerged from the chaotic privatization of the Soviet Union to build one of Russia's vast fortunes, primarily in precious metals and banking. His physical stature and taste for fast cars and French Riviera parties made him a tabloid fixture, but his ambitions stretched beyond industry. In a surprising move, he purchased the New Jersey Nets in 2009, relocating the franchise to Brooklyn and injecting capital and global attention into the team. He later ventured into politics, founding the Civic Platform party and mounting a presidential bid in 2012, finishing a distant third. His tenure as an oligarch has been marked by both flashy Western investments and a careful navigation of Kremlin politics, with his profile lowering significantly following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and his subsequent sale of the Nets.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mikhail was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mikhail Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Mikhail's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Built a multibillion-dollar fortune as chairman of Polyus, Russia's largest gold producer.
- Owned the NBA's Brooklyn Nets from 2010 to 2019, overseeing their move from New Jersey to the Barclays Center.
- Founded the Russian political party Civic Platform and ran for President of Russia in 2012.
- Once served as the head of the Russian Biathlon Union, investing in the sport before a doping scandal.
Did You Know?
He was detained by French police in 2007 during an investigation into alleged prostitution at a ski resort, though no charges were filed against him.
At 6'8", he is one of the tallest owners in NBA history and once played professional basketball in Russia.
He sold the Brooklyn Nets to Joe Tsai in 2019, reportedly making a significant profit on his initial investment.
He holds Israeli citizenship in addition to Russian.
“Business is a sport, and I play to win.”
