Meet Vladimir Potanin, the richest man in Russia, who made his $22 billion fortune in the nickel industry, has owned at least 3 yachts, and plays ice hockey with Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Potanin is the richest man in Russia , worth an estimated $22 billion.
He made his fortune in the nickel industry after spearheading Russia's controversial "loans-for-shares" program.
Potanin has been married twice and says his five children won't receive the majority of his fortune when he dies instead, he'll donate it to charity.
He vacations on luxury yachts and plays ice hockey with Russian president Vladimir Putin .
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Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin is worth an estimated $22 billion, making him the richest man in Russia.

The 58-year-old businessmanmade his fortune in the nickel industry after spearheading Russia's controversial "loans-for-shares" program . Potanin is the president of Norilsk Nickel , the world's largest producer of refined nickel.

Potanin has owned at least three luxury yachts and spent $10 million on his daughter's wedding on the French Riviera. He's also become known as a philanthropist, having joined The Giving Pledge , the charity organization founded by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, and promised to donate most of his fortune to charity rather than pass it on to his children.

The Russian billionaire has close ties to President Vladimir Putin in fact, the pair are ice hockey buddies and Potanin was named on the infamous "Putin list" of prominent Russian political figures and oligarchs.

Here's a look at the life and wealth of Vladimir Potanin, the richest man in Russia and the 37th-richest person in the world.

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