Vladimir Kim Net Worth

Vladimir Kim has an estimated net worth of $5.9 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Vladimir Kim profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $4.5 billion in 2019.

Vladimir Kim is a Kazakh businessman best known for building his fortune in mining. He joined the Kazakhstan mineral firm Kazakhmys in 1995 after earning degrees in civil engineering, economics, and business administration. At that point, he became managing director and chief executive officer of Zhezkazgantsvetmet JSC, Kazakhmys' core subsidiary. His career then moved higher through the group as Kazakhmys grew into one of the country's major mining businesses.

His wealth comes from the natural resources sector, especially copper mining. In 2005, he was named chairman before Kazakhmys became the first Kazakh company to list on the London Stock Exchange. He later stepped down as chairman of KAZ Minerals in 2013, but remained a major shareholder. After a 2014 restructuring split the business, he kept a stake in KAZ Minerals and in 2025 sold his majority stake in Kazakhmys Corp., which held most of the group's mature mining assets.

How Vladimir Kim built his fortune

Kim made his money in metals and mining. After joining Kazakhmys in 1995, he led its core subsidiary and later moved into the top board role. His rise at the company put him at the center of a major Kazakhstan mining business. By 2005, he was chairman as Kazakhmys prepared for a landmark London Stock Exchange listing, giving the company broader access to investors and raising his standing in the industry.

A major turning point came in 2014, when Kazakhmys was split into separate businesses. One became private Kazakhmys Corp., while the other became KAZ Minerals plc, a public company. Kim stayed involved through his stake in KAZ Minerals, and he later sold his majority stake in Kazakhmys Corp. in 2025. Forbes tracks his wealth in mining and places him in the Metals & Mining industry. Forbes also classifies him as self-made.

Forbes wealth estimate over time

Forbes has shown clear swings in Kim's fortune over the years. It estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion in 2019, then $3.7 billion in 2020. The figure later rose to $5 billion in 2022 before dropping to $3.6 billion in 2024. Those changes came during a period when the Kazakhmys business had already been reshaped, with Kim still holding mining interests through KAZ Minerals and other assets linked to the earlier split.

The latest Forbes figure is $5.9 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026. That places him among the richest business figures tied to Kazakhstan's resource sector. His money story is closely linked to long-term ownership and leadership in mining companies rather than a single sale or listing. The 2025 sale of his majority stake in Kazakhmys Corp. marked another big step in how his holdings changed after the 2014 de-merger.