Oleg Boyko - "a romantic from business"

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Oleg Boyko, a businessman, is not a public person, but at the same time quite well-known. A billionaire who has been moving in an electric wheelchair for more than 20 years is an extraordinary phenomenon in itself. His interests include financial business, information technology, entertainment industry: gambling, lottery, cinema. He does a lot of charity work: he founded the Parasport Foundation and is one of the sponsors of the Paralympic Games.

Former "financial punk"

He came into business in the late 80s: he founded a cooperative for the sale of computer equipment. In 1992, he became the first Russian at the economic forum in Davos - it was almost exotic. He was included in the list of 100 most promising entrepreneurs in the world. For his uncommonness, he received the unspoken nickname "financial punk". He came up with a lot of new, avant-garde, unusual things - he went his own way in business.

The 1990s was a glorious time of transformation, unique,the growth rate of all businesses, the accumulation of potential. Everyone was young, inexperienced, the environment consisted of risks, “swimming the rough waves”, it was a challenge, it was exciting - I liked it”

"On a working afternoon", February 2017

Oleg Boyko's life changed dramatically in 1996: he received a severe spinal injury, after which he was forever tied to a wheelchair. You have to be a very strong person to overcome such a blow, not to lose the taste for life and continue the business. Especially since by 1998 his assets were almost zero.

To the question: "How do you manage to overcome the constant ups and downs in business?" Oleg Boyko's answer: “A businessman, as a person, must have the ability to take risks and recover from defeat.”

Milestones on the way to "billionaires"

• 1999 - in company with Alexander Abramov, he began to buy up shares of metallurgical enterprises, which were closed in batches after the crisis. He became a co-owner of the EVRAZ holding, was a member of the company's directors for 5 years. In 2004, he sold his stake for $600 million and went out of business.
• 2000 – 2009 - acquired the Vulkan gaming clubs, developed the business by creating the Ritzio Entertainment Group company, promoted the brand abroad. Very quickly raised it due to competent management, successful advertising. In 2009, after changes in legislation, he curtailed his activities in Russia.
• 2003 – 2006 - Through the Finstar investment fund established in 2000, it entered the financial market. Organized a holding for the sale of tradereal estate Finstroy.
• 2007 - bought the St. Petersburg company RIVE GAUCHE, grew it 3 times in five years. In 2012, he earned $140 million for his share. He left a quarter of the block of shares, he calls the brainchild - "The World of Beauty".
• 2010 - 2014 - an investor in large lottery projects, including a lottery in support of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. He acted as a producer: in Hollywood, with his financial participation, several tapes were filmed and are being filmed now.

A businessman must be a dreamer

Oleg Boyko is a successful and modern businessman. His latest passion is financial and banking services on the Internet and on mobile platforms. He is considering not only financial services to individuals, but wants to work with small and medium-sized businesses, serve corporate factoring operations.

He doesn't have a wife, but he has a dream. Create a project that will find super talented children from birth, help them get special education and involve them in projects of a global scale. There are such programs in the world: Sirius, the Presidential program in Russia. But he wants to make his own - "cooler", and you can believe that he will succeed.