Vladimir Putin is one of the most well-known political leaders in the world. He has led Russia for many years and has been counted among the most powerful global figures. His long political journey, strong decision-making, and Russia’s importance in oil and gas have all increased his influence internationally.
Vladimir Putin was born on 7 October 1952 in St. Petersburg (earlier called Leningrad), Russia. He lived in a small shared apartment with his parents. He studied in local schools, where he also developed a strong interest in sports.
After school, he completed his law degree from Leningrad State University in 1975.
After graduating, Putin joined the KGB, which was the main security and intelligence agency of the Soviet Union. He worked as an intelligence officer for many years, mostly in East Germany. By the time he left the KGB in 1990, he had reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
When Putin returned to Russia, he began working at his university in an administrative role. In 1991, he started assisting Anatoly Sobchak, a well-known liberal politician who later became the mayor of St. Petersburg.
Putin became responsible for foreign relations and later became the first deputy mayor in 1994. After Sobchak lost an election in 1996, Putin moved to Moscow, where he began working in the administration of President Boris Yeltsin.
Putin quickly moved up in the government. He became:
In 1999, after the earlier prime minister was removed, Putin was chosen as Prime Minister of Russia.
In December 1999, Boris Yeltsin resigned and named Putin as the acting president.
In March 2000, Putin officially won his first presidential election.
During his early years as president, he worked on reorganizing the government, improving Russia’s economy, and taking strong action against corruption.
Putin was re-elected in 2004, becoming even more influential in the country and on the world stage.
Due to term limits, Putin could not run for president in 2008. Dmitry Medvedev became president, and Putin served as prime minister from 2008 to 2012, still remaining the key decision-maker in Russia.
In 2012, Putin won the presidential election again and began his third term. His time in office included many controversial decisions, such as:
Despite criticism, he continued to be a dominant political figure in Russia.
In 2018, Putin won his fourth term with a large majority. He continued to strengthen Russia’s global position and made several changes to the Russian government in 2020, giving more power to the parliament.
Vladimir Putin was born on 7 October 1952, which makes him 73 years old in 2025. He has spent many years in government and remains one of the most influential leaders in the world. His long career in politics and leadership has shaped modern Russia.
Financier Bill Browder has estimated that the Russian president’s wealth could be as high as $200 billion. This figure is based on Browder’s own assessment and places him among the richest leaders in the world, according to his calculation.
In 1983, Putin married Lyudmila Alexandrovna, whom he had met during a flight. They have two daughters, born in 1985 and 1986. After 30 years of marriage, they announced their separation in 2013, saying it was a mutual and peaceful decision.
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