Bidzina Ivanishvili

Bidzina Ivanishvili, born on February 18, 1956, is a prominent French-Georgian businessman and politician, recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals in Georgia. He is the founder and leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has played a significant role in the country's political landscape since its victory in the 2012 parliamentary elections. Ivanishvili's influence has been felt in Georgia both de jure and de facto, as he has been a key figure in the nation's governance since that pivotal year.

With a net worth estimated at seven point six billion dollars in 2024, Ivanishvili's wealth represents a staggering twenty-four point eight percent of Georgia's GDP for the year 2023. His fortune was amassed during the tumultuous 1990s in Russia, where he initially ventured into the computer sales market before capitalizing on the privatization of state assets under the administrations of Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin. In 2002, he relocated to France, where he became a citizen.

Ivanishvili's political journey began in earnest in 2012 when he established the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party, leading to a decisive electoral victory over the United National Movement party, which was then led by President Mikheil Saakashvili. He served as Prime Minister from October 2012 to November 2013, after which he announced his intention to step back from politics. Despite this, he remained a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in Georgian politics.

In 2018, Ivanishvili returned to the political arena as chairman of the ruling party, only to declare his departure from politics again in 2021. However, he made a notable comeback in late 2023, assuming the role of honorary chairman of Georgian Dream. His political career has not been without controversy, as he has faced sanctions from the United States and several European Union countries since 2024 for allegedly undermining Georgian democracy and promoting the interests of the Russian Federation.