Who Is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Yevgeny Prigozhin was born on June 1, 1961, which makes him 63 years old as of 2025. Known as a notorious Russian oligarch and leader of the Wagner Group, Prigozhin rose to prominence due to his involvement in various military operations and close ties to the Kremlin. With a complex background and controversial reputation, Prigozhin's life story is filled with intrigue and has been widely discussed in international media.
| Occupation | Restaurateurs |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1961 |
| Age | 62 Years |
| Birth Place | Leningrad, Soviet Union |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | Russia |
| Date of death | 23 August, 2023 |
| Died Place | Kuzhenkino, Tver Oblast, Russia |
Popularity
Yevgeny Prigozhin's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements might not be publicly available, Yevgeny Prigozhin is estimated to be around 5 feet 10 inches tall (178 cm) and weighs approximately 180 pounds (82 kg). His physical presence has often been noted in images and videos, where he exudes a commanding aura befitting his status.
Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin (1 June 1961 – 23 August 2023) was a Russian mercenary leader and oligarch. He led the Wagner Group, a private military company, and was a close confidant of Russian president Vladimir Putin until launching a rebellion in June 2023.
Prigozhin was sometimes referred to as "Putin's chef" because he owned restaurants and catering businesses that provided services to the Kremlin.
Once a convict in the Soviet Union, Prigozhin controlled a network of influential companies whose operations, according to a 2020 investigation, were "tightly integrated with Russia's Defence Ministry and its intelligence arm, the GRU".
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Prigozhin has kept much of his personal life private, but it is known that he is married. His wife, whom he married before rising to international fame, has often remained out of the public eye. Prigozhin has two children, and while he has not publicly disclosed details about his dating life, it is believed he values family life amidst his tumultuous public career.
His mother, Violetta Kirovna Prigozhina, was a hospital nurse. His father, Viktor Yevgenyevich Prigozhin, was a mining engineer who died when Yevgeny was nine. His grandfather, Yevgeny Ilyich Prigozhin, was a captain in the Red Army during World War II, who fought in the Battles of Rzhev and received a medal "For Courage".
Prigozhin sponsored the 2020 war film Rzhev (film), based on a 1991 novel by Vyacheslav Kondratyev that mentions his grandfather.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Yevgeny Prigozhin's net worth is estimated to be around $1 billion. His wealth primarily stems from government contracts, catering businesses, and private military endeavors. Prigozhin's financial dealings have often been scrutinized, attributed to both legitimate and controversial sources.
The Anti-Corruption Foundation accused Prigozhin of corrupt business practices. In 2017, they estimated his illegal wealth to be worth more than one billion rubles.
Alexei Navalny alleged that Prigozhin was linked to a company called Moskovsky Shkolnik (Moscow Schoolboy) that had supplied poor-quality food to Moscow schools, which had caused a 2019 dysentery outbreak. Prigozhin was declared the 2022 Corrupt Person of the Year by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
Career, Business, and Investments
Yevgeny Prigozhin began his career in the catering industry, earning the nickname "Putin's Chef" due to his catering services for the Kremlin. Over the years, he expanded his business empire to include various ventures, notably in security and military operations. The Wagner Group, a private military company founded by Prigozhin, has gained notoriety for its involvement in conflicts across the globe, including in Ukraine and Africa. Prigozhin's ability to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes has cemented his influence in both business and military circles.
In 2014, Prigozhin reportedly founded the Wagner Group to support Russian separatist forces in Ukraine. Funded by the Russian state, it played a significant role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and supported Russian interests in Syria and in Africa. In November 2022, Prigozhin acknowledged his companies' interference in United States elections.
In February 2023, he confirmed that he was the founder and long-time manager of the Internet Research Agency, a Russian company running online propaganda and disinformation campaigns.
Social Network
Prigozhin tends to keep a low profile on social media, partly due to the nature of his work and the controversies surrounding him. However, various platforms have reported on his activities and statements through news articles and public addresses. The public's interest in his life continues to grow, making him a figure of significant interest in both Russian and international media.
On 4 May 2023, Prigozhin cautioned against the use of nuclear weapons in response to the 2023 Kremlin drone attack, saying that "We look like clowns threatening to use nuclear weapons in response to a child's drone".
Education
Yevgeny Prigozhin's formal education details remain sparse. It is widely believed that he did not pursue higher education but rather gained knowledge through experience in various fields such as business and military strategy. His rise from humble beginnings to a prominent military and business leader showcases his adaptability and acumen in navigating complex environments.
According to Prigozhin, he violated the terms of his solitary confinement "on a regular basis" until he was sent to general population in 1985, where he started to "read intensively" and worked as a lathe operator, tractor driver, and cabinet maker after receiving training at a vocational school.
In 1988, the Supreme Court of the Soviet Union reduced his sentence to ten years on good behavior, noting that he had begun "corrective behavior". He was sent to a medium-security penal colony and was released in 1990.
