You're reading: #23 Richest: Sergiy Tigipko, 50

$552 million Married with four children Interests: public service, banking

It’s been a year of ups and downs for the businessman-cum-politician. It started with a spot on the front cover of Men’s Health, an expensive advertizing campaign and third place in the first round of the presidential election with 13 percent of the vote.

He translated votes into power by becoming deputy prime minister in charge of economic reforms.

The former central banker – who scored big by selling his bank to Swedbank Group in 2007 for nearly $1 billion – subsequently led negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to secure a $15 billion standby loan to prop up the country’s finances.

But the drafting of Ukraine’s tax code, which he originally took charge of, hurt his image.

Many smaller entrepreneurs complain that it was skewed in favor of big business.

Despite trying to innovate by holding primaries ahead of local elections in November, the public gave his party a beating at the ballot box, with exit polls putting him at 6 percent.

If this downward slide continues, perhaps his career crisscrossing the boundaries of politics and business will head back the other way.