You're reading: #43 Richest: Oleksandr Feldman, 50

$291 million Married with one son Interests: trade, public service

When Oleksandr Feldman isn’t watching his money grow, he monitors the Internet for xenophobic, anti-Semitic and violent content.

The president of the Jewish Committee of Ukraine co-founded the Institute of Human Rights and the Prevention of Extremism and Xenophobia with Amanda Paul, an analyst from Brussels-based European Policy Center.

He’s also the founder of AVEK group, which unites around 50 companies, many of which are in his native Kharkiv.

The concern manages the legendary Barabashovo market there, a sprawling wholesale and retail market equal to 150 football fields.

Its 70,000 traders generate annual revenues of almost $2.5 billion (Hr 20 billion).

Somehow he finds time to work as a member of parliament and has reportedly hired a public relations firm to spiff up President Viktor Yanukovych’s image in Brussels.

Feldman was on Yanukovych’s side when he was ousted from power in the 2004 Orange Revolution, but then switched his allegiance to Yanukovych’s nemesis, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

With Yanukovych back in power, Feldman today calls himself “independent.” He also penned an op-ed in the Kyiv Post on Nov. 4, strongly defending Yanukovych and his government’s policies.