Victor Pinchuk (left) and Rinat Akhmetov are rated as Ukraine's richest men on Forbes' annual list that, this year, counts five Ukrainian billionaires. Five Ukrainians made Forbes annual list of richest people in the world. They were: Rinat Akhmetov, with $5.2 billion; Victor Pinchuk, with $3.1 billion; Ihor Kolomoyskyy with $2 billion; Henadiy Boholyubov with $1.7 billion; and Kostyantin Zhevago with $1.2 billion. The entire list and biographies can be found here. Below are Forbes magazine excerpts of the Ukrainians' biographies:

Rank 148: Rinat Akhmetov, 43, $5.2 billion

Son of a coal miner, built his business in the mid-1990s by forging ties with then prime minister Viktor Yanukovych. With Yanukovych winning back the prime minister post in February, Akhmetov poised to benefit. Already fortune has rebounded in past year thanks to improved outlook for his metals group, Metinvest. Invested $1 billion in U.S. coal miner, United Coal. His energy company, DTEK, rumored to be considering public offering. Christened his $400 million soccer stadium last August; it will host 2012 Euro Cup. Spent more than $30 million on personal charities over past two years.


Rank 307: Victor Pinchuk, 49, $3.1 billion

Made headlines in the art world this year: announced $100,000 prize for artists under age 35 to be awarded every two years and was appointed to the board of Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Sixth year hobnobbing at Davos. Despite glitzy lifestyle, his pipemaker Interpipe is struggling. Fitch downgraded the company's debt to restricted default over concerns of meeting its $900 million of total debt, nearly half secured by company assets and future sales. Sold his Ukrsotsbank in 2008 at top of the market to Italy's UniCredit Group for $2.2 billion. Reportedly paid Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair to give a speech in Ukraine, which was seen as encouraging Blair, who is up for European Union president, to support Ukraine's ascension into the EU. Son-in-law of ex-president Leonid Kuchma used his Ph.D. in pipe design to found Interpipe in 1990.


Rank 488: Ihor Kolomoyskyy, 47, $2 billion

With partner and fellow billionaire Henadiy Boholyubov failed to get board seat on fellow Ukrainian billionaire's Kostyantin Zhevago's iron ore company Ferrexpo last year; their purchase of ammonia plant from government annulled. With Boholyubov controls Privat group, a banking and industrial conglomerate. Began with Privatbank, which was founded with $1 million of capital in early 1990s; bank value has not yet recovered from 2008 credit crisis, which brought Ukraine to brink of collapse. Expected to receive at least $100 million from dividend payout from oil concern Ukrnafafta. Separately, bought Ukrainian assets of U.S. billionaire Ronald Lauder's Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. for $300 million in January; some analysts posit he overpaid.

Rank 582: Henadiy Boholyubov, 48, $1.7 billion Via his private company, Palmary Enterprises, won control over Australia's manganese ore miner Consolidated Minerals in 2008; value of company plummeted by 40% along with market. Currently in tussle with investment bank JPMorgan over $50 million advisory fee related to the deal. Gearing up for takeover battle for Australia's OM Holdings, regarded as world's last independent supplier of high-grade manganese; now holds 12% stake in the company. With partner and fellow billionaire Henadiy Boholyubov controls Privat group, a banking and industrial conglomerate they founded in early 1990s; bank value has not yet recovered from credit crisis tha brought Ukraine to brink of collapse. Oil concern Ukrnafafta set to pay $600 million in dividends owed from three prior years; his take: at least $100 million.

Rank 828: Kostyantin Zhevago, 36, $1.2 billion

Ukraine's youngest billionaire returns to the billionaires list as his iron ore producer Ferrexpo recovers from 2008 market collapse. At the time, company's share price tumbled 94% in 5 months, and Zhevago was forced to sell 21% stake to meet margin calls; he also took over as chief executive. His Finance & Credit Bank still struggling; it recently reported profit losses for 2009. Deputy in Ukraine's parliament, his party leader was defeated in recent election. Started out as finance director of bank Finance & Credit in 1992 when he was just 19. Eventually gained a majority stake in its holding company.