Russia's Richest Man Wants His Tax Money To Stay In Siberia

Russia's richest man, Mikhail Prokhorov, is a hometown boy at heart. For him, Siberia is home and Wealth Bulletin reports that he wants his taxes spent there. The 44-year-old Prokhorov lives in the western Siberian village of Eruda and this is where registered to pay hundreds of millions in taxes from his estimated fortune of $9.5 billion. He has said that he believes it is fair to pay his taxes in the region where he made his money. Prokhorov and his sister Irina, have set up the Mikhail Prokhorov Foundation to promote philanthropic efforts in the area. The Prokhorovs are also supporting the arts, spending more than $1 million to shoulder the cost of the Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Sports Illustrated says that Prokhorov is part of one of four groups interested in buying the New Jersey Nets basketball team. Prokhorov, who at six foot nine inches himself is a tall drink of water, is said to be a big basketball fan.