A Young Russian Billionaire Plants the Seeds of Future Success
- Melnichenko brings grand design to his superyacht and business
- EuroChem is shifting toward higher-value specialty fertilizers
The stealth-like hull of Andrey Melnichenko’s superyacht is designed to cut through waves leaving barely any wake. Costing an estimated $300 million, the ship uses a unique submarine shape to remain stable in rough seas. Interiors combine Baccarat-crystal bling with fingerprint-reading gadgetry to unlock cabins.
The swanky boat reflects the same eye for innovation and high-tech detail that Melnichenko, 44, is now focusing on the fertilizer business that’s helped make him one of Russia’s youngest billionaires. With revenue dropping because of a global surplus and weaker farm income, the tycoon is remaking EuroChem Group AG into one of the few companies in the world using micro-organisms and polymers to tailor-make products so farmers can grow stronger crops.