Valentin Gapontsev
Valentin P. Gapontsev (born 23 February 1939)[2] is a Russian-American billionaire, known as the founder, CEO, and chairman of IPG Photonics.
Valentin Gapontsev | |
|---|---|
 Gapontsev in 2011 | |
| Born | Valentin P. Gapontsev February 23, 1939 Russia, USSR |
| Citizenship | Russian and American |
| Education | Lviv Polytechnic National University Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology |
| Known for | founder, CEO and chairman of IPG Photonics |
| Net worth | US$2.1 billion (August 2018)[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Married |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
Valentin Gapontsev was born in Moscow, early in the Second World War, the son of an artillery captain.[3] The family moved to Lvov in 1946, and he spent the next 20 years there.[3] He was educated at Lviv Polytechnic National University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. [1] In 2020, Forbes ranked him No. 359 on the Forbes 400 of the richest people in America.[4]
Career
In 1990, Gapontsev founded IPG Photonics.[1]
Gapontsev and his family own 47.6% of IPG.[5]
In 2011, Gapontsev received the Russian Federation National Award in Science and Technology.[2]
Personal life
He is married, with one child, and lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.[1]
References
- "Forbes profile: Valentin Gapontsev". Forbes. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- "Valentin Gapontsev". kremlin.ru. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- "Independent Thinker: Valentin Gapontsev of IPG Photonics". spie.org. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- "Valentin Gapontsev & family". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- MAIN, Peter S. Cohan WALL &. "Valentin Gapontsev, Worcester's aging billionaire". telegram.com. Retrieved 7 February 2018.