Leonid Mikhelson, the leader of Russia’s largest oil and gas firm, spoke at the 9 Horizons9 training marathon hosted by the Knowledge community. He urged aspiring applicants to consider engineering as a pivotal field when choosing a career path, highlighting the long-term value of technical expertise in energy sectors with growing global demand. The message emphasized that success in today9s energy landscape hinges on a solid engineering foundation, particularly for those aiming to work in integrated projects that span design, procurement, and construction management.
He noted a historical gap in the market: there has not always been a single company capable of performing end-to-end EPC contracts, which means taking responsibility for both the design and the delivery, as well as supervising the construction phase. According to Mikhelson, the most skilled engineers in the natural gas liquefaction industry are among the best paid in the sector, with salaries reaching into the seven-figure range for experts who lead major projects. This underscores the premium on expertise in cryogenics and in managing complex plants such as LNG facilities that process natural gas for global markets.
In his remarks, he pointed to the Yamal LNG project as a prime example of the kinds of operations that reward top-tier engineering talent. The scale and complexity of such facilities require precision, innovation, and leadership across multidisciplinary teams. Compensations for senior engineers and project managers in this space reflect the high stakes and the critical role these professionals play in ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient production and export capabilities. The focus on project leadership in cryogenic processing continues to attract engineers who pursue rigorous technical challenges and career advancement within the gas liquids value chain.
Market observers and business analysts note that the profile of wealth among Russia9s top entrepreneurs has shifted over recent years. Fresh rankings and indices, including updates from major financial outlets, show changes in the aggregate wealth of the country9s wealthiest figures. In particular, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and other reformulated assessments indicate fluctuations in the total net worth of notable business leaders since early 2022, reflecting wider economic dynamics, exchange-rate movements, and portfolio diversification strategies. These trends provide context for readers who follow how leadership in large energy firms intersects with broader market conditions and investment climates in both Russia and international markets. The evolving rankings highlight how industry leadership translates into financial prominence, while also underscoring the importance of resilient business models in energy-heavy economies. Notes from these indices emphasize that wealth movement is influenced by commodity cycles, capital expenditure patterns, and global demand for LNG and related products. [citation: Bloomberg Billionaires Index data; Forbes wealth lists]