Viktor Bout Net Worth, Biography, Military Career, And Life Of Crime

Viktor Bout is a Russian arms dealer, weapons manufacturer, and former Soviet Military translator. He used his multiple companies to smuggle arms from Eastern Europe to Africa and the Middle East during the 90s and early 2000s.

The gun runner was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (formerly Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic)

He also gained nicknames like “Merchant of Death” and Sanctions Buster” after British Minister Peter Hain read a report to the United Nations in 2003 on Bout’s operations.

As of 2022, Viktor Bout is estimated to have a net worth of $50 million.

Viktor Bout Profile Summary

early life

The gun runner was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (formerly Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic). An ethnic Ukrainian, he got Russian citizenship after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Viktor’s mother’s name is Raisa. He also has a stepfather and a brother named Sergei.

Before I talk about Viktor Bout net worth, allow me to talk about how he started his military career.

military career

Information about his military career is not well-known by the public except that he graduated from the Soviet Military Institute of Foreign Languages.

Bout became fluent in five foreign languages: Farsi, English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese. Bout also served in the Soviet Army as a translator and held the rank of lieutenant.

Bout abandoned his military career to pursue arms dealing. Viktor took advantage of the dissolution of the USSR and used planes left on the airfields to transport weapons to African countries.

Having served in Angola during his career as a military translator, Bout also briefly lived in South Africa and had the necessary knowledge to conduct arms deals with his African clients.

He was involved in the First Liberian Civil War and the Yugoslav Wars during his career as a gun dealer. Sources also claimed he traded with al-Qaeda and the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan.

investigation

Local authorities issued an arrest warrant for him in 2002 which made him flee Belgium, where he resided. Interpol also issued the highest notice for Bout on charges of money laundering.

u.s Prosecution and conviction

In 2004, Viktor’s assets in the US were frozen, but the American government didn’t have a criminal case against him at the time. Four years later, U.S. agents came up with a sting operation plan.

They posed as Colombian rebels who were interested in purchasing weapons from Bout. The gun runner was arrested in Thailand and spent two years in jail in Bangkok before being extradited to the US.

Bout was also charged with multiple crimes once on American soil. He was charged with conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, illegal purchase of aircraft, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Bout received a sentence of 25 years of imprisonment in April 2012, with his accomplice, Andrew Smulian who was also sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.

It was reported in December 2022 that Viktor Bout was exchanged for WNBA player Brittney Griner and went back to Russia.

Bout praised Vladimir Putin and expressed his support for the war in Ukraine. He also wished he could join the Russian soldiers on the battlefield.

personal life

Viktor Bout married Alla Protasova in 1992. Bout also has a daughter who was born in 1994.

Bout and his wife’s relationship did not end after his arrest. Bout’s mother and his wife were among the people who met him at the airport when he returned to Russia.

Bout’s story inspired the 2005 crime drama movie “Lord of War”, starring Nicholas Cage and Jared Leto.

Viktor Bout net worth

As of 2022, Viktor Bout had an estimated net worth of about $50 million. Life of crime really pays!!!

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