Meet Vladislav Doronin, the “Russian James Bond” and owner of the Aman Hotel

According to the newspaper, Doronin described St. Petersburg, known as Leningrad during his childhood, as a “very cultural city.” He said it was there that he learned to appreciate art by visiting museums with his parents.

According to Curbed, Doronin left Russia as a young man and has held a Swedish passport since 1992. In Switzerland, he earned an MBA and began working as a commodities trader under Marc Rich, an American businessman who had left the United States after being charged with tax evasion and racketeering.

“Marc Rich ended up being the mentor to all these young people who came out of the Communist Party establishment and made billions,” journalist Paul Klebnikov told the New York Post in 2001.

Doronin resumed his activities in Moscow in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and, with some partners, launched Capital Group in 1993.

Unlike older Russian businessmen who didn’t appreciate capitalism, Doronin excelled, the Journal reported. One of Capital Group’s first projects was to convert a factory into office space for IBM, Curbed reported.

During his rise in the city, the budding real estate tycoon reportedly befriended Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and landed lucrative projects in the financial district.

Doronin became even more famous when he began a relationship with model Naomi Campbell in 2008.

The couple often attended events, and he was also in the crowd when Campbell appeared on “Oprah” in 2010. They split in 2013, and seven years later, Doronin sued his ex.

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ in 2020, he alleged that Campbell owed him money he loaned her throughout their five-year relationship and that the model still owned his personal assets valued at more than $3 million.

It was later revealed that Campbell had initially sued Doronin over similar allegations, but it is unclear whether the case was resolved.

When Doronin bought land in Aspen for $76.2 million and planned to build a resort there, an Aspen Times reporter called him an “oligarch.”

He must not have appreciated the label because Doronin sued the newspaper for defamation.

In the complaint, his lawyers emphasized his Swedish nationality and said Doronin had cut ties with Capital Group between 2013 and 2014.

“Since then, Mr. Doronin has not conducted any business in Russia and is no longer associated with Capital Group,” his lawyers said, according to Curbed.

The lawsuit was settled out of court. According to his LinkedIn profile, Doronin has been the president and CEO of Miami-based real estate development company OKO Group since 2015.

It was during a business trip to Asia that he first stayed at an Aman hotel. Nearly 35 years ago, Doronin was a guest at the Amanpuri in Phuket. The brand was already a hit with celebrities at the time, including Princess Diana and David Bowie, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Doronin also became a fan of Amanpuri after his stay. However, he said that its founder, Adrian Secha, “was a creative person but not a good businessman.”

He bought the luxury hotel chain in 2014 with partners, and the brand has continued to be a hit with the wealthy and wellness-seekers ever since.

Aman Resorts welcomes celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Kylie Jenner, George Clooney and Mark Zuckerberg to its properties around the world.

In March, it launched its sister brand, Janu, a slightly a more accessible brand with its first location in Tokyo and rates starting at $1,000 a night.

Doronin paid $475 million for a portion of the Crown Building in New York, The Real Deal reported, in partnership with builder Michael Shvo. Shvo left the project in 2017 but retained an equity stake.

The hotel, located in the Crown Building in Manhattan, has a 25,000-square-foot spa and a gift shop that includes $137 herbal supplements and a $255 baseball cap, the Journal reported.

Rates at the Aman Hotel can reach more than $4,500 per night. The building also houses the Aman Club, a private members-only club with a $200,000 membership fee and $15,000 annual dues.

Doronin has reportedly been dating Kristina Romanova, 30, since 2014. Romanova is the CEO of Aman Essentials and oversees the sale of its skincare, clothing and jewelry products. They have two children.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine prompted Doronin to address his ties with Russia.

“I am against war,” he told the Journal. “No matter where it takes place.”

According to a statement released in 2022, he has not been to Russia for more than five years and has not “done business in Russia for many years.”

Doronin practices wellness activities and spoke about his status as a student of the Taiwanese martial art of qigong.

Although he is not always willing to speak to the press about his personal life, videos of his qigong practices can be found on YouTube.

Wellness is a common theme at Aman resorts, and Doronin said he meditates daily.

He is also a renowned art collector.

In a surprising twist, Doronin bought his own penthouse. As of 2019, he says the company has an Asian buyer willing to spend $180 million on the five-story unit.

But people familiar with the matter told the Journal that Doronin eventually closed a deal on the penthouse for $135 million, adding to his already extensive real estate catalog, which includes a Manhattan condo, one of the few Zaha Hadid-designed residential homes in Moscow, and a Miami mansion.

“I have an apartment, but I need a fireplace and I need a terrace,” he said in 2019 when he was considering buying a home in his New York project.