Viktor Bout is a name that has gained notoriety and fame in the world of arms dealing. He was involved in several high-profile instances concerning illegal arms trafficking. With his intriguing background and controversial activities, many are curious about Viktor Bout net worth and salary in 2023.
This article discusses his net worth, life, career, and personal life.
What is Viktor Bout’s Net Worth and Salary 2023
Viktor Bout is a famous person who sells weapons internationally and has a lot of money, around $50 million.
It is believed that Viktor Bout used many of his air transport companies to move weapons from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Africa. This happened after the Soviet Union ended, mainly in the 1980s and 1990s. The weapons he transported were worth billions of dollars.
Viktor Bout Overview
Early life
Viktor Bout (January 13, 1967) was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in what was then the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic of the USSR. There are few more details regarding his origins or childhood known, and even his birth date is uncertain.
Career
Viktor Bout is known as one of the most famous weapons sellers in recent times. He used to work for the Soviet military and make weapons.
Bout used his language skills, connections with people from different countries, and business knowledge to create many companies. These companies secretly moved weapons from Eastern Europe to Africa and the Middle East in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Sadly, the weapons he smuggled caused many wars and fights around the world. Because of this, people started calling him the Merchant of Death. In fact, his story inspired a movie called Lord of War in 2006, starring Nicholas Cage.
Bout’s career in illegal arms trafficking began with the launch of his cargo airline, Air Cess, in 1995. He supplied weapons to numerous forces in Liberia, Congo, and the Philippines, as well as both sides of the Afghan conflict, using a fleet of Russian jets.
His dealings were not limited to rogue states and warlords; he also provided logistical support to the U.S military during the Iraq War, flying shipments for the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Halliburton subsidiary KBR.
Even though Viktor Bout broke the rules of the United Nations by selling weapons when he wasn’t supposed to, and even though international authorities were trying to catch him, he was able to escape being caught for many years. He lived openly in Moscow, and the Russian government protected him.
However, his luck ran out in 2008. He was arrested in Thailand because the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration set up a plan to catch him.
Undercover agents pretended to be part of a terrorist group, and they caught Bout on video offering to sell them many dangerous weapons.
He wanted to sell them hundreds of missiles that could shoot down airplanes, 20,000 AK-47 rifles, and five tons of explosives made of plastic. These weapons were meant to be used against Americans.
After spending time in a prison in the United States, Viktor Bout was released in 2022. The reason for his release was an exchange with American basketball player Brittney Griner.
Now that he is back in Russia, there is a possibility that Bout’s unique skills, which helped him break sanctions, might be used by the Russian government to support their military actions in Ukraine and other places of conflict.
As the world deals with the outcomes of his release, the story of Viktor Bout remin.ds us of the risks caused by dishonest weapons sellers. It also emphasizes the importance of countries working together to stop their harmful activities.
Personal life
Viktor Bout’s personal life has been relatively private, and not much information is available about his personal relationships or family.
He was married to Alla Vladimirovna Bout, and they have a daughter together. However, due to his involvement in illegal activities, his personal life has often taken a backseat to the attention given to his criminal endeavors.
Why is Viktor Bout Famous?
Viktor Bout became well-known and infamous because he was involved in the illegal trade of weapons. He had a network that allowed him to provide weapons to different places where there were fights and armed groups. This made him a wanted person in the world of illegal arms dealing.
Law enforcement agencies and international organizations took notice of Bout’s actions, which led to his arrest and important trials that received a lot of attention.
FAQs about Viktor Bout
How many languages does Viktor Bout speak?
He claims to be able to read 15 languages.
Bout told The New Yorker that he could “read fifteen or sixteen languages, go to the market with nine or ten, and speak fluently in five or six.” Esperanto, a synthetic language created in 1887 for worldwide usage, has approximately 100,000 fluent speakers.
What weapons did Victor Bout sell?
In actuality, Bout was meeting with US Drug Enforcement Administration informants, who videotaped him offering to sell them hundreds of surface-to-air missiles and other heavy armaments.
Who was the arms dealer for Griner?
Viktor Bout is a dealer.
In December, the United States exchanged WNBA star Brittney Griner for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
In the 1990s, Bout was a well-known arms trader. In 2008, he was apprehended as a result of a sting operation. Bout has declared his support for Putin’s war on returning to Russia, demonstrating his far-right political leanings.
What is Viktor Bout accused of?
Bout was extradited to the United States on narco-terrorism accusations and convicted in 2011 of planning to kill Americans, supplying anti-aircraft missiles, and assisting a terrorist organization. He received a 25-year prison sentence. Bout was serving his term in Illinois after being convicted of conspiracy in New York.
Conclusion
While Viktor Bout’s involvement in illegal arms trafficking brought him considerable notoriety, it is challenging to determine his exact net worth. As of now, Viktor Bout remains incarcerated, serving his sentence for his criminal activities. His narrative serves as a reminder of the shadowy underbelly of international arms trafficking and the penalties that those who participate suffer. Thank you for reading this article from WCNetWorth!
