Since the turn of the millennium, Vladimir Putin has been one of the most powerful leaders in the world. He assumed office as an Acting President on Dec. 31, 1999, after the resignation of Boris Yeltsin. Today, Putin continues to attract interests over his intriguing life.
Labelled as a modern-day dictator, Vladimir Putin has definitely lived quite a fascinating life, from the beginning of his career as a member of the secret police on foreign land, to inspiring an online comic superhero, not to mention his rumored personal fortune and his reported affair with a Russian spy. And here are 10 psychedelic facts about the captivating life of the 63-year-old Russian president.
1. Vladimir Putin is immortal.
Even though Putin's immortality may not be a fact, latest reports about him as an immortal is quite interesting. According to Daily Mail, conspiracy theorists claimed that Putin is "a mythical creature who is ageless and can time travel." The claims came after pictures taken in 1920 and 1941 showed a Russian soldier who appeared to be Putin's lookalike.
2. Vladimir Putin was born poor.
Today, Putin has become an undisputed ruler of Russia. But he was born into a poor Soviet family in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and lived in a communal apartment block with his parents, siblings and three other families. In his official biography, Putin shared he spent his childhood days hunting rats, What Culture has learned.
3. Vladimir Putin in a Judo Black Belter
At the age of 18, Putin had achieved a black belt in judo, which is something he refers to as a "life philosophy." And during his spare time, he still practices the martial art. Interestingly, Putin is also trained in the Russian martial art Sambo (or Samozashchita Bez Oruzhiya).
4. Vladimir Putin's Net Worth
Putin has a lot of money. In fact, Celebrity Net Worth listed his estimated fortune as $70 billion, with an annual salary of $187,000.
5. Vladimir Putin has two secret daughters
Putin has two daughters, Mariya Putina and Tekaterina Putina, who were both born in Dresden, East Germany, in the mid-1980s. However, their lives have remained completely secret since there's no information about them. No official family photography has ever been produced, and the Russian media have never published any pictures of them.
6. Vladimir Putin is a jazz singer?
In December 2010, Putin showed off his talent as a jazz singer when he performed his rendition of "Blueberry Hill" during a star-studded charity event in St Petersburg. He also attempted to play Soviet-era song "From Where the Motherland Begins" on the piano but hit a wrong note and stopped. Putin's rare performance was seen by actors Kevin Costner, Gerard Depardieu, Sharon Stone and other guests.
7. Vladimir Putin's gunslinger's gait style of walking and KGB training
Putin is known for his strange way of walking by keeping his right arm still while swinging his left. This so-called "gunslinger's gait" style of walking could be a vestige of his KGB training in gun concealment, The Guardian revealed. In 1975, Putin, who speaks fluent German, joined the KGB and worked his way up to the rank of lieutenant. He returned to the Soviet Union when the Communist East German government fell.
8. Vladimir Putin's grandfather was a chef
Putin's paternal grandfather Spiridon Ivanovich Putin was born in Czarist Russia. However, New York Daily News noted that he served as a chef in the early Soviet Union for Vladimir Lenin, his wife and Joseph Stalin on several occasions.
9. Vladimir Putin is a hero?
In 2011, the Russian President was depicted as an online comic superhero who fought the twin evils of public protest and terrorism and saved his nation by judo-chopping terrorists. The online comic series was written by Sergei Kalenik.
10. Vladimir Putin divorced his wife of 30 years Lyudmila Putina to be with his 31-year-old Swiss girlfriend Alina Kabaeva
In March, rumors circulated that Putin fathered a child with his long-term girlfriend, Alina Kabaeva. As per The Telegraph, Putin was linked to Kabaeva for several years. Unfortunately, the relationship was neither acknowledged nor confirmed by the Kremlin. In 2013, Putin divorced his wife Lyudmila Putina after 30 years of marriage.
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