Russia is, to put it lightly, very large–indeed, the largest country in the world.
At the same time, it’s also not at all densely populated for its size, though it is still a nation of 144 million people.
Out of this, then, naturally a lot of famous people are spawned, both across history and in the modern day.
Today, we’re going to take a broad look at some of the most famous people in Russia, so let’s dive into it.
Leo Tolstoy
For many, Tolstoy is the famous Russian person.
Born in 1828, Tolstoy had an illustrious writing career and is today considered to be one of the greatest and most influential novelists in history.
His biggest and most notable works include War and Peace and Anna Karenina, called the pinnacle of realist fiction which was very popular at the time.
His novels are still widely studied today as among the greatest of not only Tolstoy’s time but literary history in general.
He died in 1910 at the age of 82.
Vladimir Lenin
Without doubt the most famous Russian politician of all time, Vladimir Lenin was a politician, lawyer and revolutionary, who famously led the Russian Revolution to success over the Russian Tsars in 1917.
He served as the founding head of Soviet Russia between 1917 until 1922, and of the Soviet Union until his death in 1924. He embraced socialist politics after the execution of his brother in 1887, and is today widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the advancement of Marxism and Communism.
He died in 1924 at the age of 54.
Ivan the Terrible
Reaching further back in time, next we have Ivan the Terrible, Grand Prince of Moscow and Sovereign of all Russia from 1533.
Later, from 1547, he became Russia’s first Tsar, though he had originally succeeded his father at the age of only three.
He conquered Kazan and Astrakhan in his youth, consolidating his power and eventually granting himself greater autocracy over Russia and the Russian people.
Conflicting accounts painted him as deeply mentally unstable, prone to bouts of rage and paranoia.
He died in 1584 at the age of 54.
Pyotr Tchaikovksy
Another of the world’s most famous composers, Tchaikovsky came from a long tradition while at the same time influencing the way music would change in the coming years.
His compositions fell into the Romantic era of music, and he was the first Russian composer whose music made a big impact internationally.
Even today, Tchaikovsky’s music is among the most popular of all classical compositions and some of the most iconic Romantic era music in the world.
He died in 1893 at the age of 53.
Joseph Stalin
Stalin, to many, is the ultimate face of evil.
He was also the face of Russia for decades following the death of Lenin.
He led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, leading the country through the Second World War and ultimately being instrumental in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
He also oversaw appalling conditions in Russia and the starvation of many Russian people.
Though his own policies are still called Stalinism today, he ostensibly followed the Leninist policies of his forebear.
Garry Kasparov
The term “Russian grandmaster” has become in itself a cliche term, and of the Russian Grandmasters in chess, Garry Kasparov is undoubtedly one of the most famous.
From 1985 until 2000, he was the world champion in chess.
Until his FIDE chess rating of 2851 was beaten by Magnus Carlsen in 2013, this was the highest recorded score of all time.
He is also known as a political activist and writer.
Anna Kournikova
Perhaps the best tennis player Russia has ever produced, Anna Kournikova does not play anymore but is still widely known as a TV personality in America.
This celebrity status has made her among the best known tennis players worldwide.
She never took home a singles title, though she won a great deal of success as a doubles player, being world number 1 and achieving Grand Slam titles in 1999 and 2002.
Vladimir Putin
Another more than controversial figure, Putin is Russia’s current President and perhaps for that reason the most well known Russian individual in the world today.
He was born in 1952 and first served in the Russian intelligence service, at that time the KGB, before he left to begin a political career in 1991.
Since 1999, he has served continuously as either the country’s president or prime minister.
His invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022 sparked international outrage.
Pavel Bure
It should hardly come as a surprise, given most of the country’s climate, that ice hockey is a pretty big deal in Russia.
Of its many famous hockey players, Pavel Bure is among the most well known.
He was born in 1971 and is retired as a professional player today, playing for a total of 12 seasons both nationally and internationally.
He played for the Soviet Union and Russian national teams, as well as the Vancouver Canucks, the Florida Panthers, and the New York Rangers.
Sergey Lavrov
Sergey Lavrov is a Russian politician who has served as the Foreign Minister of Russia since 2004, making him the longest-serving foreign minister after the fall of the Soviet Union.
He also served as a representative of Russia to the United Nations for a period of ten years from 1994 to 2004.
He was born in Moscow in 1950, and had originally planned a career in the National Research Nuclear University or the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, though later pivoting to a career in politics through the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
Like any country, then, Russia has spawned its fair share of monsters–but despite dated portrayals of Russia and Russians in western media, the country is also responsible for some of the best sportspeople and artists the world has ever seen.
From the titan novelists anc composers of the 19th Century to the politicians and sports players of the 20th and 21st Century, the most famous people in russia are also some of the most famous people in the world at large.
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@PollyWebster
Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.