Yuri Shefler
Yuri Shefler is a Russian businessman who is the owner of SPI Group, an international consortium that sells alcohol in 160 countries, most notably the Stolichnaya vodka brand.
Despite a more than 15 year dispute with Russian state-owned company FKP Sojuzplodoimport regarding the ownership of the Stolichnaya and Moskovskaya trademarks, Shefler's SPI Group owns the trademarks in more than 180 countries. The only notable decision against SPI Group has been in the Netherlands, but that decision remains subject to appeal before the Dutch Supreme Court.
Shefler left the Soviet Army in September 1987 and at one time headed Vnukovo Airlines. He used to own one of the largest yachts in the world,, with a length of. In 2015 he sold Serene to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a reported $550 million. In March 2017 he bought Tulchan Estate on Speyside, Scotland's most expensive sporting estate.
