Meet Timur Turlov: Wife, Children, Nationality

Timur Turlov built his fortune himself. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp.

Getting to Know Timur Turlov

Timur Turlov is the founder, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Freedom Holding Corp., a global fintech group traded on Nasdaq.

The Holding operates across several segments. Its core financial businesses include brokerage, banking, payments, and insurance. Lifestyle services comprise e-grocery, event ticketing, travel bookings, and media. Telecommunications spans connectivity services, cloud infrastructure,  data center development, and artificial intelligence. Multiple services are available through a single interface in Freedom SuperApp.

Since its Nasdaq listing in October 2019, Freedom Holding has grown more than twelvefold, from a boutique financial holding valued at approximately $0.837 billion (58,093,212 shares of common stock at $14.42 per share) to a global multi-industry ecosystem valued at more than $10.4 billion as of September 2, 2026 ($169 per share). During 2025, the stock reached an intraday high of $194.01 in August, corresponding to a market capitalization of roughly $11.76 billion.

Turlov, remaining Freedom’s controlling shareholder, with a stake of approximately 66.5%, built his fortune as Freedom expanded. Turlov has been included in the Forbes Kazakhstan ranking of the country’s 75 richest businessmen since 2020. He is No. 10 on Forbes’ 2025 list of the richest self-made billionaires under 40, with an estimated fortune of $5.9 billion as of December 12, 2025. Forbes’ real-time estimate put Turlov’s net worth at around $7 billion, with a rank of No. 554 in the world as of September 3, 2026.

Where Timur Turlov Comes From 

Timur Turlov was born on November 13, 1987, in Lobnya, a town near Moscow. He grew up during a period of major economic and social change, as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and Russia moved from a centrally planned economy toward a market economy.

His mother was a researcher who raised him largely on her own. Turlov has said that his father left the family when he was three and that he has only vague memories of him. The family never learned what happened to him. According to Turlov, his father was originally from Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Money was tight during Turlov’s childhood. In interviews, he has recalled that six people shared a room of less than 30 square meters. He says that the family never went hungry, but his mother carefully planned the household budget to make sure there was enough food by the end of the month. Looking back, Turlov has described those years as an important influence on his attitude toward money. The experience created what he called an “inner hunger” – a strong desire for financial security and independence.

As Western films became increasingly accessible in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, they gave Turlov a glimpse of a very different way of life. He was fascinated by the large, comfortable homes he saw on screen, such as the suburban house where the McCallister family lived in the 1990 film Home Alone, and by stories of traders making fortunes on Wall Street. Those films sparked his interest in financial markets and became the beginning of a passion that would shape his career.

A Change of Citizenship

Turlov first visited Kazakhstan in 2011 in search of new opportunities to expand his business. At the time, Freedom Finance, founded in 2008, was growing in Russia, but the market was becoming increasingly competitive and harder to stand out. A friend suggested that he look at Kazakhstan, where Turlov saw greater perspective and less competition. He moved the center of his operations to the country and relocated his family to Almaty.

Over the following decade, Kazakhstan became the center of Turlov’s personal and business life. He said that he came to regard the country as his home, while his company continued to expand there.

He became a citizen of Kazakhstan on June 9, 2022. Kazakhstan does not recognize dual citizenship, so obtaining Kazakhstani citizenship required him to renounce his Russian and Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenships.

The Career Behind the Fortune

Turlov made his first investment in the stock market at 15, using $800 he had received from his grandfather. A year later, he began working as a trader at the Moscow branch of World Capital Investments (WCI), an American investment company. He later joined an affiliate of Uniastrum Bank, where he worked on building infrastructure that gave clients access to U.S. stock exchanges. At the same time, he studied economics and management at the Russian State Technological University named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, attending classes during the day and working with U.S. markets in the evenings.

The 2008 financial crisis brought an abrupt end to that stage of his career. When the brokerage business was closed, Turlov and several former colleagues decided to build their own company around the expertise and client relationships they had developed at the bank. They pooled their severance payments and started with roughly $100,000 in capital. The new company, Freedom Finance, focused on providing Russian investors with access to U.S. stock markets.

After Turlov identified Kazakhstan as a promising market in 2011, the business began expanding there. As it grew, Turlov began adding new companies and sectors around the original brokerage operation. Banking, insurance, payments, and other financial services gradually joined the core brokerage business, laying the foundation for a broader financial group.

In 2019, the businesses were consolidated under Freedom Holding Corp., and the company went public on Nasdaq. At that point, the group had evolved from a small brokerage focused on U.S. markets into a global, multi-industry fintech group operating in 24 countries and continuing to expand its geographic footprint.

The years that followed brought a much broader expansion of the business. Freedom added banking, insurance, payments, telecommunications, and consumer services, gradually developing the integrated ecosystem it operates today.

The growth has also been reflected in its financial performance. For fiscal 2026, ended March 31, 2026, Freedom Holding reported $2.19 billion in revenue, up from $2.00 billion a year earlier, while net income more than doubled to $153.3 million from $76.2 million. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, revenue increased another 40% year over year to $732.5 million, while total assets rose to $14.05 billion. Together with partner services, Freedom SuperApp has a user base of around 14 million.

Timur Turlov’s Wife: Married Since 2008

Family has long been an important source of support and stability for Timur Turlov. He met his future wife, Elena, while they were both studying at university. They married in August 2008, during one of the most challenging periods of Turlov’s early career.

Elena has largely stayed out of the public spotlight, while Turlov has spoken openly about her role in the family. He describes himself as the “president” at work and his wife as the “president” at home, responsible for running the household and raising their children. He has also said that her support has been important throughout his career, even when they have had different views.

When the family moved to Kazakhstan, they already had three children. Today, Turlov and Elena are raising six children – three daughters and three sons. Despite the demands of running a growing international business, Turlov has repeatedly described his family as his “quiet harbor” and an important source of balance in his life. He said that family gives him both support and a sense of direction, while his wife remains the one who takes the lead in the household’s day-to-day life.

Raising Six Children in Almaty

Turlov’s approach to parenting reflects his broader view of independence. He does not see raising children as a matter of setting rigid rules or planning their future for them. Instead, he tries to involve them in the reasoning behind his decisions and let them see the consequences of his choices.

Chess is part of that education at home. Turlov has played since childhood and has taught all six of his children to play. He sees the game as a way to develop strategic thinking and learn to consider the consequences of a move before making it.

He also does not expect his children to continue his career in finance or business. For Turlov, the more valuable legacy is not a predetermined career or a fortune, but the ability to think independently, develop useful skills and build a life of their own.

Turlov’s interest in the future of the next generation extends beyond his own family. He sees Kazakhstan’s young population as a key resource and supports charitable projects focused on education, sports and chess.

How Turlov Talks About Home Life

For Turlov, maintaining a healthy balance between work and rest is important to staying productive. “Family is your base, your balance, your rest. If you don’t want to come home, something is wrong,” he says.

Having been married for nearly 18 years, he believes that family does not get in the way of business, but actually helps it grow: “People who think that family interferes with business are deeply mistaken. It gives you inner balance and the right sense of direction.”

For Turlov, family is also a place where he feels safe. “I think it’s a very natural thing: you pursue your ambitions, you work hard, and then you want to rest from it. My family is my source of strength. We always have young children who need their parents’ attention, regardless of what kind of business I’m running or how busy I am. Then the older children grow up and help take care of the younger ones. Whatever I do, I know that having children is the best thing that has happened to me,” he says.

He spends much of his free time with his family, including traveling, hiking and playing chess with his children.

Public Figure, Private Family

Despite his high public profile, Turlov keeps much of his family life private. He rarely shares details about his children and tries not to make them part of his public image. He believes children of well-known parents need private space to grow up without unnecessary attention or pressure.

His own public presence is quite different. Turlov primarily uses social media and public appearances to discuss business, investing, technology, sports, and his projects in Kazakhstan. He rarely attends social events and is more often seen in a business setting than at celebrity-style gatherings.

His lifestyle is also relatively low-key for someone of his wealth. He has said that he has no interest in luxury villas or castles and prefers to put his money into business and projects.

For Turlov, being a public figure does not mean making every part of his life public. His business may be built on visibility and growth, but he maintains a clear boundary with the people closest to him.

Frequently Asked Questions About Timur Turlov

Who Is Timur Turlov Married To?

Timur Turlov is married to Elena Turlova. They met while studying at university and married in 2008. She largely stays out of the public spotlight and takes the lead in managing the household.

How Many Children Does Timur Turlov Have?

Turlov and his wife have six children – three sons and three daughters.

What Nationality Is Timur Turlov?

Turlov is a citizen of Kazakhstan. He was born in Russia and moved to Kazakhstan, later becoming a Kazakhstani citizen in 2022.

Is Timur Turlov Russian or Kazakh?

Turlov was born in Russia, but has lived in Kazakhstan for a long time. He became a citizen of Kazakhstan in June 2022 after meeting the country’s residency requirement and gave up his Russian and Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenships.

Who Are Timur Turlov’s Parents?

Turlov was raised largely by his mother, who worked as a researcher. His father left the family when Timur was three, and Turlov has said he has only vague memories of him.

What Is Timur Turlov’s Net Worth?

As of early September 2026, Forbes estimated Timur Turlov’s net worth, derived primarily from his stake in Freedom Holding Corp., at $7 billion, ranking him 583rd on its global list of the world’s richest people.

What Is Timur Turlov’s Religion?

Turlov is a Christian.

How Tall Is Timur Turlov?

Turlov is 6 feet 6 inches (199 cm) tall.