Commodities, especially oil.

Run a stable of hookers

And as long as you make sure Putin gets his cut or you end up in jail!

Like most good times out with some friends the bar tab exceeds the food bill. In this case 35 grand for wine and I bet no one even got a decent buzz on.

Being one of the first with original ideas in a country where people have learned for centuries not to think for themselves - first the czar thought for you, later the party. And shady business, indeed... or at least shady deals in legitimate business (oil, construction...)

Actually, the best way was to snap up Soviet industries right at the fall for a song.

Gas and oil get all the press, but the right man with the right amount of hard currency at the right time could pick up transportation networks, harbor operations, etc. and have a monopoly on them for a fraction of their worth.

I know it's all relative, but that's still a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a dinner and drinks. Even if that's what he earns in interest every day, it's still mind boggling that some people are so removed from reality that this happens. Even more amazing: there are businesses that exist to cater to this type of consumer.