Vladimir Putin

Bio:
Vladimir Putin, (born Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia on Oct. 7, 1952) is the current president of Russia. His mother, Maria Ivanovna Putina, was a factory worker and his father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, served in the Russian Navy and participated in World War 2. After graduating from Leningrad State University in 1975 he joined the KGB and served with the organization until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. He began his political career in 1990 and he rapidly rose up the political ladder until he achieved the rank of Deputy Prime Minister. When Russian president Boris Yeltsin resigned on Dec. 31, 1999, he became the acting President of Russia, a position he held until 2008, when he was forced out by term limits. After holding the role of Prime Minister for four years, he again ran for president in 2012 and began his third presidential term on Mar. 4, 2012.

Best Known For:
Being the President of Russia for over 13 years.

Personal Life:
Vladimir has been married once to Lyudmila Shkrebneva, who was a student and former flight attendant. They were married on July 28, 1983 and have two daughters together Mariya Putina (born Apr. 28, 1985) and Yekaterina Putina (born Aug. 31, 1986). Vladimir and Lyudmila were confirmed to be divorced on April 1, 2014. Since then he has been linked to several prominent Russian women including gymnaist Alina Kabayeva and ex-spy Anna Chapman.