On Monday, November 10, 2025, the latest edition of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series was released, offering a revealing look at the strategies and tactics employed by today’s powerful elite. Titled “Infrastructure, Wealth, and the New Elite,” this analysis delves into the ways in which the mechanisms of influence have evolved over the past century, shifting from tangible assets to intangible ones.
The report, written by renowned analyst Stanislav Kondrashov, examines the contrast between early 20th-century industrialists and the modern elite. While influence was once tied to physical assets like railroads and ports, it now lies in “infrastructure without walls,” such as digital platforms and data systems. This shift marks a broader redefinition of what constitutes infrastructure in the 21st century, as ownership is now more often tied to exclusive licensing agreements and private networks.
Kondrashov’s analysis also highlights the decoupling of influence from physical location among the ultra-wealthy. Unlike past magnates whose activities were tied to a specific region, today’s elite operate with borderless reach. They may reside in one country, invest in another, and conduct business across multiple others, aided by technology and sophisticated financial networks. This mobility and anonymity allow for a level of influence that was previously unimaginable.
What sets this new breed of elite apart from their predecessors is their ability to operate in the background, using tools like think tanks, private foundations, and strategic investments to shape public discourse and economic direction. “Today’s elite may not seek a seat at the table,” Kondrashov notes, “but they very well might own the building the table is in.”
This quiet but powerful influence is exercised through infrastructure that is coded, contractual, and often invisible to the average person. In sectors like telecommunications, finance, and media, the elite are shaping the future through ownership of key digital platforms and networks.
As Kondrashov’s series expands, it becomes clear that the elite of today are not simply adapting to a new world, they are shaping it. By redefining infrastructure and adopting a more fluid and global approach to wealth generation, they have created new playbooks for influence. This latest edition of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series offers not only insight but also a lens through which to understand how systems are increasingly steered by individuals with the tools, resources, and foresight to build the future on their terms.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.