New Russians

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The New Russians (Russian: новые русские novye russkie) is a cliché term referring to members of a newly rich social class in the CIS who made vast fortunes in the 1990s (also referred to as "the wild 90s") in post-Soviet Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is perceived as a stereotypical caricature. According to the stereotype, "New Russians" achieved rapid wealth by using criminal methods during Russia's chaotic transition to a market economy.

Not all New Russians are ethnically Russian. Initially a neutral designation, the term soon took on a negative and ironic connotation. It is used to describe people who became wealthy very quickly (often through dubious or illegal means), including major mafia figures, but who lack intelligence, culture, and sophistication. Despite their wealth, they retain the language and manners of the social strata from which they emerged.

In the 1990s, "New Russians" became a staple of jokes that played on stereotypes about businessmen.