Unlike many other Russian businessmen who created their empires through the privatization of state enterprises in the early 1990s, Tariko built his company from scratch.
Already at this point, Tariko had an eye for making money, as his first business venture was a small cleaning company which he had established with two friends.
[4] Starting working part time as an independent guide while still operating a cleaning service Tariko made an arrangement with a large government hotel.
In the late 1980s, Tariko began importing Kinder Surprise and Ferrero Rocher chocolates to the Soviet Union and selling them for rubles.
Record sales of Martini enabled him to grow his company Roust Inc. into the leading importer of premium spirits in Russia.
[3] In Forbes magazine's "World's Richest People" ranking of 2009, Tariko was listed at number 647 with an estimated wealth of $1.1 billion.