Yitzchak Mirilashvili co-founded VK, sold his stake in 2013 and controls Israel's Channel 14. See his Kuf Dalet holdings, SPAR stake and sourced facts.
Yitzchak Mirilashvili (born Vyacheslav Mirilashvili, also spelled Vyatcheslav and nicknamed Slava) is an Israeli investor and co-founder of the Russian social network VK, and the controlling shareholder of Israel's Channel 14. He sold his VK stake in April 2013, when Globes reported that he owned 40% of the company. Ynet reported the sale at $1.12 billion. His holding company is the Kuf Dalet Group.
Last updated: October 29, 2026.
Who is Yitzchak Mirilashvili at a glance?
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Saint Petersburg, Russia, as Vyacheslav Mirilashvili | Ice |
| Also known as | Vyacheslav, Vyatcheslav or Slava Mirilashvili; Hebrew: יצחק מירילשוילי | Wikipedia |
| Main role | Controlling shareholder of Channel 14 | Ice, Wikipedia |
| Holding company | Kuf Dalet Group, of which he is sole shareholder and chairman | Wikipedia |
| VK exit | Sold a 40% stake in April 2013; $1.12 billion per Ynet | Globes, Ynet |
| Retail stake | About 19.9% of SPAR Israel | Ice, Globes |
| Family | Son of Mikhael Mirilashvili | Ynet |
What is Yitzchak Mirilashvili's real name?
Yitzchak Mirilashvili was born Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Mirilashvili, and Wikipedia lists his other names as Vyatcheslav and Slava Mirilashvili. The name Yitzchak is the Hebrew name he uses in Israel. Searches for "Vyacheslav Mirilashvili", "Viatcheslav Mirilashvili" and "Slava Mirilashvili" refer to the same person, the VK co-founder and Channel 14 owner described on this page.
What did Mirilashvili build with VK?
Mirilashvili co-founded VK, then called VKontakte, with the investor Lev Leviev as a partner and Pavel Durov as chief executive, according to Globes. VK was Russia's answer to Facebook, with about 150 million users when Globes reported on the sale in 2013.
Globes said Mirilashvili owned 40% and Leviev 8%, and that both sold to United Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. Ynet later reported the sale at $1.12 billion, which made him one of the wealthiest Russian-born Jews at age 28. Wikipedia adds that he held a material stake in the games company Plarium, which Aristocrat bought in 2017 for an estimated $500 million.
What does the Kuf Dalet Group own?
The Kuf Dalet Group is the holding company that manages Mirilashvili's investments, with a focus on real estate and infrastructure in the United States, Israel, Russia and Europe, according to Wikipedia. It is headquartered in Herzliya, and Wikipedia lists Kuf Dalet as the controlling shareholder of Rothstein Real Estate, an Israeli residential developer.
In retail, Ice reports that he holds 19.9% of SPAR Israel and invests in technology.
What other businesses does Mirilashvili own?
Beyond Channel 14 and Kuf Dalet, Mirilashvili has taken stakes in Israeli retail and radio. Globes reported in September 2023 that he took a 19.9% stake in the Israeli franchise of the Dutch retailer SPAR, after Shufersal declined the option because of restrictions from the Israel Competition Authority. The same report said he is also a partner in the Telem supermarket chain, which has five branches in the Sharon region.
The Ch10 news site reported that he now controls the Kol Hai radio station alone after buying the remaining 20% from the minority group, which included Mishpacha newspaper owner Eli Falai and the Osher Ad chain. The Jewish Press also reports a controlling share in the news portal 0404. Olam has not independently verified the 0404 holding.
Who controls Channel 14?
Mirilashvili is the controlling shareholder of Channel 14, branded Now 14 and formerly Channel 20, according to Wikipedia's entry on the channel. He was the only bidder in the tender for the Heritage Channel and received the license in August 2013, per the same entry.
Wikipedia describes Channel 14 as a right-wing and conservative commercial channel that began as a Jewish heritage outlet. Ice notes that his largest public influence in Israel comes from his control of the channel. For the wider market, see Olam's map of Israeli television and media.
When did Channel 14 launch, and why is it called Now 14?
Channel 14 launched on June 30, 2014 as Channel 20, according to Wikipedia. On November 28, 2021 the channel changed its name to Now 14 and moved to the 14th slot on television receivers, where it is also known simply as Channel 14. Its main news show has aired at 19:30 Israel time since that move, earlier than the other big channels, according to Wikipedia's channel entry, which flags that detail as needing a citation.
What does Mirilashvili give to charity?
Wikipedia says Yitzchak Mirilashvili and his father donate approximately NIS 150 million per year to bodies associated with Chabad Hassidism and religious Zionism, and that he is a member of the Chabad community. Olam has not verified that annual figure against the donors' own filings.
Why does Mirilashvili matter to Israeli business?
Mirilashvili matters because his holdings span a television channel, a real estate developer, a retail stake and a radio station, built on wealth from a Russian technology exit. This is Olam's reading, not a ranking from a source.
For his father, see Mikhael Mirilashvili. His profile belongs to a wider group of Russian-born investors with Israeli assets, covered in The Builders series.
Yitzchak Mirilashvili FAQ
Who is Yitzchak Mirilashvili?
Yitzchak Mirilashvili, born Vyacheslav Mirilashvili in Saint Petersburg in 1984, is an Israeli investor, co-founder of VK and controlling shareholder of Channel 14, according to Ice and Globes.
Is Vyacheslav Mirilashvili the same person as Yitzchak Mirilashvili?
Yes. Vyacheslav, Vyatcheslav and Slava are the Russian forms of his name, and Yitzchak is the Hebrew name he uses in Israel, according to Wikipedia.
Who owns Channel 14?
Yitzchak Mirilashvili is the controlling shareholder of Channel 14, according to Wikipedia and Ice.
How much did Mirilashvili make from VK?
Ynet reported that he sold his VK stake in 2013 for $1.12 billion, while Globes said at the time that the amount was undisclosed.
What is the Kuf Dalet Group?
The Kuf Dalet Group is Mirilashvili's holding company, investing in real estate and infrastructure in the United States, Israel, Russia and Europe, according to Wikipedia.
What stake does Mirilashvili hold in SPAR Israel?
Globes reported in September 2023 that he took a 19.9% stake in the Israeli franchise of SPAR, and Wikipedia states that he replaced Shufersal as the minority partner.
Sources
Globes report on the SPAR stake; Globes report on the VK sale; Ch10 report on Kol Hai radio; Jewish Press report on Channel 14's owner.
Related Olam coverage: Yoni Assia and Israeli founders and companies.
How we report: Olam stories draw on public filings, company disclosures and named sources, checked by our editors. Read our methodology · Corrections
