Alexander Yevseyevich Shnaider (born 3 August 1968) is a Soviet-born Canadian-Israeli businessman, investor, and former commodities broker. He co-established the Midland Group with Eduard Shifrin in the 1990s, transforming it into a significant enterprise concentrating on steel trading, manufacturing, and investments in Ukraine following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Shnaider subsequently ventured into Formula One racing (owning Midland F1 Racing/Spyker F1), Israeli football (Maccabi Tel Aviv), and real estate, including a collaboration with Donald Trump on the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto.
Here is a brief summary of key details about Alex Shnaider:
| Complete Name | Alexander Yevseyevich Shnaider |
| Birth Date | 3 August 1968 |
| Age (as of January 2026) | 57 years old |
| Place of Birth | Soviet Union (presently Russia) |
| Citizenship | Canadian (primary), Israeli |
| Spouse | Simona Shnaider (née Birshtein) – wed since the 1990s |
| Offspring | Three daughters (identities not publicly revealed) |
| Estimated Net Worth (2026) | Roughly $2.5–$3.5 billion (private evaluations; not listed on major public rankings since mid-2010s) |
| Primary Business Contributions | Co-founder Midland Group; former owner Midland F1/Spyker F1; former proprietor Maccabi Tel Aviv; Trump Toronto Tower collaborator |
| Current Concentration | Private real estate (Israel, Canada), family investments, philanthropy |
Biography of Alex Shnaider
Born on 3 August 1968 in the Soviet Union, likely in Russia or Ukraine, Alex Shnaider’s exact birthplace remains undisclosed. At the age of four, his family relocated to Israel, where he spent part of his early years. At 13, they moved again to Toronto, Canada. Shnaider grew up within a Jewish household and obtained Canadian citizenship. He graduated from York University in Toronto in 1991, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Shnaider embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1990s, specializing in commodities trading amid the tumultuous post-Soviet privatization era in Ukraine. In 1994, at the age of 26, he co-founded the Midland Group alongside Eduard Shifrin, a fellow Russian-speaking entrepreneur. The company initially functioned as a steel trading firm, serving as a sales agent and financier for state-owned Ukrainian steel mills before their privatization. By the close of the 1990s, Midland had emerged as a key player in Ukraine’s industrial landscape.
In 1999, Midland Resources, a segment of the Midland Group, commenced the acquisition of shares in Zaporizhstal, one of Ukraine’s premier steel mills. By 2001, Shnaider’s consortium controlled 93% of the company for approximately $70 million, a transaction that yielded both triumph and subsequent scrutiny. Under the leadership of Shnaider and Shifrin, Midland broadened its reach into steel manufacturing, construction, shipping, agriculture, and additional sectors in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Shnaider gained recognition for his proficiency in the Russian and Ukrainian markets. He participated in significant Russian business ventures, although the first Tetra Pak shipments to the Soviet Union in 1959 have occasionally been mistakenly attributed to him instead of the Rausing family.
In February 2005, Shnaider acquired the Jordan Grand Prix Formula One team from Eddie Jordan for around $50 million. He rebranded it as Midland F1 Racing for the 2006 season. After one year, he sold the team to the Dutch automaker Spyker for $107 million in September 2006.
In December 2007, Shnaider purchased the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv for approximately 12 million euros. He invested around $20 million in total before transferring ownership to Canadian developer Mitchell Goldhar in August 2009. Goldhar acquired Shnaider’s 80% stake by accepting the club’s financial responsibilities and paying $750,000 to the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports foundation for the remaining 20%.
Shnaider’s most renowned real estate venture was his alliance with Donald Trump on the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto, which debuted in 2012. Shnaider acted as the principal developer and majority investor, alongside Russian-Canadian gaming entrepreneur Val Levitan. Trump held a minority share and licensed his name. The project exceeded budget, and in 2017, Trump’s minority stake and management agreement were purchased. The building was then rebranded as Adelaide Hotel Toronto. Media reports have referenced the project in discussions about Trump’s business relations with Russia and Eastern Europe, but Shnaider has not faced allegations of any misconduct.
In March 2010, Shnaider became part of a collective that acquired Toronto’s historic King Edward Hotel for $50 million in a distressed sale from Lehman Brothers. The collaborators included Skyline International Development, Dundee KE Inc., and Serruya Realty Group. By 2015, Omni Hotels & Resorts assumed sole ownership.
In 2011, Shnaider established the Delton Retail fund in partnership with Dutch entrepreneur A.D.G. van Dam’s N3 Real Estate. On December 30, 2015, he invested 39 million NIS in Mishorim Development Ltd., an Israeli real estate firm led by developer Gil Blutrich. Shnaider raised his stake to 42% in July 2016. In August 2020, an Israeli court ruled in his favor in a legal dispute with Blutrich, granting him exclusive control of Mishorim.
Since the mid-2010s, Shnaider has maintained a low public persona, prioritizing private investments and family. He presides over the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario and supports various Jewish and Israeli initiatives.
Age
Alex Shnaider was born on 3 August 1968. As of January 2026, he is 57 years old.
Update
As of January 2026, 57-year-old Alex Shnaider leads a highly private existence. Reports indicate no significant new public business transactions, legal matters, or media appearances in late 2025 or early 2026.
- He retains a controlling interest in Mishorim Development Ltd., an Israeli real estate company, after securing a court victory against former associate Gil Blutrich in 2020.
- No new sports investments, involvement in Formula One, or ownership of football clubs have occurred since he divested Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2009.
- Shnaider has avoided media attention regarding previous associations with the Trump Toronto Tower; no fresh reports or controversies surfaced in 2025.
- He continues to primarily reside in Toronto, Canada, with familial connections to Israel. He is the president of the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario.
Family
Alex Shnaider is united in marriage to Simona Shnaider (née Birshtein), the offspring of businessman Boris Birshtein. Their marriage spans back to the 1990s, and they are parents to three daughters, although their identities and ages remain undisclosed. The family maintains a discreet presence. In August 2016, they sold their Bridle Path estate in Toronto for $22 million CAD.
Professional Journey
Alex Shnaider’s professional journey commenced in commodities trading during the early 1990s, coinciding with Ukraine’s post-Soviet privatization surge. In 1994, at age 26, he co-founded the Midland Group with Eduard Shifrin. The firm initially served as a steel trading and financing agent for state-owned mills in Ukraine. By the late 1990s, Midland emerged as a leading figure in Ukraine’s industrial sector.
Notable achievements:
- 1999–2001: Secured 93% of Zaporizhstal steel mill for $70 million.
- 2005: Acquired Jordan Grand Prix (Formula One) for $50 million; rebranded as Midland F1 Racing.
- 2006: Transferred Midland F1 to Spyker Cars for $107 million.
- 2007–2009: Held ownership of Maccabi Tel Aviv football club; invested $20 million before selling to Mitchell Goldhar.
- 2007–2012: Collaborated with Donald Trump on Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto (majority investor; Trump held a minority stake and name license).
- 2010: Joined consortium to purchase Toronto’s King Edward Hotel for $50 million.
- 2011: Established Delton Retail fund in partnership with N3 Real Estate.
- 2015–2020: Invested in and acquired controlling ownership in Mishorim Development Ltd. (Israeli real estate) following a legal victory in 2020.
Shnaider’s professional focus has centered on post-Soviet opportunities, sports franchises, and prominent real estate ventures. Since the mid-2010s, he has reduced his public visibility, managing private investments.
Net Worth & Additional Information
As of January 2026, Alex Shnaider’s personal fortune is approximated at $2.5 to $3.5 billion, according to private assessments. He has not appeared on prominent public billionaire lists since the mid-2010s. His wealth is derived from:
- Gains from Midland Group’s steel and industrial transactions in Ukraine (notably the Zaporizhstal divestiture).
- Disposition of Midland F1 Racing (2006).
- Transfer of Maccabi Tel Aviv (2009).
- Profits from Trump Toronto Tower development (despite budget overruns).
- Real estate investments (Mishorim Development and other private properties in Canada and Israel).
- Diverse investments managed through family trusts.
