Russian-born billionaire and Playrix co-founder Dmitry Bukhman has committed £1.4 million annually to sponsor the International Booker Prize, a ten-year partnership that will rename the award the Bukhman International Booker Prize. The deal doubles the prize money for the winning author and translator to £100,000, providing a significant boost to one of the literary world’s leading awards for fiction translated into English.
Why is the International Booker Prize changing its name?
The Booker Prize Foundation secured the long-term funding through a partnership with Bukhman Philanthropies, the charitable organization established by Dmitry and Daria Bukhman. According to the Foundation, this sponsorship provides a significant boost to one of the literary world’s leading awards for fiction translated into English during a period of mounting financial pressures for arts organizations across Europe and beyond.
"This partnership has the power to reshape not only the future of the prize, but the landscape of literature itself—elevating writers and translators whose stories connect us more deeply to one another across cultures, borders and experiences," Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, told the Financial Times.
How does the new funding affect winners?
The primary change for participants is a substantial increase in the prize purse. Under the previous arrangement, the winning author and translator shared £50,000. Under the new agreement, that total increases to £100,000. Daria Bukhman noted that the sponsorship is rooted in personal history, explaining that translated literature served as her "window on to the world" while growing up in provincial Russia.
Who is the new sponsor?
Dmitry Bukhman and his brother, Igor Bukhman, are the co-founders of Playrix, a mobile gaming company headquartered in Dublin. The brothers, who hold British and Israeli citizenship and reside in London, began selling computer games in Vologda, Russia, in the early 2000s.
Playrix has since grown into one of the world’s largest mobile game developers, with a portfolio that includes Gardenscapes, Homescapes, Township, and Fishdom. According to Bloomberg data, the company generated $2.6 billion in revenue in 2024. Forbes estimates the net worth of each brother at approximately $13.6 billion.
What is the company’s current status regarding Russia?
Following the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Bukhman brothers publicly described the war as a "great tragedy" and called for an end to the conflict. Later that year, Playrix announced it would cease commercial operations in Russia and Belarus. The company now operates studios across several countries, including Serbia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Cyprus.
Summary of Key Changes
| Feature | Previous Status | New Status |
|---|---|---|
| Prize Name | International Booker Prize | Bukhman International Booker Prize |
| Total Prize Money | £50,000 | £100,000 |
| Sponsorship Term | N/A | 10-year commitment |
| Annual Funding | N/A | £1.4 million |
The partnership marks a significant transition for the Booker Prize Foundation. The rename and purse increase will take effect for the next cycle of the award.
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