Russian businessman Umar Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the wedding celebrations of Donald Trump Jr. in the Bahamas, according to an investigation by ProPublica published on September 14, 2026.
The payment did not cover the wedding ceremony itself but a large three-day celebration held in May. ProPublica reported that Kremlev rented a private island where the reception took place and where guests stayed, at a cost of $100,000, and paid $70,000 for fireworks. His team also helped organize the event.
Who is Umar Kremlev
Kremlev is a Russian businessman and president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), the governing body for amateur boxing. He has close ties to the Russian government and to President Vladimir Putin. In April 2026, Putin awarded Kremlev the Order of Friendship, a state honor given to foreigners and citizens for contributions to Russia. In May, shortly before Trump Jr.'s wedding, Kremlev traveled to China as part of a delegation accompanying Putin.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Kremlev, citing among other things his closeness to Putin and to Russian security structures.
Payment routed through Dubai company
According to ProPublica, the money came from IB Challenger, a Dubai-based company linked to the IBA. The boxing association led by Kremlev was previously financed by the Russian state energy giant Gazprom.
Guests included Kushner and Eric Trump
Around 50 guests attended the wedding, including Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, Eric Trump, the groom's brother, and Kremlev himself. ProPublica noted that the presence of a group of Russian guests surprised some of those attending the celebration. The outlet said it was unable to establish why Kremlev paid such significant wedding expenses.
Trump camp and Kremlev respond
A representative for Trump Jr. did not deny that the payment had been made. The representative described Kremlev as a personal friend of Trump Jr., using the nickname "Donnie," but said there was no business relationship between the two men. Kremlev's press office also confirmed the friendship, saying the two had met several years ago. It added that Kremlev had allegedly never discussed political matters with his American friends and acquaintances.
Istanbul boxing conference
In September 2025, Trump Jr. and Kremlev both took part in an IBA boxing conference in Istanbul, where Trump Jr. criticized the participation of transgender women in women's sports. The IBA later issued a press release stating that the alliance between the two would not remain symbolic and that new initiatives would follow.
ProPublica reported that Kremlev feared coming under American sanctions or becoming the subject of a US government investigation.
Ties to Russian security circles
Kremlev was previously a member of the Kremlin-linked biker club Night Wolves. According to the investigative outlet Proekt, it was through this club that Kremlev grew close to Aleksei Rubizhny, who went on to head the Russian president's Security Service. In 2017, Rubizhny helped Kremlev become head of the Russian Boxing Federation. Kremlev became president of the IBA in 2020.
In 2023, the International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of its accreditation, saying the organization had failed to transparently explain its sources of funding and citing its dependence on Gazprom.
Business interests in Russia
Kremlev controls significant assets in Russia. In 2024, he became the owner of Rolf, the country's largest car dealership, which had previously been nationalized by Russian authorities. He is also linked to the major bookmaking companies Liga Stavok, Pari and Fonbet, and controls Russia's Unified Gambling Regulator, through which betting activity in the country is recorded.
What happens next
In March 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump's sons were investing in a company seeking to produce drones for Ukraine. In August, Congress opened an investigation into what it called the "astonishing" success of the venture firm 1789 Capital, which is linked to Donald Trump Jr.
