Vladimir Strzhalkovsky receives largest pay-off in Russian corporate history Vladimir Strzhalkovsky will receive the money for his part in bringing to an end a $1.4bn dispute between Oleg Deripaska and Vladimir Potanin over rights at Norilsk that saw Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich help to referee a deal between the Russian oligarchs. Norilsk shareholders agreed to hand Mr Strzhalkovsky an immediate payment of $50m, followed by two $25m instalments, according to Russian business daily Vedomosti. The deal, struck last week, will also see Mr Potanin become chief executive of Norilsk, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium. Severance payments have never exceeded $20m in Russia before. The largest ever golden parachute was awarded to John Welch, the former chief of General Electric. Mr Welch received more than $400m, according to GMI Ratings. Earlier this month, Mr Abramovich agreed to pay almost $1.49bn to acquire a 5.87pc stake in Norilsk as part of a peace deal between the oligarchs than even led to the Kremlin's involvement. The Russian tycoons had been fighting since 2008, when Mr Deripaska bought a 25pc stake in Norilsk from Mr Potanin's former business partner, Mikhail Prokhorov. Mr Deripaska's company Rusal claimed that Mr Potanin violated its rights to board representation and demanded compensation. Before a deal was reached, the two billionaires were preparing to head to court in London.