The mysterious billionaire Poju Zabludowicz gave a rare interview at Linna’s party.
A businessman rarely seen in public Chaim “Poju” Zabludowicz arrived his spouse by Anita Zabludowicz with to the Castle celebrations.
Poju Zabludowicz was presented on Yle’s TV broadcast as a businessman and millionaire, but according to media sources, the man’s fortune is in the billions range. For example, the British magazine The Times estimates the value of Zabludowicz’s property at around 1.7 billion euros in its 2025 listing.
The Times list names the richest people who live in Great Britain. Poju and Anita Zabludowicz were number 110 on the 2025 list.
In Finland, Poju Zabludowicz is also known as the largest owner of Tampere Tappara, which plays in the hockey SM league. Based on the list of shareholders that Tappara provided to Iltalehte in March, Poju Zabludowicz currently owns 18.33 percent of Tappara through The Zabludowicz Trust and his own name.
Chaim “Poju” Zabludowicz participated in the Castle party for the first time. Inka Soveri
Iltalehti got Poju Zabludowicz for a rare interview at Linna’s party. IL asked Poju how much he participates in Tappara’s decision-making at the moment.
– Very much. There have been a lot of phone calls in recent weeks. A lot, and we hope you can get it sorted. We have been waiting for this for 50 years. Let’s see what happens, Zabludowicz said in Finnish.
Zabludowicz could be referring to the shocking series reform of the SM League. There are currently 16 teams playing in the series, but the league is currently being reduced to a series of 14 teams.
What do you think about the serial reformation?
– A major reform is needed. Will have to think a lot and see how this goes.
Are there too many teams in the SM league at the moment?
– It is. Very much too much.
The owners of Tappara also include an NHL star Alexander Barkovwhich is grown by Tappara. The Florida Panthers’ star player is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and Finland’s Athlete of the Year 2024.
– A wonderful man, Zabludowicz said of Barkov.
– Such a great person. Such a patriotic Finn. Lovely, lovely man.
– When he brought the trophy to Tampere, we were together. I talk to him a lot on the phone, regularly.
Poju Zabludowicz was born in Helsinki in 1953. His father is a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust Shlomo Zabludowicz. Poju Zabludowicz grew up in Tampere. Anita, on the other hand, is English and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The wealth of the Zabludowicz family is rooted in the arms trade, but according to The Times, today Poju and Anita Zabludowicz are influential in the real estate and hotel industry.
Zabludowicz participated in the Castle’s celebrations for the first time.
– It is a great honor to be here, Zabludowicz said.
– So great. I am so pleased that the President and his wife invited us.
From Tampere Morning paper said in 2023 that Poju Zabludowicz “has never given a decent interview to Finnish journalists anywhere”. By 2023, Zabludowicz had reportedly said only four words to Aamulehti’s journalists throughout history. In written announcements and statements, Poju had given longer statements.
– Hockey is not played here, Zabludowicz told AL in 2012 in London during the Olympics.
The record was broken in 2023, when Zabludowicz gave a 57-word interview.
A man said four words to Iltalehte in the spring of 2024, when Tappara won the SM gold.
– It feels wonderful. A great achievement.
Now the record has been broken again.