AGE: 42; born Sept. 14, 1965, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) to university professors.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Leningrad State University (now St. Petersburg State University) in 1987; received law degree from the same university, 1990.

EXPERIENCE: Taught law at St. Petersburg State University, 1990-1999; aide to St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, 1990-1995; deputy chief of staff for Russian Cabinet, November 1999; acting President Vladimir Putin's deputy chief of staff, Dec. 31, 1999; headed Putin's 2000 presidential election campaign; appointed Putin's first deputy chief of staff, June 2000, and chief of staff, October 2003; first deputy prime minister, November 2005; board chairman of state natural gas monopoly OAO Gazprom, 2002-present.

FAMILY: Married, one son.

DID YOU KNOW? Medvedev told the Russian magazine Itogi recently that as a youth he had a passion for rock music and had "endlessly" made copies of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple tunes.

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