Condolences for Your Loss: Who in Bashkortostan Earns the Most from Funerals
A monument is often the most expensive part of a funeral ceremony.
Society is quite skeptical of the funeral business—it is criticized for its intrusiveness («they arrive before the ambulance»), for unjustifiably high prices, and for many other reasons. Nevertheless, if not them, then no one—their services continue to be used, and demand for them is unlikely to ever disappear.
Budakov is one of the veterans of the funeral market.
Investigative journalist from Shkulev Media Holding, author of the Telegram channel «Funeral Trust,» Ivan Golunov, compiled a list of the top 100 richest funeral businessmen in Russia. Here are the entrepreneurs from Bashkortostan who made the list.
One of Budakov«s creations once caused a stir on social networks.
In 37th place is entrepreneur from Salavat Artem Budakov, owner of the firm «Granit Master.» The company calls itself one of the largest stone-processing plants in Bashkortostan. According to the company«s website, one of the plant»s main activities is the manufacture, design, and installation of monuments and memorials.
Gaptrakipov is involved in the restaurant business alongside stone processing.
According to «Kontur.Focus,» despite the firm«s turnover of 254.5 million rubles (approximately $2.8 million at current rates), its net profit in 2024 was 255 thousand rubles (approximately $2,800 at current rates). The company was registered in 2020, although the firm itself traces its history back to 2003.
Budakov«s firm has appeared in state procurements twice. In February 2024, »Granit Master« for a total of 6.7 million rubles (approximately $74,000 at current rates) from the budget was improving a recreation park in the village of Amirovo, where it was also commissioned to build a memorial complex. Budakov is also the author of a sculpture in a Bashkir town, which was nicknamed the »Hulk« on social media—in 2019 we spoke with the master about how he created the memorial.
The business of David Gaptrakipov ranks 67th in the rating. He owns the Ufa-based LLC «Tekhprogress.» The firm is the owner of the trademark «City of Stone.»
Gaptrakipov«s company sells monuments not only in Bashkortostan but also in Udmurtia, Chuvashia, as well as Kirov and Orenburg regions.
The same businessman, according to «Kontur.Focus,» owns LLC «Kultura Yedy» (Food Culture), which is not related to funeral services, through which he opened several restaurants under a franchise. The total net profit from Gaptrakipov«s projects is 1.8 million rubles (approximately $20,000 at current rates).
«Tekhprogress» had two state procurements in 2025. For 1.3 million rubles (approximately $14,400 at current rates) the firm installed steles to heroes of the Great Patriotic War in Perm Krai, and for 293 thousand rubles (approximately $3,300 at current rates) it made memorial plaques for World War II participants for the Kiginsky District of Bashkortostan.
About how the funeral business works in Bashkortostan, we tell in the section «Secrets of the Cemeteries.» More often in this story, UFA1.RU shares legends and secrets of the republic«s cemeteries, as well as the fates of some people who rest there.
