Maryana Naumova, once celebrated as a bodybuilding prodigy, has transitioned into a high-profile propagandist within Russia’s state media apparatus. At 15, she gained international attention after bench pressing 150 kilograms at the 2015 Arnold Classic in Ohio, earning praise from Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, after being banned from competitive weightlifting in 2016 for doping violations, Naumova shifted her career toward reporting on the conflict in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, where she has publicly praised Russian military forces. Her endorsement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine—described by Naumova as a justified action against what she refers to as the "neo-Nazi Skynet" in Kyiv—has drawn criticism and led to a public estrangement from Schwarzenegger, who condemned the war as senseless and wasteful. Naumova reportedly receives an annual salary of 8.8 million roubles (approximately £76,000).

A recent examination of leaked documents from Russia’s social fund, which collects mandatory contributions from taxpayers for pensions and social benefits, reveals that leading figures in Kremlin-aligned media earn substantial incomes funded by the state. Dmitry Kiselev, host of "Vesti Nedeli," a weekly news broadcast on Rossiya 1, reportedly earns 70.6 million roubles (£606,000) annually. Kiselev is known for his aggressive rhetoric, including a 2014 statement warning that Russia alone could reduce the United States to "radioactive ash."

Another prominent figure is Artyom Sheynin, who hosts "Vremya Pokazhet" ("Time will Tell"), a program marked by confrontational exchanges with guests and strong anti-Western sentiment. Sheynin’s annual earnings are reported to be 63.8 million roubles (£547,000). Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT (Russia Today) and a close Kremlin ally, makes 37.5 million roubles (£321,000) per year.

Maria Butina, who was convicted in the United States in 2018 for conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent after attempts to infiltrate the NRA, now serves as a member of the Russian parliament and works as a television personality, earning roughly 10.8 million roubles annually (£92,410).

At the highest level, Dimitri Simes, a 78-year-old Russian-American who hosts "Bolshaya Igra" ("Great Game") and has moderated televised appearances by President Vladimir Putin, reportedly makes 97 million roubles (£833,000) yearly—nearly 1,000 times the average Russian income. Simes, indicted in the U.S. in 2024 for money laundering and sanctions violations, has described President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine with derogatory terms and likened Putin to Winston Churchill in his defense of Russia. He has characterized American legal actions against him as a form of censorship, echoing themes common in Russian state media, which often黑list critics of the government.

Under Putin’s leadership, the Kremlin has emphasized control over media narratives, viewing loyal outlets as essential in countering what it perceives as biased Western coverage. Independent journalism faces significant pressure; many opposition reporters have been killed, imprisoned, or forced into exile, while independent media organizations are designated as “foreign agents.” Media personnel who align closely with Kremlin messaging are publicly rewarded and gain access to Putin. Daily directives from the government dictate the official stance on current events. It remains unclear what sources of information Putin himself consults, as he reportedly does not use the internet and relies on carefully curated news summaries provided by his aides.