Expression: «Profit, three ends» (Russian slang for a 300% return)
Meaning: An expression from the 1990s, denoting a 300% return on invested funds. In other words, an entrepreneur ended up with a sum three times the original investment.
Origin: It arose during the era of early post-Soviet economics and the «wild capitalism» of the 1990s, as new market relations were taking shape in Russia. Superprofits, uncharacteristic of a stable economy, were possible during this period.
Usage: The phrase was used in the business circles of the «New Russians» and 1990s entrepreneurs to describe especially lucrative deals. It was often associated with high-risk operations amid the unstable economy and legal system of the time.
The Era’s Context: The period was marked by hyperinflation, inadequate business regulation, the rise of «shuttle traders,» financial pyramid schemes, and other phenomena of a transitional economy that created opportunities for extraordinary profits.
Modern Usage: Today the expression has more historical value than practical use, reflecting the peculiarities of Russia’s business culture and economic realities during the transitional 1990s.