In just two weeks, Roman Abramovich's name was transformed from the most famous Russian businessman, whose name was chanted by the British "Chelsea" fans, to a person with "blood on his hands" and this description was used by the British newspaper "I".
The Russian war on Ukraine devastated Abramovich's empire, after the billionaire went from being a prominent face of glory, wealth and financial success, to the number one wanted in the UK and abroad.
For years, Abramovich kept a distance from the media and refused to conduct any dialogue, enjoying his luxurious life between luxury private planes and yachts spread in the ports of the world, and huge palaces.
Since the start of the battles, attention has turned to the businessman, who is known for his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Western media has focused on him a lot of lights after he was a "shadow" who liked to stay in secret.
One of these mansions located in the prestigious Kensington area of London, and it consists of 15 rooms, became at the disposal of the government after it was confiscated, although this billionaire has become less likely to enter the United Kingdom, which he used to enter with his Israeli passport.
Birth and upbringing
October 24, 1966: Roman was born to a Jewish family in the city of Saratov, in the southeast of Russia during the former Soviet Union.
His mother, Irina Vasilievna Abramovich, a music teacher, died when Roman was one year old.
His father, Aaron Abramovich Leibovich (1937-1969), was an economic advisor in one of the independent republics within the Union.
The father died, and when the son completed after the age of four to join his mother shortly after her death.
- His uncle, who had a great influence on his life, sponsored him, and even considered him a role model.
He spent most of his youth in the Komi Republic in northern Russia.
He studied engineering at Joyken State University of Oil and Gas.
A stroke of luck
1988: He and his first wife, Olga, founded a doll manufacturing company.
Within a few years, his fortune had spread from oil conglomerates to pig farms.
Trader in timber, sugar, foodstuffs and other products.
1992: He was arrested and imprisoned on charges of smuggling a large amount of gasoline estimated at millions of dollars. Then he was released in a strange way, to keep this one of the secrets that became his real breakthrough in the field of finance and business.
- He then set out to establish small and medium companies, and the beginning was the manufacture of plastic toys, then he moved to the transportation of gasoline.
His work in transporting gasoline was his entrance to the world of energy, which was whitewashing gold in the Soviet Union at that time.
oil treasure
1996: The government decided to sell the majority of the shares of the oil group "SibNeft" at a value of $100 million, which is a very low sum according to the estimation of many experts.
Abramovich bought all these shares at such a low price, before selling them again to the Russian energy giant "Gazprom" at a very high price, making this billionaire's treasury a huge fortune.
In the same year, he, along with other rich Russians, financed the campaign of President Boris Yeltsin.
Abramovich’s economic empire expanded, from investing in oil to aluminum to the automobile industry, making him one of the elite businessmen in Russia, a rank whose owner is favored by the decision maker and may be woeful, and this is what happened with Abramovich indeed.
- During this period, he also met a very influential figure in Russia, Boris Berezovsky, who was in control of the major media, and thanks to his relations, Abramovich's network of relations expanded, and with it his financial empire.
Putin's pact
1999: 33-year-old Abramovich was elected governor of Russia's Chukotka province for two terms and left office in 2008.
1999: Abramovich was the first person to recommend to Yeltsin that Putin should succeed him as Russian president.
When Putin formed his first government as prime minister in 1999, Abramovich interviewed both candidates for ministerial positions before approving them.
- Abramovich had no choice but to also contribute to the financing of the election campaign of President Putin, who arrived with a clear vision of dealing with businessmen.
- 2000: According to many Western think tanks, Putin offered a "charter" to business leaders based on their contribution to major projects to build Russia, and to stay away from political participation or opposition to Putin, while giving them the freedom to do their jobs in the way they see fit.
All indications are that Abramovich has adhered to this charter in all its details, as he has never been involved in politics, nor has it been heard that he has opposed or criticized Putin's policies.
On the other hand, the richest businessman at the beginning of the third millennium, "Kodore Kovsky" objected to this pact and wanted to participate in politics against Putin, so he was imprisoned in 2003 for 10 years.
2007: Putin consulted - in meetings with Abramovich - on the question of who should be his successor as president. Medvedev was personally nominated by Abramovich.
Putin's biographer Chris Hutchins described the relationship between the latter and Abramovich as being like between a father and his favorite son.
Abramovich said that when he addresses Putin, he uses the official Russian language “вы”.
round witch
- After Abramovich contributed to the consolidation of a policy launched by Putin, which is the construction of stadiums, he decided to move to a new level, which is investing in a foreign club, and the choice fell on the ancient London Chelsea.
2003: Announcing the acquisition of this club by the Russian businessman for approximately $170 million, and this process contributed to the return of Chelsea to the track of football glory.
Since the acquisition, Chelsea have won 19 titles: the Champions League twice, the European League and the Confederation Cup, the Premier League 5 times and the FA Cup, the League Cup 3 times.
Given the soft power influence of football, his possession of Chelsea has transformed this businessman into a successful and world-famous face, whose name is chanted by fans every match.
2006: Forbes magazine estimated his fortune at 18.2 billion dollars.
2007: Other sources estimated his fortune at about $21 billion, making him the richest man in Russia and the second richest man in Britain. He is also one of the world's youngest billionaires (55 years old).
Marriage and children
Abramovich was married and divorced 3 times.
December 1987: After a short stint in the Soviet Army, he married Olga Yuryevna Lysova.
1990: He divorced Olga.
October 1991: He married a flight attendant named Irina Malandina.
He has 5 children with her: Ilya, Arina, Sophia, Arkady and Anna.
His eldest daughter Anna graduated from Columbia University and lives in New York City, and Sophia is a professional jockey living in the British capital after graduating from Royal Holloway at the University of London.
2007: Separated from Irina with a settlement said to be $300 million.
2008: He married Dasha Zhukova, a model, fashion designer, social star and entrepreneur, and they have a son and a daughter: Aaron Alexander and Leah Lo.
2017: A divorce took place between him and Dasha.
Withdrawing from the scene
- With the first days of the Russian war on Ukraine, Abramovich tried to quickly withdraw from the scene, knowing that what was to come was worse. He first announced his abandonment of the Chelsea administration.
26 February 2022: During this war, Abramovich handed over the "stewardship and care" of the club to the Chelsea Foundation.
2 March 2022: Issues an official statement confirming that he is selling the club due to the current situation in Ukraine.
March 10, 2022: The British government announced the prevention of the sale process, the confiscation of the club and its property and the property of Abramovich, preventing him from entering the country, under the pretext of the relationship with President Putin.
- The Western press, especially the British, launched a war on Abramovich and his colleagues whom it describes as the Russian "oligarch", demanding that they be pursued and their money and property confiscated anywhere.
12 March 2022: Abramovich is removed from the position of Chelsea Football Director.