Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian tycoon and politician worth billions of dollars.
In the years following the Soviet Union’s collapse, Abramovich enriched himself by acquiring Russian state-owned assets at much below market value through Russia’s contentious loans-for-shares privatization scheme.
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and current Russian President Vladimir Putin both confided in Abramovich.
Abramovich is the major owner of Millhouse LLC, a private investment firm, and is best recognized outside of Russia as the owner of Chelsea, a Premier League football team. From 2000 to 2008, he was the Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.
According to Forbes, Abramovich’s net worth in 2019 was US$12.9 billion, making him the second-richest person in Israel, the eleventh-richest person in Russia, and the richest person in Portugal (after taxes).
Unlike other billionaires who were imprisoned or exiled, Abramovich emerged a wealthy man. He made about £7.5 billion from the sale of Sibneft. He also sold holdings in the Russian flag carrier Aeroflot and the aluminium company Rusal for approximately £3 billion.
Abramovich owns the majority of Evraz, Russia’s second-largest steelmaker. He is a shareholder in Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest producer of refined nickel, as well as Chelsea Football Club in London. He amassed his money through dividends and the sale of privatized assets obtained from the former Soviet Union, such as Sibneft and Aeroflot.
Abramovich owns the world’s second-largest yacht, 533-foot Eclipse, bought for nearly $400 million in 2010.