Roman Abramovich | |
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Born |
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich 24 October 1966 (age 50) Saratov, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Residence | Chelsea, London, United Kingdom |
Nationality | Russian |
Occupation | Businessman, entrepreneur, politician |
Known for |
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Net worth | |
Spouse(s) |
Olga Lysova (m. 1987–90) Irina Malandina (m. 1991–2007) Dasha Zhukova (m. 2008) |
Children | 7 children
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Awards | |
Governor of Chukotka | |
In office 17 December 2000 – 3 July 2008 |
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Preceded by | Alexander Nazarov |
Succeeded by | Roman Kopin |
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (Russian: Рома́н Арка́дьевич Абрамо́вич, pronounced [rɐˈman ɐrˈkadʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ɐbrɐˈmovʲɪtɕ]; born 24 October 1966) is a Russian billionaire businessman, investor, and politician.
Abramovich is the primary owner of the private investment company, Millhouse LLC and is best known outside Russia as the owner of Chelsea Football Club, a Premier League football club.
According to Forbes 2016 billionaire list, Abramovich's net worth was US$7.6 billion, making him the 13th richest person in Russia, and the 151st richest person in the world. The same year, The Sunday Times estimated his net worth at ₤6.40 billion.
Abramovich started his multi-billion-dollar business during his army service. After a brief stint in the Soviet Army, Abramovich married his first wife, Olga. Abramovich first worked as a street-trader and then as a mechanic at a local factory. At the peak of perestroika, Abramovich sold imported rubber ducks from his Moscow apartment.
Abramovich attended the Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas in Moscow (where he sold retreaded car tyres as a sideline), then traded commodities for Runicom, a Swiss trading company.
In 1988, as perestroika opened up opportunities for privatization in the Soviet Union, Abramovich got a chance to legitimise his old business. He and Olga set up a company making dolls. Within a few years his wealth spread from oil conglomerates to pig farms and he also started investing in other businesses. Abramovich set up and liquidated at least 20 companies during the early 1990s, in sectors as diverse as tyre retreading and bodyguard recruitment.