Roman Abramovich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roman Abramovich
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| Роман Абрамович | |
Abramovich in 2019
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| Governor of Chukotka | |
| In office 17 December 2000 – 3 July 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Aleksandr Nazarov |
| Succeeded by | Roman Kopin |
| Member of the State Duma from Chukotka constituency | |
| In office 10 January 2000 – 17 December 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Vladimir Babichev |
| Succeeded by | Vladimir Yetylin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 October 1966 Saratov, Soviet Union |
| Citizenship |
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| Political party | Independent |
| Spouses |
Olga Lysova
(m. 1987; div. 1990)Irina Malandina
(m. 1991; div. 2007) |
| Children | 7, including Arkadiy Abramovich |
| Education | Moscow State Law University Russian State University of Oil and Gas |
| Occupation |
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| Known for |
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| Awards |
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Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (born 24 October 1966) is a Russian businessman and politician. He used to own Chelsea, a famous football club in London, England. He is also the main owner of a private investment company called Millhouse. Roman Abramovich has citizenship in Russia, Portugal, and Israel.
He was the Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug from 2000 to 2008. According to Forbes, his wealth was about $14.5 billion in 2021. His wealth changed over the years, being $6.9 billion in 2022 and then rising to $9.2 billion in 2023. Abramovich became very wealthy in the 1990s after the Soviet Union ended. He bought many state-owned businesses in Russia at low prices.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich was born on 24 October 1966 in Saratov, which was then part of the Soviet Union. His mother, Irina, was a music teacher who passed away when Roman was only one year old. His father, Aaron, worked in an economic council and passed away when Roman was three. Both of his parents were of Jewish background.
Roman's maternal grandparents were from Ukraine, and his paternal grandparents were from Belarus. His maternal grandmother moved to Saratov during World War II. His paternal grandparents moved to Lithuania. In 1940, the Soviet Union took over Lithuania. Roman's grandparents were separated and sent to Siberia. Many people died in these camps, including Roman's grandfather.
Since he lost both parents very young, Roman Abramovich was raised by relatives. He spent much of his childhood in the Komi Republic in northern Russia.
Business Ventures
Roman Abramovich started his business journey while he was in the army. He first sold things on the street and then worked as a mechanic. He later studied at the Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas in Moscow. After that, he traded goods for a Swiss company called Runicom.
In 1988, when the Soviet Union began to allow private businesses, Abramovich started a company with his first wife, Olga, making dolls. In just a few years, his businesses grew to include oil companies and even pig farms. He also traded in wood, sugar, food, and other products.
Working with Others
Abramovich worked with other businessmen, including Boris Berezovsky. They set up a company together. In 1995, they bought a large oil company called Sibneft. They paid a certain amount for it, and the company quickly became worth billions of dollars. This deal was part of a program where people could buy state-owned companies.
After Sibneft, Abramovich also got involved in the aluminum industry. He later sold Sibneft to the Russian government in 2005 for $13 billion.
In 2011, a former business partner, Boris Berezovsky, took Abramovich to court in London. He claimed Abramovich had not been fair in their business dealings. However, in 2012, the judge decided that Abramovich was a more reliable witness and dismissed the lawsuit.
Investing in New Technology
In 2015, Abramovich invested $30 million in a funding round for a company with businessman OD Kobo. Other famous people from the music world, like David Guetta and Nicki Minaj, were also involved.
He also invested over $30 million in StoreDot, a company that develops new technology.
Football World
Chelsea Football Club
In June 2003, Roman Abramovich became the owner of Chelsea, a football club in West London. The club immediately started to grow and become more famous around the world. They also planned to build a new, modern training center.
Since Abramovich took over, Chelsea has won many important trophies. They won the UEFA Champions League twice, the UEFA Europa League twice, and the Premier League five times. They also won the FA Cup five times and the League Cup three times. This made Chelsea one of the most successful English teams during his time as owner.
Some people called the new Chelsea "Chelski" because they felt that rich owners were buying success by spending a lot of money on famous players. For example, they bought Andriy Shevchenko for a record fee.
In 2004, Chelsea hired José Mourinho as their new manager. Chelsea then won the league championship in the 2004–05 season, which was their first league title in 50 years. Abramovich often attended Chelsea games and showed how much he cared about the sport.
In 2017, Chelsea planned to build a new stadium, but these plans were stopped in 2018. This was because of delays in Abramovich's visa for the UK and concerns about his immigration status.
In 2021, Abramovich faced criticism when Chelsea tried to join the new European Super League. Many people thought this league was only for the richest clubs and would harm existing football competitions. However, just two days later, Abramovich pulled Chelsea out of the league, and other English clubs followed.
In February 2022, during the conflict in Ukraine, Abramovich announced he was giving control of the club to the Chelsea Charitable Foundation. On 2 March 2022, he confirmed he was selling the club. The UK government froze his assets in the UK on 10 March, but Chelsea was allowed to continue playing football. On 12 March, the Premier League removed Abramovich as a director of Chelsea.
On 7 May 2022, Chelsea announced that a group of investors led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital had agreed to buy the club.
CSKA Moscow
In March 2004, Sibneft, a company Abramovich owned, sponsored the Russian team CSKA Moscow for three years. Abramovich did not own CSKA because UEFA rules do not allow one person to own more than one team in UEFA competitions.
In May 2005, CSKA won the UEFA Cup, becoming the first Russian club to win a major European football competition. Later, in October 2005, Abramovich sold his share in Sibneft, and the new owner ended the sponsorship deal with CSKA.
Russian National Team
Abramovich also helped bring Guus Hiddink to Russia to coach the Russia national football team.
National Academy of Football
Beyond professional football, Abramovich supports a foundation in Russia called the National Academy of Football. This organization helps youth sports programs across the country. It has built more than fifty football pitches in different cities and towns. It also pays for training for coaches, creates learning materials, fixes sports facilities, and takes top coaches and students to visit professional football clubs in other countries.
Political Career
In 1999, Abramovich was chosen to represent Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in the State Duma, which is like a parliament. Chukotka is a region in Russia that needed a lot of help. He started a charity called Pole of Hope to support the people there, especially children. In December 2000, he was elected governor of Chukotka.
Abramovich was the governor of Chukotka from 2000 to 2008. He invested a lot of money, over $1.3 billion, in the region. He received an award called the Order of Honour for his "huge contribution to the economic development" of Chukotka.
In July 2008, he asked to step down as governor, and his request was accepted. However, his charity work in the region continued. During his time as governor, the average salaries in Chukotka increased significantly.
Ukraine Diplomacy
After the conflict in Ukraine began, Abramovich was asked by Ukrainian business leaders to help with talks between Russia and Ukraine. He played a role in helping to release some foreign prisoners of war from Russia.
Sanctions
Roman Abramovich is one of several Russian businessmen who have faced sanctions. On 10 March 2022, the UK froze his assets and put a travel ban on him. The British government said this was because of his alleged connections to the Kremlin. Abramovich has denied having close ties to the Kremlin. Canada, Australia, the European Union, Switzerland, and New Zealand also put sanctions on him. In October 2022, Ukraine also imposed personal sanctions on him.
In December 2022, Canada announced it would try to take control of $26 million held by a company, saying it belonged to Abramovich. In December 2023, Abramovich tried to overturn the EU sanctions in court but was unsuccessful.
As of July 2025, £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea Football Club is still frozen. Abramovich has said he wants to use these funds to help victims of the conflict in Ukraine. The UK government is working to make sure the money is used for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Personal Life
People who know Abramovich describe him as a private and quiet person. He is said to be very focused and often dresses simply.
Marriages and Children
Abramovich has been married and divorced three times. He first married Olga Yurevna Lysova in 1987, and they divorced in 1990. In 1991, he married Irina Malandina. They have five children: Ilya, Arina, Sofia, Arkadiy, and Anna. His daughter Anna went to Columbia University and lives in New York City. His daughter Sofia is a professional horse rider and lives in London.
Roman and Irina divorced in 2007. Abramovich then married Dasha Zhukova in 2008. They have two children, a son named Aaron Alexander and a daughter named Leah Lou. They announced their separation in 2017 and finalized their divorce in 2018.
Citizenships and Homes
Israeli Citizenship
In May 2018, Abramovich became an Israeli citizen. This happened after the UK delayed renewing his visa. He used his right under Israel's Law of Return, which allows Jewish people from anywhere to become Israeli citizens. As an Israeli citizen, Abramovich can visit Britain without a visa, but he cannot work or do business there.
Abramovich owns a hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel, which he bought in 2015. In 2020, he bought another property in Herzliya Pituah, Israel, for a record price.
He has also given a lot of money to Tel Aviv University to create a center for nanoscience and nanotechnology. He has donated over $60 million to the Sheba Medical Center in Israel for advanced medical projects. He also donated to a program to plant trees in Israel's southern Negev desert. Abramovich has invested about $120 million in 20 Israeli technology companies.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Abramovich donated more money to Sheba Hospital for a new underground Intensive Care Unit. He also supports Jewish art and culture events in Tel Aviv.
Portuguese Citizenship
In April 2021, Abramovich became a Portuguese citizen. This was part of a law that allows descendants of Portuguese Sephardi Jews to become citizens. He had donated money to projects honoring the history of Portuguese Sephardi Jews in Germany.
Wealth and Giving Back
According to Forbes, in March 2016, Abramovich's wealth was about $7.6 billion. He has been ranked among the richest people in the world.
Helping Others
Abramovich has given a lot of money to charity, more than many other wealthy Russians. Between 2009 and 2013, he donated over $2.5 billion to build schools, hospitals, and other important things in Chukotka. He has spent about £1.5 billion on his charity, Pole of Hope, which helps people in the Arctic region of Chukotka.
He has also given more than $500 million to Jewish causes in different countries over the past 20 years. In June 2019, Abramovich donated $5 million to the Jewish Agency for Israel to help fight anti-Semitism around the world.
Abramovich also funded a project to plant 25,000 trees in Lithuania to remember Jewish people who died in the Holocaust. He also helped restore a Jewish cemetery in Germany. He donates money to the Chabad movement and is a major supporter of the Portuguese Jewish community.
Abramovich funds a program in Israel that brings Jewish and Arab children together through football coaching. This program helps break down barriers and fight discrimination by having children from different communities play together. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Abramovich paid for NHS staff in the UK to stay at a hotel near Chelsea's stadium.
He is the Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and a trustee of the Moscow Jewish Museum.
Fighting Hatred
During Abramovich's time as owner, Chelsea Football Club partnered with the Anti-Defamation League to fight extremism. Abramovich himself has faced anti-Semitic messages.
The Chelsea Foundation has also started a new program with the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and the Israeli Football Association. This program offers football sessions for Arab and Jewish children across Israel, helping to mix communities and fight discrimination.
Properties
In 2009, he bought a large mansion in London with 15 bedrooms for £90 million.
He also bought four townhouses in Manhattan, New York City, for $74 million. He plans to combine these into one very large home.
As of 2022, he owned a house near Snowmass Village, Colorado, worth $50 million.
Yachts
Abramovich is known for owning many large and luxurious yachts. The media often calls his collection "Abramovich's Navy."
- Current Yachts
- Eclipse (162.5 meters long) – This yacht was built in Germany and launched in 2009. It has at least two swimming pools, a cinema, two helicopter landing pads, and a submarine. It also has special armor and bulletproof windows.
- Solaris
- Former Yachts
- Pelorus (115 meters long) – This yacht was given to his former wife, Irina, as part of their divorce settlement.
- Sussurro (49.5 meters long)
- Ecstasea (85 meters long) – This was the largest yacht built by Feadship when it launched in 2004.
- Le Grand Bleu (112 meters long) – Abramovich bought this yacht in 2003 and later gave it to his friend Eugene Shvidler.
- Luna (115 meters long) – This yacht was delivered to Abramovich in 2009. He sold it to his friend Farkhad Akhmedov in 2014 for $360 million. It has a huge fuel tank, 7 engines, and 10 VIP cabins.
Aircraft
Abramovich owns a private Boeing 767-33A/ER airplane, known as The Bandit. It was originally ordered by Hawaiian Airlines but Abramovich bought it. He had it specially designed inside to his liking. The plane is said to have a 30-seat dining room, bedrooms, luxury bathrooms, and a large living room. It also has a missile avoidance system, similar to Air Force One. In 2021, Abramovich traded this plane for a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Other Activities
Art
Abramovich has supported art exhibitions. For example, he sponsored an exhibition of photographs from Uzbekistan in London in 2006. He also funded another photography exhibition in 2005.
In May 2008, Abramovich became a big buyer in the art market. He bought a painting by Francis Bacon for over €61 million and a painting by Lucian Freud for over €23 million.
His former wife, Dasha Zhukova, manages the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow. This is a modern art gallery that Abramovich helped restore and reopen.
New Year's Eve Parties
In 2011, Abramovich hired the Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at his New Year's Eve party in St. Barth. He reportedly spent £5 million on 300 guests, including famous people like George Lucas and Martha Stewart. In 2014, he hired English singer Robbie Williams to perform at a New Year's dinner in Moscow.
See also
In Spanish: Román Abramóvich para niños
- List of Russian billionaires
- Russian oligarchs
- Todd Boehly
