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Roman Abramovich
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Image:Roman Abramovich.jpg thumb|Image © [http://soccer-europe.com soccer-europe.com]
'''Roman Arkadievich Abramovich''' (
Russian language Russian: '''РомаÌ?н Ð?ркаÌ?дьевич Ð?брамоÌ?вич''') (born
October 24,
1966 in
Saratov,
Russian SFSR,
USSR) is a
Russian oil billionaire, referred to as one of the
Russian oligarchs. In March 2006 he was listed by
Forbes Magazine as the richest Russian and the 11th richest person in the world with an estimated fortune of $18.2 billion. Everyone above him in the list was at least ten years older. Abramovich is most famous outside of Russia as the owner of
Chelsea F.C., an
FA Premier League English Premiership football (soccer) football club, his wider involvement in European football, and for his contributions to
Jew Jewish enterprises in
Israel and elsewhere, reflecting his Jewish origins.
Early life and career
Abramovich lost his mother at the age of 18 months and his father, who was killed in a construction accident, at the age of four. He was raised by his paternal uncle in
Komi Republic Komi.
Abramovich attended the Industrial Institute in the city of
Ukhta before being drafted into the
Soviet Army.
Post-Soviet Privatization, New Wealth and Political Career
Abramovich started his commercial activity in 1992. He received help in these activities from his friend
Boris Berezovsky. In 1992-1995 Abramovich founded five companies that conducted resale and acted as intermediaries. His alleged criminal activities during this period were noticed by law enforcement. In July, 1992, deputy prosecutor of Moscow approved Abramovich's arrest for violating article 90 of Russian criminal code. This case was sent to Ukhta, Komi republic for further investigation. He was accused of stealing diesel fuel from an Ukhta enterprise to the amount of 4,000,000 rubles. Investigation determined that this fuel was transported to Riga using falsified documents (which said that the fuel was supposed to be delivered to the Army) and sold there.
Abramovich obtained the majority of his wealth by cheaply acquiring shares of privatized state companies in the mid 90s with the help of
Boris Yeltsin and
Boris Berezovsky. He became the majority shareholder in
Sibneft, a large oil company, and is also a major shareholder in
RusAl, the world's second-largest aluminium producer, as well as various other companies.
The shares of
Sibneft were acquired by Abramovich and Berezovsky at a so-called contest in which companies owned by these individuals were the only competitors. These companies were founded shortly before the contest.
According to allegations of [http://www.compromat.ru/main/abramovich/a.htm ''Compromising materials''], Russian investigation authorities have been long collecting information about Abramovich's criminal activity, and the only reason that he has not been charged with a crime is that he is very closely connected to
Boris Yeltsin and his daughter Tatiana Diachenko.
In 1999 Abramovich was elected to the Russian Duma as the representative for the impoverished Far East region of
Chukotka. He started the charity Pole of Hope to help the people of Chukotka, especially children, and in December 2000 was elected governor of Chukotka, replacing the corrupt Alexander Nazarov. Since then he has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Chukotka, for example building a college and hotels in
Anadyr and renovating the airport. He has also used Chukotka as a tax haven for Sibneft and has been exploring for oil there. Abramovich said that he would not run for governor again after his term of office expires in 2005, as it is "too expensive" - and he rarely visits the region. However, Russian President
Vladimir Putin has changed the law to abolish elections for regional governors, and on
21 October 2005 Abramovich was reappointed governor for another term.
Abramovich and European Football
{{main|Chelsea F.C.}}
In
2003 he became the owner of the companies that control
Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club in the
United Kingdom. This immediately raised his profile in
Britain where the
tabloids noted the Russian connection by humorously dubbing the club ''Chelski''. As soon as Abramovich took control, he poured massive investment into the Club, bringing to it the finest footballing and managerial talent that could be obtained, with money being no object. The Club also embarked on an ambitious programme of commercial development, with the aim of making it a worldwide brand and not simply a local football club. The result was near-instant success: Chelsea finished its first season after the Abramovich takeover in second place in the
FA Premier League Premiership. The following season they moved into first place and also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. They are now a dominant force in English football.
In March 2004, Sibneft agreed a three-year sponsorship deal worth USD 58 million (approx. GBP 30 million, EUR 44.5 million, RUR 1.6 billion) with the Russian team
PFC CSKA Moscow CSKA Moscow. Despite the company explaining that the decision was made at management level, some viewed the deal as an attempt by Abramovich to counter accusations of being ''unpatriotic'' which were made at the time of the Chelsea purchase.
UEFA rules prevent one person owning more than one team participating in UEFA competitions, so Abramovich has no equity interest in CSKA. Nevertheless, he was named ''most influential person in Russian football'' in the Russian magazine ''Pro Sport'' at the end of June 2004. In May 2005, CSKA won the
UEFA Cup, becoming the first Russian club ever to win a major European football competition. However later in 2005 Abramovich sold his interest in Sibneft.
Relationship with Kremlin
Abramovich's close relationship with
Boris Yeltsin and his family is well known, and some details have been provided by general
Korzhakov. It is alleged that Yeltsin provided Abramovich with protection from any attempt of prosecution for criminal activities.
The proposed merger of Sibneft with Yukos was seen by most as a distancing of himself from Russia, at a time when
the Kremlin appears to have decided to bring at least some of the oligarchs to account for their colourful past business practices. Abramovich was a close associate of controversial
Boris Berezovsky who sold him his stake in Sibneft, although in July 2005 Berezovsky announced his intention to sue Abramovich in the British courts for pressuring him into selling most of his Russian assets cheaply to Abramovich after Berezovsky fled the country [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article296964.ece].
In 2005, he moved down to second place in the
Sunday Times Rich List 2005 Sunday Times Rich List of UK residents, as the newspapers estimate of
Lakshmi Mittal's wealth had more than quadrupled since the previous year. Abramovich is included in the list despite the fact that he retains residences in Moscow, Chukotka and a mulitimillion dollar mansion in Barbados.
In September 2005 Abramovich sold 72.663% of Sibneft to the Russian-government controlled
Gazprom for
U.S. Dollar US$ 13.01 billion (
euro 10.81 billion,
Pound sterling GB£ 7.4 billion). The transaction is interpreted as indicating that he remains on good terms with President
Vladimir Putin, unlike fellow-oligarch
Mikhail Khodorkhovsky (The Khodorkhovsky-case has been a very controversial case, leading many to believe that he is a prisoner of conscience, or rather imprisoned for not co-operating with Putin) who was recently jailed for nine years. In addition the Kremlin press service recently confirmed that Abramovich's name has been sent for approval as governor for another term to Chukotka's local parliament, which confirmed his appointment on
21 October 2005.
Other interests and activities
Abramovich is known as a fan of
Formula One and is often seen in the paddock at races; in
2004, after the sport's owner
Bernie Ecclestone was seen giving Abramovich a tour of the pitlane at the
Monaco Grand Prix, rumours circulated that he was considering investing in or purchasing an F1 team.
He owns his own private
Boeing 767 Boeing 767-300 known as "The Bandit" due to its paint scheme.
Of Jewish background, Abramovich is a firm supporter of Jewish causes, seen his funding of several projects in the Abramovich neighbourhood in
Jerusalem,
Israel and in
Tel Aviv.
He owns three superyachts. Le Grand Bleu, previously owned by
Paul Allen of
Microsoft, is 108.3 metres long and carries a 22 metre yacht on board, a helicopter, speedboat and jet skis.
Pelorus (yacht) Pelorus is a 114.5 metre yacht made by the
Lurssen yard, and Ecstasea is an 85.95
Feadship vessel launched in 2004.
External links
-
Roman-Abramovich.com
-
The Official Chelsea Football Club website
-
Pravda: Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich tops Russia's richest men list
-
Guardian's coverage of Roman Abramovich's fortune
-
BBC News article "Chasing Mr Chelski"
{{start box}}
{{succession box | before=
Alexander Nazarov .html">List of Governors of Chukotka
Governor of Chukotka | after=Current Incumbent | years=1999 – present}}
{{end box}}
Category:1966 births Abramovich, Roman
Category:Billionaires Abramovich, Roman
Category:Businesspeople Abramovich, Roman
Category:Chelsea F.C. Abramovich, Roman
Category:English football chairmen and investors Abramovich, Roman
Category:Living people Abramovich, Roman
Category:Russian businesspeople Abramovich, Roman
Category:Russian politicians Abramovich, Roman
bg:Роман Ð?брамович
de:Roman Arkadjewitsch Abramowitsch
es:Roman Abramovich
fi:Roman Abramovitš
fr:Roman Abramovich
he:רומן ×?ברמוביץ'
id:Roman Abramovich
ja:ãƒãƒžãƒ³ãƒ»ã‚¢ãƒ–ラモヴィッãƒ?
nl:Roman Abramovitsj
no:Roman Abramovitsj
pl:Roman Abramowicz
ru:Ð?брамович, Роман Ð?ркадьевич
sv:Roman Abramovitj
tr:Roman Abramoviç
tt:Roman Abramoviç
zh:阿布拉莫维奇
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