Roman Abramovich

Russian-Israeli billionaire businessman

Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich ( russian : Роман Аркадьевич Абрамович, pronounced [ rɐˈman ɐrˈkadʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ɐbrɐˈmovʲɪtɕ ] ; Hebrew : רומן אברמוביץ׳‎ ; born 24 October 1966 in Saratov ) [ 2 ] is a Russian-Israeli billionaire businessman and politician. Abramovich is the primary owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC, and is best acknowledge outside Russia as the owner of Chelsea F.C., a Premier League football golf club. He was once Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug from 2000 to 2008.

Reading: Roman Abramovich

According to Forbes, Abramovich ‘s net worth was US $ 12.9 billion in 2019, [ 3 ] making him the second-richest person in Israel and the eleventh-richest in Russia. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] He has donated more money than any other living russian, with donations between the years 1999 and 2013 of more than US $ 2.5 billion to build schools, hospitals and infrastructure in Chukotka. He was recognized by the Forum for jewish Culture and Religion for his contribution of more than $ 500 million to jewish causes in Russia, the US, Britain, Portugal, Lithuania, Israel and elsewhere over the past 20 years. [ 6 ] Abramovich has been labeled an oligarch by his critics. [ 7 ]

early life [edit ]

kin [edit ]

Abramovich ‘s family is jewish. His mother, Irina Vasilievna Abramovich ( née Mikhailenko, was a music teacher. She died when Roman was 1 year honest-to-god. [ 8 ] His father, Aron ( Arkady ) Abramovich Leibovich ( 1937−1969 ), worked in the economic council of the Autonomous Republic of Komi. [ 9 ] Roman ‘s maternal grandparents were Vasily Mikhailenko and Faina Borisovna Grutman, both born in Ukraine. It was in Saratov in the early days of World War II that Roman ‘s grandma on the parental side, Faina Borisovna Grutman, fled from Ukraine. Irina was then three years old. [ 10 ] Roman ’ s agnate grandparents, Nachman Leibovich and Toybe ( Tatyana ) Stepanovna Abramovich, were belarusian Jews. [ 11 ] They lived in Belarus and after the revolution they moved to Tauragė, Lithuania, [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] with the lithuanian spelling of the family name being Abramavičius. In 1940, the Soviet Union annexed Lithuania. Just before the german Nazi attack on the USSR, the soviets “ cleared the anti-Soviet, criminal and socially dangerous element ”. Families were sent to Siberia. The grandparents of Abramovich were separated when deported. The father, mother and children – Leib, Abram and Aron ( Arkady ) – were in different cars. many of the deportees died in the camps. Among them was the grandfather of Abramovich. Nachman Leibovich died in 1942 in the NKVD camp in the settlement of Resheti, Krasnoyarsk Territory. [ 10 ] Having lost both parents before the senesce of 4, [ 15 ] Abramovich was raised by relatives and exhausted much of his youth in the Komi Republic in northerly Russia. Abramovich is the Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, and a regent of the Moscow Jewish Museum. [ 16 ] Abramovich decided to establish a forest of some 25,000 newfangled and rehabilitate trees, in memory of Lithuania ‘s Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, plus a virtual memorial and tribute to lithuanian Jewry ( Seed a Memory ) enabling people from all over the world to commemorate their ancestors ‘ personal stories by naming a tree and including their mention in the memorial. [ 17 ]

marriage [edit ]

Abramovich has been married and divorced three times. In December 1987, following a brief stint in the soviet Army, he married Olga Yurevna Lysova ; [ 18 ] they divorced in 1990. In October 1991, he married a former russian Aeroflot stewardess, Irina Malandina. [ 19 ] They have five children ; Ilya, Arina, Sofia, Arkadiy and Anna. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] The couple divorced in 2007. [ 18 ] On 15 October 2006, the News of the World reported that Irina had hired two top UK divorce lawyers, following reports of Abramovich ‘s airless relationship with the then 25-year-old Dasha Zhukova, daughter of a outstanding russian oligarch, Alexander Zhukov. It was speculated that a future disassociate village ( amounting to a conjectured £5.5 billion ( €6.5 billion ) ) might be the highest always on record. The Abramoviches replied that neither had consulted attorneys at that indicate. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] however, they former divorced in Russia in March 2007, with a reported settlement of US $ 300 million ( €213 million ). [ 19 ] [ 23 ] Abramovich married Zhukova in 2008, and they have two children, a son, Aaron Alexander, and a daughter, Leah Lou. [ 20 ] In August 2017, the couple announced that they would separate ; [ 24 ] and their divorce was finalised in 2018. [ citation needed ]

early career [edit ]

Abramovich entered the business world during his army service. [ 25 ] Abramovich first worked as a street-trader, and then as a mechanic at a local factory. [ 26 ] At the extremum of perestroika, Abramovich sold imported condom ducks from his Moscow apartment. [ citation needed ] Abramovich attended the Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas in Moscow, [ 27 ] then traded commodities for the swiss trade firm Runicom. [ 28 ] In 1988, as perestroika opened up opportunities for denationalization in the Soviet Union, Abramovich got a luck to legitimise his old occupation. [ 29 ] He and Olga set up a company seduce dolls. Within a few years his wealth spread from oil conglomerates to pig farms. [ 30 ] He has traded in lumber, sugar, food stuffs and other kinds of products. [ 31 ] In 1992, he was arrested and sent to prison in a casing of larceny of politics property. [ 18 ]

friendship with Boris Berezovsky [edit ]

According to two different sources, Abramovich inaugural met Berezovsky either at a meet with the russian businessmen in 1993 [ 32 ] or in the summer of 1995. [ 33 ] Berezovsky and Abramovich registered an offshore company, Runicom Ltd., with five subsidiaries. Abramovich headed the Moscow consort of the swiss firm, Runicom S.A. In August 1995, Boris Yeltsin decreed the initiation of Sibneft, which Abramovich and Berezovsky were thought to be top executives of. [ 18 ]

Acquisition of Sibneft, loans-for-shares, and aluminum wars [edit ]

In 1995, Abramovich and Berezovsky acquired a controlling interest in the boastfully oil ship’s company Sibneft. The deal took stead within the controversial loans-for-shares course of study and each spouse paid US $ 100 million for half of the ship’s company, above the stake ‘s neckcloth grocery store prize of US $ 150 million at the time, and quickly turned it up into billions. The fast-rising value of the company led many observers, in hindsight, to suggest that the real cost of the caller should have been in the billions of dollars ( it was worth US $ 2.7 billion at that clock ) [ 34 ] [ 35 ] Abramovich subsequently admitted in court that he paid billions of dollars of bribes to government officials and gangsters to acquire and protect his assets. [ 36 ] As of 2000, Sibneft annually produced US $ 3 billion deserving of oil. [ 37 ] The Times claimed that he was assisted by Badri Patarkatsishvili in the learning of Sibneft. [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] After Sibneft, Abramovich ‘s next aim was the aluminum diligence. After denationalization, the “ aluminum wars ” led to murders of smelting plant managers, metals traders and journalists as groups battled for control of the diligence. Abramovich was initially hesitant to enter into the aluminum business, claiming that “ every three days person was murdered in that business ”. [ 42 ]

relationship with Boris Berezovsky and Badri Patarkatsishvili [edit ]

In 2011, a transcript emerged of a tap conversation that took position between Abramovich and Berezovsky at Le Bourget airport in December 2000. Badri Patarkatsishvili, a close acquaintance of Berezovsky, was besides introduce and secretly had the conversation recorded. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] During the discussion, Berezovsky spoke of how they should “ legalise ” their aluminum clientele, and subsequently claimed in motor hotel that he was an undisclosed stockholder in the aluminum assets and that “ legalization ” in this case meant to make his ownership “ official ”. In response, Abramovich states in the transcript that they can not legalise because the other party in the 50-50 articulation venture ( Rusal ) would need to do the lapp, in a think address to his commercial enterprise spouse Oleg Deripaska. Besides Deripaska, references are made to several other players in the aluminum industry at the time that would have had to “ legalise ” their bet on. Abramovich ‘s lawyers late claimed that “ legalization ” meant structuring protection payments to Berezovsky to ensure they complied with western antimoney-laundering regulations. [ 45 ] [ 46 ] The Times besides notes : [ 38 ]

Mr Abramovich discloses that there was a confrontation at St Moritz airport in Switzerland in 2001 when Mr [ Badri ] Patarkatsishvili asked him to pay US $ 1.3 billion ( €925 million ) to Mr Berezovsky. “ The defendant agreed to pay this amount on the footing that it would be the final examination request for payment by Mr Berezovsky and that he and Mr Patarkatsishvili would cease to associate themselves publicly with him and his business interests. ” The payment was punctually made. Mr Abramovich was besides willing to pay off Mr Patarkatsishvili. He states that he agreed to pay US $ 585 million ( €416 million ) “ by way of final payment ”. Mr Abramovich denies that he helped himself to Mr Berezovsky ‘s interests in Sibneft and aluminum or that he threatened a supporter of the exile. “ It is denied that Mr Abramovich made or was party to the alleged explicit or implicit coercive threats or bullying, ” he states .

According to court-papers submitted by Abramovich, [ 38 ] Abramovich mentions in the court-papers :

anterior to the August 1995 decree [ of Sibneft ‘s creation ], the defendant [ Abramovich ] informed Mr Berezovsky that he wished to acquire a operate interest in Sibneft on its creation. In return for the defendant [ Abramovich ] agreeing to provide Mr Berezovsky with funds he required in joining with the cash flow of [ his television receiver company ] ORT, Mr Berezovsky agreed he would use his personal and political charm to support the project and assist in the passage of the necessary legislative steps leading to the universe of Sibneft. Mr Patarkatsishvili did … provide aid to the defendant in the defendant ‘s acquisition of assets in the russian aluminum industry .

Investments in technology [edit ]

In 2015, Abramovich invested and led a $ 30 million round of fund with businessman OD Kobo Chairman of PIR Equities. [ 47 ] [ 48 ] other partners include respective long-familiar people from the music diligence, among them David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Tiësto, Avicii, will.i.am, Benny Andersson, Dave Holmes ( coach of Coldplay ) and others. [ 49 ] Abramovich has invested in other startups in diverse fields. Among them is BrainQ, an Israeli startup which develops artificial intelligence-powered technologies to treat neurological disorders, such as solidus, spinal anesthesia cord wound and traumatic brain wound. [ 50 ] besides StoreDot, founded by Doron Myersdorf, where Abramovich has invested over $ 30 million. [ 51 ]

relationship with russian leaders [edit ]

Boris Yeltsin [edit ]

By 1996, at the age of 30, Abramovich had become stopping point to President Boris Yeltsin, and had moved into an apartment inside the Kremlin at the invitation of the Yeltsin family. [ 52 ] In 1999, the 33-year-old Abramovich was elected governor of the russian state of Chukotka. He ran for a moment condition as governor in 2005. The Kremlin press service reported that Abramovich ‘s list had been sent for approval as governor for another terminus to Chukotka ‘s local fantan, which confirmed his appointment on 21 October 2005 .

Vladimir Putin [edit ]

Abramovich was the first person to recommend to Yeltsin that Vladimir Putin be his successor as the Russian president. [ 53 ] : 135 When Putin formed his first cabinet as Prime Minister in 1999, Abramovich interviewed each of the candidates for cabinet positions before they were approved. [ 35 ] : 102 Subsequently, Abramovich would remain one of Putin ‘s closest confidants. In 2007, Putin consulted in meetings with Abramovich on the question of who should be his successor as president ; Medvedev was personally recommended by Abramovich. [ 53 ] : 135, 271 Chris Hutchins, a biographer of Putin, describes the relationship between the Russian president of the united states and Abramovich as like that between a father and a favorite son. Abramovich himself says that when he addresses Putin he uses the russian terminology ‘s formal “ вы ” ( like Spanish “ usted ”, german “ Sie ”, italian “ wreath ” or french “ vous ” ), as opposed to the informal “ ты ” ( spanish “ tú ”, german “ du ”, italian “ tu ” or french “ tu ” ). Abramovich says that the cause is ‘he is more elder than me ‘. [ 54 ] Within the Kremlin, Abramovich is referred to as “ Mr A ”. [ 55 ] In September 2012, the High Court pronounce Elizabeth Gloster said that Abramovich ‘s determine on Putin was limited : “ There was no evidential basis supporting the controversy that Mr Abramovich was in a position to manipulate, or otherwise determine, President Putin, or officers in his administration, to exercise their powers in such a way as to enable Mr Abramovich to achieve his own commercial goals. ” [ 56 ] U.S. media reports that the U.S. intelligence community believes Abramovich is a “ bulge carrier ”, or fiscal cutout for Putin. [ 57 ] Abramovich is one of many russian “ oligarch ” named in the Countering America ‘s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, CAATSA, signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017. [ 58 ]

political career [edit ]

Duma member [edit ]

In 1999, Abramovich was elected to the State Duma as the congressman for the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, an deprive region in the Russian Far East. He started the charity Pole of Hope to help the people of Chukotka, specially children, and in December 2000, was elected governor of Chukotka, replacing Aleksandr Nazarov .

governor [edit ]

Abramovich was the governor of Chukotka from 2000 to 2008. It is believed that he invested over US $ 1.3 billion ( €925 million ) in the area. [ 59 ] Under Abramovich, live standards improved, schools and housing were restored and fresh investors were being drawn to the region. [ 60 ] Abramovich was awarded the Order of Honour for his “ huge contribution to the economic exploitation of the autonomous district [ of Chukotka ] ”, by a decree signed by the President of Russia. [ 61 ]

resignation [edit ]

In early July 2008, it was announced that President Dmitri Medvedev had accepted Abramovich ‘s request to resign as governor of Chukotka, although his respective charitable activities in the region would continue. In the period 2000–2006 the average salaries in Chukotka increased from about US $ 165 ( €117/£100 ) per calendar month in 2000 to US $ 826 ( €588/£500 ) per calendar month in 2006. [ 18 ] [ 62 ]

Controversies [edit ]

Boris Berezovsky allegations [edit ]

In 2011, Berezovsky brought a civil event against Abramovich, called Berezovsky v Abramovich, [ 63 ] in the high Court of Justice in London, accusing Abramovich of blackmail, breach of believe and breach of contract, and seeking over £3 billion in damages. [ 64 ] On 31 August 2012, the High Court dismissed the lawsuit. The high Court estimate stated that because of the nature of the evidence, the encase hinged on whether to believe Berezovsky or Abramovich ‘s attest. The evaluate found Berezovsky to be “ an unimpressive, and inherently undependable witness, who regarded truth as a ephemeral, elastic concept, which could be moulded to suit his current purposes ”, whereas supported by Putin Abramovich was seen as “ a truthful, and on the whole, dependable witness ”. [ 64 ] [ 65 ] There was no big annex to the casing, because in one-half year Berezovsky has died because of affected reasons .

bribery [edit ]

In 2008, The Times reported that court papers showed Abramovich admitting that he paid billions of dollars for political favours and protective covering fees for shares of Russia ‘s oil and aluminum assets. [ 66 ]

Allegations of loan fraud [edit ]

An allegation emerging from a swiss investigation links Roman Abramovich, through a former company, and numerous other russian politicians, industrialists and bankers to using a US $ 4.8 billion ( €3.4 billion ) loanword from the IMF as personal splash fund ; an audited account sponsored by the IMF itself determined that all of the IMF funds had been used appropriately. [ 67 ] In January 2005, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ( EBRD ) indicated that it would be suing Abramovich over a £9 million ( US $ 14.9 million/€10.6 million ) loanword. [ 68 ] The EBRD said that it is owed US $ 17.5 million ( €12.45 million/£10.6 million ) by Runicom, a Switzerland-based oil trade business which had been controlled by Abramovich and Eugene Shvidler. Abramovich ‘s spokesman indicated that the loan had previously been repaid. [ 69 ]

antimonopoly law violation in Russia [edit ]

Russia ‘s antimonopoly body, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, claimed that Evraz Holding, owned in part by Abramovich, had breached russian rival law by offering unfavorable terms for contractors and discriminating against domestic consumers for coking coal, a key material used in steel production. [ 70 ]

dispute with Kolomoyskyi [edit ]

According to Putin, Abramovich has been cheated by Ukrainian-Cypriot-Israeli oligarch Igor Kolomoyskyi. Putin claimed in 2014 that Kolomoyskyi had reneged on a compress with Abramovich, saying that the pair signed a multibillion-dollar deal on which Kolomoyskyi never delivered. [ 71 ]

contamination and Climate Change [edit ]

According to The Guardian, in 2015 his $ 766m venture in Evraz, the sword and mining company, gave him ownership of about a quarter of Russia ’ randomness largest char mine, the Raspadskaya coal complex in Siberia, whose reserves represented 1.5GT of carbon emissions, comparable to the annual output signal of Russia itself. [ 72 ] According to The Conversation ( web site ), “ Roman Abramovich, who made most of his $ 19 billion fortune trade oil and natural gas, was the biggest polluter on our list ” of most pollute billionaires, estimating “ that he was responsible for at least 33,859 measured tons of CO2 emissions in 2018 – more than two-thirds from his yacht. ” [ 73 ]

support of Israeli Settlement [edit ]

An probe by BBC News Arabic has found that Abramovich controls companies that have donated $ 100m to an Israeli settler organization. Elad operates in busy East Jerusalem. By allowing settlement activity in the area Israel is considered to be in rupture of external police. Israel disputes this view. analysis of trust documents has revealed that Chelsea football baseball club ‘s owner, Abramovich, is the biggest one donor to the organization. The bank documents – known as the FinCEN Files – were leaked to BuzzFeed News, then shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ( ICIJ ) and the BBC. Elad besides runs the City of David and other archaeological sites, visited by a million tourists each class in Jerusalem. There are arguments that Israel is breaking international law by allowing exploratory archaeological digs to be carried out in occupy state. A spokesman for Mr Abramovich told the BBC, that “ Mr Abramovich is a committed and generous garter of Israeli and Jewish civil society, and over the past 20 years he had donated over five hundred million dollars to support healthcare, skill, education and jewish communities in Israel and around the universe. ” [ 74 ] [ 75 ]

Chelsea F.C . [edit ]

In June 2003, Abramovich became the owner of the companies that control Chelsea Football Club in West London. The former owner of the club was Ken Bates, who went on to buy rivals Leeds United. Chelsea immediately embarked on an ambitious program of commercial exploitation, with the draw a bead on of making it a cosmopolitan mark on a par with footballing dynasties such as Manchester United and Real Madrid, and besides announced plans to build a newly state-of-the-art training complex in Cobham, Surrey. [ 76 ] Since the takeover, the club has won 18 major trophies – the UEFA Champions League twice, the UEFA Europa League doubly, the UEFA Supercup once, the Premier League five times, the FA Cup five times ( with 2010 providing the club ‘s first ever league and FA Cup bivalent ), and the League Cup three times, making Chelsea the most successful english trophy winning team during his possession, equal with Manchester United ( who have besides won 16 major trophies in the like time span ). His tenure has besides been marked by rapid employee turnover in managers. Detractors have used the term “ Chelski ” semi-affectionately to refer to the modern Chelsea under Abramovich, to highlight the modern phenomenon of billionaires buying football clubs and “ buying trophies ”, by using their personal wealth to snap up pavilion players at will, distorting the remove commercialize, citing the acquisition of Andriy Shevchenko for a then-British record transfer tip of around £30 million ( €35.3 million ). [ 77 ] In the year ending June 2005, Chelsea posted commemorate losses of £140 million ( €165 million ) and the club was not expected to record a deal profit before 2010, although this decreased to reported losses of £80.2 million ( €94.3 million ) in the year ending June 2006. [ 78 ] In a December 2006 interview, Abramovich stated that he expected Chelsea ‘s remove spending to fall in years to come. [ 79 ] UEFA responded to the precarious profit/loss landscape of clubs, some owned by billionaires, but others merely fiscal juggernauts like Real Madrid, with Financial Fair Play regulations. Chelsea finished their beginning season after the takeover in second stead in the Premier League, astir from fourth the previous class. They besides reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, which was finally won by surprise rival Porto, managed by José Mourinho. For Abramovich ‘s second season at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho was recruited as the new director, replacing the incumbent Claudio Ranieri. Chelsea ended the 2004–05 season as league champions for the beginning time in 50 years and only the second time in their history.

CSKA Moscow [edit ]

In March 2004, Sibneft agreed to a three-year sponsorship deal worth €41.3 million ( US $ 58 million ) with the russian team CSKA Moscow. [ 90 ] Although the company explained that the decision was made at management tied, some viewed the deal as an undertake 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, indeed Abramovich has no fairness interest in CSKA. A lawyer, Alexandre Garese, is one of his partners in CSKA. Following an probe, Abramovich was cleared by UEFA of having a conflict of interest. [ 91 ] however, 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 rival. In October 2005, however, Abramovich sold his interest in Sibneft and the company ‘s new owner Gazprom, which sponsors Zenit Saint Petersburg, cancelled the sponsorship share. [ 92 ]

russian national team [edit ]

Abramovich besides played a boastfully function in bringing Guus Hiddink to Russia to coach the Russia national football team. [ 93 ] Piet de Visser, a former head lookout of Hiddink ‘s club PSV Eindhoven and nowadays a personal assistant to Abramovich at Chelsea, recommended Hiddink to the Chelsea owner. [ 94 ]
In summation to his participation in professional football, Abramovich sponsors a foundation in Russia called the National Academy of Football. The constitution sponsors youth sports programs throughout the area and has constructed more than fifty dollar bill football pitches in assorted cities and towns. It besides funds training programs for coaches, prints instruction materials, renovates sports facilities and takes top coaches and students on trips to visit master football clubs in England, the Netherlands and Spain. In 2006 the Academy of Football took over the government of the Konoplyov football academy at Primorsky, near Togliatti, Samara Oblast, where over 1,000 youths are in mansion, following the death at 38 of its founder, Yuri Konoplev. [ 95 ]

wealth [edit ]

According to Forbes, as of March 2016, Abramovich had a net worth of US $ 7.6 billion, ranking him as the 155th richest person in the global. [ 96 ] Prior to the 2008 fiscal crisis, he was considered to be the second base richest person living within the United Kingdom. [ 97 ] early in 2009, The Times estimated that due to the global economic crisis he had lost £3 billion from his £11.7 billion wealth. [ 98 ] On 5 March 2021, Forbes listed his net deserving at US $ 14.5 billion, ranking him 113 on the Billionaires 2020 Forbes list. [ 99 ]

Wealth rankings [edit ]

charitable donations [edit ]

Abramovich has reportedly donated more money to charity than any early surviving Russian. [ 7 ] Between 2009 and 2013, Abramovich donated more than US $ 2.5 billion to build schools, hospitals and infrastructure in Chukotka. Abramovich has reportedly spent approximately GB£1.5 bn on the Pole of Hope, his charity set up to help those in the Arctic region of Chukotka, where he was governor. [ 119 ] In addition, Evraz Plc ( EVR ), the steelmaker partially owned by Abramovich, donated US $ 164 million for social projects between 2010 through 2012, an amount that is excluded in Abramovich ‘s US $ 310 million donations during this period. [ 7 ] Abramovich was recognized by the Forum for jewish Culture and Religion for his contribution of more than $ 500 million to jewish causes in Russia, the US, Britain, Portugal, Lithuania, Israel and elsewhere over the past 20 years. [ 6 ] In June 2019, Abramovich donated $ 5 million to the jewish Agency for Israel, to support efforts to combat anti-semitism globally. [ 120 ] Abramovich decided to establish a afforest of some 25,000 trees, in memory of Lithuania ’ s Jews who perished in the Holocaust, plus a virtual memorial and tribute to lithuanian Jewry. [ 121 ] He besides gave a substantial contribution for the rehabilitation of the jewish cemetery of Altona, nowadays a region in the city of Hamburg. The project is carried out by B’nai B’rith International Portugal in partnership with Hamburg ‘s Chabad. [ 122 ] Roman Abramovich donates money to the Chabad movement [ 123 ] and along with Michael Kadoorie and Jacob Safra, is one of the independent benefactors of the portuguese Jewish community and of B ’ nai B ’ rith International Portugal. [ 124 ] Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich funds an run course of study in Israel that brings Jewish and Arab children together in football coach sessions. More than 1,000 Arab and jewish children each year will be brought together through football, with Chelsea funding the expanded set-up and club staff training local coaches. The expand Playing Fair, Leading Peace course of study will break down barriers and battle discrimination by mixing communities in Israel. [ 125 ] In 2020 during the pandemic Roman Abramovich paid for NHS staff to stay at the Stamford Bridge Millennium Hotel. [ 126 ]

Fight against anti-semitism and hate in general [edit ]

The Blues owner has frequently been described as a russian billionaire after his takeover of the baseball club in 2003. however, in holocene years, after he became a citizen of Israel and launched the Say No to Antisemitism political campaign through Chelsea, the fact he is jewish has come into focus. [ 127 ] Kick It Out foreman executive Tony Burnett hailed Chelsea ‘s position on fighting anti-semitism, pledging the anti-discrimination organization will nowadays look to follow the Blues ‘ tip. “ Historically it ‘s been alleged that Kick It Out was formed to fight racism against black players and coaches. We looked at our scheme and realised we were n’t doing enough on anti-semitism and we brought together a group of stakeholders with huge know in this area. ” [ 128 ] globally, he is known as the owner of the Premier League Chelsea Football Club, which he has used to motivate, educate and inspire fans to fight hate racism. Abramovich leads and funds a unique and comprehensive examination global campaign, under the standard ‘ Say No to Antisemitism, ’ dedicated to raising awareness of the evils of anti-semitism from an educational position. The cabaret works with leading figures and authorities around the populace to help spread the message. As part of this feat, Chelsea players, management, staff and fans have personally met with Holocaust survivors, joined the March of the Living, and called to proactively tackle anti-semitism. The campaign involves partners like the World Jewish Congress, ADL, the Holocaust Educational Trust, the Conference of Presidents of major american Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Air Force. The Chelsea Foundation recently launched a newly program in partnership with the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and the Israeli Football Association, introducing football sessions for Arab and Jewish children across Israel, a partnership that was developed following Chelsea Women ’ s inflict to Israel in 2019, during which the team took function in football and education workshops with Arab and Jewish girls, benefiting 1000 children in the first year alone. [ 6 ] [ 129 ]

early interests and activities [edit ]

art [edit ]

Statue of Abramovich in a promenade in Eilat, Israel Abramovich sponsored an exhibition of photograph of Uzbekistan by celebrated soviet photographer Max Penson ( 1893–1959 ) which opened on 29 November 2006 at the Gilbert Collection at Somerset House in London. He previously funded the exhibition “ lull resistance : russian Pictorial Photography 1900s–1930s ” at the same gallery in 2005. [ 130 ] Both exhibits were organized by the Moscow House of Photography. [ 131 ] In May 2008, Abramovich emerged as a major buyer in the external art auction marketplace. He purchased Francis Bacon ‘s Triptych 1976 for €61.4 million ( US $ 86.3 million ) ( a commemorate price for a post-war oeuvre of art ) and Lucian Freud ‘s Benefits Supervisor Sleeping for €23.9 million ( US $ 33.6 million ) ( a record price for a make by a live artist ). [ 132 ] His spouse Dasha Zhukova is managing a Garage Center for contemporaneous Culture – gallery of contemporary artwork in Moscow that was initially housed in the diachronic Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage construction by Konstantin Melnikov. The build up, neglected for decades and partially taken apart by former tenants, was restored in 2007–2008 and reopened to the populace in September 2008. accelerate and expense of restoration is credited to sponsorship by Abramovich. [ 133 ]

Yachts [edit ]

Abramovich has become the world ‘s greatest spender on luxury yachts, and constantly maintains a fleet of yachts which the media have called “ Abramovich ‘s Navy ” : [ 134 ] Current boats:

Eclipse 162.5 metres (533 ft) – Built in Germany by Blohm + Voss, she was launched in September 2009.[135] Abramovich was due to take delivery of the yacht in December 2009,[136] but was delayed for almost a year after extensive sea trials. The yacht’s interior and exterior were designed by Terence Disdale. Eclipse is believed to have cost Abramovich around US$400 million and was the world’s largest privately owned yacht until it was eclipsed in 2013 by the 180 metres (590 ft) Azzam. The specification includes at least two swimming pools, a cinema, two helicopter landing-pads, several on-board tenders and a submarine that can be launched and dive to a depth of 160 ft. It is also equipped with armour plating surrounding the bridge and Abramovich’s master suite, as well as bullet proof windows.[137]

The world ‘s second largest expedition yacht, Luna, seen docked in San Diego, January 2013. Sold to Farkhad Akhmedov in April 2014 for US $ 360 million. Former boats:

Pelorus 115 metres (377 ft) – Built by Lurssen for Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh in 2003, original owner of M/Y Coral Island and M/Y Sussurro, who received six offers to sell her before she was even completed. The Sheikh accepted the highest bid which was Abramovich. The interior was designed by Terence Disdale. The exterior was designed by Tim Heywood. Pelorus was refitted by Blohm + Voss in 2005 adding a new forward helipad and zero speed stabilizers. Given to Irina in 2009 as part of the divorce settlement; she was approached on David Geffen’s behalf by broker Merle Wood, with Geffen paying US$300 million to take ownership in 2011.[138]
Sussurro 49.5 metres (162 ft) – Built by Feadship in 1998 for Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh.
Ecstasea 85 metres (279 ft) – Largest Feadship built at launch in 2004 for Abramovich. She has a gas turbine alongside the conventional diesels which gives her high cruising speed. Abramovich sold the boat to the Al Nayhan family in 2009.[139]
Le Grand Bleu 112 metres (367 ft) – Formerly owned by John McCaw; Abramovich bought the expedition yacht in 2003 and had her completely refitted by Blohm + Voss, including a 16 ft (4.9 m) swim platform and sports dock. He presented her as a gift to his associate and friend Eugene Shvidler in June 2006.
Luna 115 metres (377 ft) – Built by Lloyd Werft and delivered to Roman Abramovich in 2009 as an upgraded replacement for his Le Grand Bleu expedition yacht.[140] Sold to close friend, Azerbaijani-born billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, in April 2014 for US$360m. Boasts a 1 million litre fuel tank, 7 engines outputting 15,000 hp propelling Luna to a maximum speed of 25 knots, 8 tenders, 15 cm ice-class steel hull and 10 VIP Cabins.

aircraft [edit ]

Abramovich owns a private Boeing 767-33A/ER, registered in Aruba as P4-MES. It is known as The Bandit [ 141 ] ascribable to its livery. primitively the aircraft was ordered by hawaiian Airlines but the decree was cancelled and Abramovich bought it from Boeing. Abramovish had it refitted it to his own requirements by Andrew Winch, who designed the department of the interior and outside. The aircraft was estimated in 2016 to cost US $ 300 million and its interior is reported to include a 30-seat dining room, a boardroom, master bedrooms, luxury bathrooms with showers, and a roomy living room. The aircraft has the lapp air missile avoidance system as Air Force One. [ 141 ]

St. Barth New Year ‘s Eve celebrations [edit ]

In 2011, Abramovich hired the Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform at his estate in Baie de Gouverneur in St. Barth. [ 142 ] The operation included a extra appearance from Toots Hibbert. [ 142 ] He reportedly spent £5 million on 300 guests, including George Lucas, Martha Stewart, Marc Jacobs, and Jimmy Buffett. [ 142 ] In 2014, he hired english singer Robbie Williams to headline a New Year ‘s dinner for Vladimir Putin ‘s “ inner encircle ”. The party took place in Moscow and appears to have been the inspiration for Williams ‘ song “ Party Like a russian “. [ 143 ] In December 2015, American musician Prince played a New Year ‘s Eve party on Abramovich ‘s gravy boat. Upon his arrival by helicopter, Prince tweeted, “ STRICTLY BUSINESS. “ [ citation needed ]

israeli citizenship [edit ]

In May 2018, Abramovich became an Israeli citizen a month after the UK delayed renewing his visa. Following the poison of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, British authorities delayed the refilling of his visa, as tensions rose between the UK and Russia. [ 144 ] Abramovich had been travelling in and out of the UK for years on a Tier-1 investor visa, designed for affluent foreigners who invest at least £2 million in Britain. Abramovich, who is russian Jewish, exercised his right under Israel ‘s Law of Return, which states that Jews from anywhere in the global can become citizens of Israel. As an Israeli, Abramovich can nowadays visit Britain visa-free but is not permitted to work or conduct clientele transactions. [ 145 ] [ 146 ] Abramovich owns the Varsano boutique hotel in Tel Aviv ‘s Neve Tzedek neighborhood, which he bought for 100 million NIS in 2015 from Gal Gadot ‘s conserve Yaron Varsano and Varsano ‘s brother Guy. [ 147 ] In January 2020, Abramovich purchased a property in Herzliya Pituah for a record 226 million NIS. [ 148 ] In 2015, Abramovich donated approximately $ 30m., to Tel Aviv University to establish an innovative Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, which aspires to become one of the leading facilities in the Middle East. Among Abramovich ’ s early beneficiaries is the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer to which he has donated in excess of $ 60m. for diverse promote medicine ventures. [ 149 ] These include the institution of a new nuclear music center spanning 2,000 sq.m., the Sheba Cancer and Cancer Research centers, the Pediatric Middle East Congenital Heart Center and the Sheba Heart Center. A contribution that Abramovich made to Keren Kayemet LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund ( KKL-JNF ) for a comprehensive forest reclamation program in the southern Negev desert, helps to combat the area ’ s rising desertification and promotes increasing nature tourism to the area. Alongside his philanthropic natural process, Abramovich has invested some $ 120m. in 20 israeli start-ups ranging from music and renewable energy, to sociable media. [ 147 ] recently, due to the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in Israel, Abramovich gave Sheba another contribution for a new subterranean Intensive Care Unit, spanning 5,400 sq.m., to provide Israel with vital crisis answer in times of national emergencies. Abramovich continuously contributes to Jewish artwork and polish initiatives, such as the M.ART contemporary acculturation festival in Tel Aviv. [ 6 ]

lotion for a mansion let in Switzerland [edit ]

Abramovich filed an application for a residence license in the quarter of Valais in July 2016, a tax-friendly dwelling to successful businessmen, and planned to transfer his tax residency to the swiss municipality. Valais authorities readily agreed to the request and transferred the lotion to the swiss State Secretariat for Migration for approval. once there, FedPol investigators expressed suspicions and opposed the request. As a leave, Abramovich withdrew his lotion in June 2017. After a three-year legal saga, in 2021 swiss authorities cleared businessman and recent Israeli immigrant Roman Abramovich of any suspicion. [ 150 ]

Megamansion in New York City [edit ]

Abramovich purchased for $ 74 million and is combining four Upper East Side townhouses in Manhattan in New York City into a megamansion ; 9, 11, 13, and 15 East 75th Street. [ 151 ] The compound megamansion will be 19,400 squarely feet, and it is estimated that renovation costs will be an extra $ 100 million. [ 151 ]

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]

Belton, Catherine (23 June 2020). Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took on the West. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. ISBN 978-0374238711.

bibliography [edit ]

Midgley, Dominic; Hutchins, Chris (3 May 2005). Abramovich: The Billionaire from Nowhere. Harper Collins Willow. ISBN 978-0-00-718984-7.
Hoffman, David (4 December 2003). The Oligarchs: Wealth and Power in the New Russia. Public Affairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-202-2.
Bennetts, Marc (15 May 2008). Football Dynamo – Modern Russia and the People’s Game. Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-1319-4.
Stenning, Paul (31 October 2010). Waste of Money: Overspending in Football. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1905411931.

Government offices

Preceded byAleksandr Nazarov
Governor of Chukotka
2000 – 3 July 2008

Succeeded byRoman Kopin