Roman Abramovich

Roman Arkadievich Abramovich (Russian: ?????? ??????????? ??????????) (born October 24, 1966 in Saratov, Russian SFSR, USSR) is a Russian oil billionaire, referred to as one of the Russian oligarchs. In March 2005 he was listed by Forbes Magazine as the richest Russian and the 21st richest person in the world with an estimated fortune of $13.3 billion. (Everyone above him in the list was older than him; the only one of those within a decade of his age was computer magnate Michael Dell, 20 months older). Abramovich is most famous outside of Russia as the owner of Chelsea F.C., an English Premiership football club, his wider involvement in European football, and for his contributions to Jewish enterprises in Israel and elsewhere, reflecting his Jewish origins.

Diversification and Distancing from Russia

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.

Related Topics:
Yukos - The Kremlin - Boris Berezovsky

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In 2005, he moved down to second place in the 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 and Chukotka.

Related Topics:
Sunday Times Rich List - Lakshmi Mittal

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In September 2005 Abramovich sold 72.663% of Sibneft to the Russian-government controlled Gazprom for US$ 13.01 billion (euro 10.81 billion, 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 who was recently jailed for eight years, and there have been reports that he is likely to be reappointed to the governorship of Chukotka, which is no longer an elected office.

Related Topics:
Gazprom - US$ - Euro - GB£ - Vladimir Putin - Mikhail Khodorkhovsky

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