Roman Abramovich: A Mixture of Business, Politics and Charity

Roman Abramovich was born in Lithaunia on October 24, 1966. He became an orphan at the tender age of 4. Roman was raised by his paternal grandparents. He attended the Moscow State Auto Transport Institute when he returned from active service in the Soviet Army.

Abramovich sold plastic ducks when the post-communist era of Mikhail Gorbachev allowed small businesses to develop in the late 1980’s. From 1992 to 1995, he established several companies which served as resale intermediaries. By the end of 1995, Abramovich and his partner Boris Berezovsky acquired a controlling interest in the oil company Sibneft. When Berezovsky was implicated in a scandal in 2000, he sold his shares in Sibneft to Abramovich. A lawsuit was then filed by Berezovsky against his former associate claiming Abramovich was unjustly enriched with the deal.

Abramovich became involved in charitable works when he established the Pole of Hope to help his countrymen in the region of Chukotka. In 2000, he became the governor of Chukotka where his efforts developed hospital and schools and provided employment opportunities for the people. In 2005, Vladimir Putin appointed him for another term in the office.

Abramovich became the owner of the Chelsea Football Club in 2003. He used his fortunes to build facilities and “purchase” players to play for the UK’s premier football club.

Abramovich is UK’s second richest man. He lives in West London.