How Roman Abramovich became rich. Roman Abramovich: the art of being rich

Roman Abramovich

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According to the annual ranking richest people world, published by the American magazine Forbes in March 2009, the entrepreneur took 51st place in the list of billionaires from around the world, and also took second place in the list Russian billionaires with a capital of 8.5 billion US dollars after Mikhail Prokhorov; in April 2008 - $29.5 billion. In 2010, with a personal fortune of $11.2 billion, he took 5th place in the list of 100 richest businessmen in Russia (according to Forbes magazine).

Before the divorce from his second wife Irina, Roman Abramovich’s bank accounts, according to the News of the World, was about 366.8 billion rubles. In addition, the entrepreneur owns a collection of yachts, cars and mansions. Abramovich is the owner of a villa worth 1.2 billion rubles in West Sussex, a penthouse worth 1.3 billion rubles in Kensington, a house worth 687 million rubles in France, a 5-story mansion in Belgravia for 504 million rubles, a six-story cottage worth 825 million rubles in Knightsbridge, houses for 18.3 billion rubles in St. Tropez and dachas in the Moscow region for 366 million rubles. He also owns yachts: Pelorus for 3.3 billion rubles with bulletproof glass and its own submarine, Ecstasea for 3.5 billion rubles with a swimming pool and Turkish bath, Le Grand Bleu for 2.7 billion rubles with a helipad, as well as yacht Eclipse. Last title translated means " solar eclipse", the yacht costs 13 billion rubles and reaches almost 170 m in length. The ship's hull is made of bulletproof steel, the windows are made of armored glass. Installed on board German system missile attack alerts. The yacht has 2 helicopters (with hangars, like on a combat frigate). There is also a mini-submarine capable of diving to a depth of up to 50 m. In addition, by order of Roman Abramovich, the yacht “Luna” is being completed at the shipyards in Bremerhaven (Germany), designed to replace the “Eclipse” if necessary. The fleet of the former governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug consists of a Boeing 767 for 2.5 billion rubles, a Boeing business class for 1.2 billion rubles and two helicopters for 1.6 billion rubles each.

Roman Abramovich born October 24, 1966 in Saratov. Roman's parents lived in Syktyvkar (Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic). Father - Arkady (Aron) Nakhimovich Abramovich worked in the Syktyvkar Economic Council, died as a result of an accident at a construction site when Roman was 4 years old. Mother - Irina Vasilievna (nee Mikhailenko) died when Roman was 1.5 years old.

Before the war, Abramovich’s father’s parents, Nakhim (Nakhman) and Toibe, lived in Lithuania, in the city of Taurage. In June 1941, the Abramovich family and their children were deported to Siberia. The couple ended up in different carriages and lost each other. Nakhim Abramovich died at hard labor. Toibe was able to raise three sons - Roman's father and his two uncles. In 2006, the municipality of Taurage invited Roman Abramovich to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the city. Roman Abramovich's maternal grandmother Faina Borisovna Grutman (1906-1991) evacuated to Saratov with her three-year-old daughter Irina from Ukraine in the first days of the Great Patriotic War.

Taken into the family of his father's brother, Leib Abramovich, Roman spent a significant part of his youth in the city of Ukhta (Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic), where he worked as the head of the Pechorles labor supply department at KomilesURS.

In 1974 Roman moved to Moscow, to his second uncle - Abram Abramovich. In 1983 he graduated from school. Military service in 1984-1986 he served in the auto platoon of an artillery regiment (Kirzhach, Vladimir region).

Information about higher education contradictory - they are called the Ukhta Industrial Institute and the Moscow Institute of Oil and Gas. Gubkin - however, he apparently did not finish any of them. In the current official biography Abramovich graduated from the Moscow State Law Academy in 2001.

Roman Abramovich: first steps in business

Roman Abramovich began his career in 1987 as a mechanic in the construction department No. 122 of the Mosspetsmontazh trust. Abramovich himself tells how, while studying at the institute, he simultaneously organized the Uyut cooperative: “We made toys from polymers. Those guys with whom we worked in the cooperative later formed the management team of Sibneft, then for some time I was a broker on the stock exchange.” They sold products in Moscow markets (including Luzhniki), which allowed them to make a profit in cash and pay taxes at that time.

In 1992-1995 he created 5 companies: Individual private enterprise “Firm “Supertechnology-Shishmarev”, JSC “Elita”, JSC “Petroltrans”, JSC “GID”, company “NPR”, engaged in the production of consumer goods and intermediary activities. During his business activities, Abramovich repeatedly attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies. Thus, on June 19, 1992, Roman Abramovich was taken into custody on suspicion of stealing 55 cars with diesel fuel from the Ukhtinsky oil refinery in the amount of about 4 million rubles. There is no information about the results of the investigation.

In 1993, Roman Abramovich continued his commercial activities, in particular the sale of oil from the city of Noyabrsk. From 1993 to 1996, he was the head of the Moscow branch of the Swiss company RUNICOM S.A.

Roman Abramovich and Sibneft

Roman Abramovich's entry into the big oil business is connected with Boris Berezovsky and the latter’s struggle for possession OJSC Sibneft. In May 1995, Berezovsky and Abramovich created P.K.-Trust CJSC.

The years 1995-1996 were fruitful for Abramovich in creating new companies. He establishes 10 more companies: Mekong CJSC, Centurion-M CJSC, Agrofert LLC, Multitrans CJSC, Oilimpex CJSC, Sibreal CJSC, Forneft CJSC, Servet CJSC, Branko CJSC, LLC Vector-A", which together with Berezovsky used to acquire shares of Sibneft OJSC. In June 1996, Roman Abramovich joined the board of directors of JSC Noyabrskneftegaz (one of the companies included in Sibneft), and also became the head of the Moscow representative office of Sibneft.

Having set themselves the goal of taking over the Sibneft company, Roman Abramovich and his companions used the proven method of a “shares-for-shares auction.” It should be noted that the law did not at all provide for such a method of privatization as the alienation of state property taken as collateral. On September 20, 1996, an investment competition was held for the sale of a state-owned stake of 19% of Sibneft shares. The winner is ZAO Firma Sins. On October 24, 1996, an investment competition was held for the sale of another 15% of Sibneft shares, which were in state ownership. The winner is CJSC Refine-Oil. On May 12, 1997, a commercial tender was held for the sale of a state-owned stake in 51% of Sibneft shares. And Abramovich's firms won again. All these companies arose shortly before the competitions. In 1996-1997 Roman Abramovich was the director of the Moscow branch of Sibneft OJSC. Since September 1996 - member of the Board of Directors of Sibneft.

In the late 1980s - early 1990s, he was engaged in small business (production, then intermediary and trading operations), subsequently switching to oil trading activities. Later became close to Boris Berezovsky and family Russian President Boris Yeltsin. It is believed that it was thanks to these connections that Abramovich later managed to obtain ownership of the Sibneft oil company. (see below for more details).

Roman Abramovich and Chukotka

In 1999 became a State Duma deputy for the Chukotka District. It was in Chukotka that companies affiliated with Sibneft were registered, through which its oil and petroleum products were sold.

In the Duma he did not join any of the factions. Since February 2000 - member of the State Duma Committee on Problems of the North and Far East.

In December 2000 he left the Duma due to his election to post of governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. According to media reports, he invested considerable own funds in the development of the region and improving the living standards of the local population.

In 2003, he suddenly became interested in football, lost interest in Chukotka, and bought himself English for £140 million. football club Chelsea and actually moved to live in the UK. In October 2005, he sold his stake (75.7%) in the Sibneft company to Gazprom for $13.1 billion and tried several times to resign from the governor’s post, but each time after a meeting with President Putin he was forced to abandon his intention.

On October 16, 2005, Vladimir Putin nominated Abramovich for reappointment to the governor's post; On October 21, 2005, the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug approved him in office.

Was married twice. The first wife is Olga Yuryevna Lysova, a native of the city of Astrakhan. The second wife is Irina (nee Malandina), a former flight attendant. Abramovich has five children from his second marriage. In March 2007, he was divorced by the Chukotka District Court, at his place of registration. According to the press secretary of the governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the former spouses agreed on the division of property and who their five children would stay with.

On July 3, 2008, Russian President D. A. Medvedev prematurely terminated the powers of the governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug with the wording of his own free will.

On July 13, 2008, deputies of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug asked Roman Abramovich to become a deputy and head the district Duma.

On October 12, 2008, in the by-elections he became a deputy of the Chukotka Duma, gaining 96.99% of the votes.

On October 22, 2008, he was elected to the post of Chairman of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Deputies supported Roman Abramovich's candidacy unanimously.

What does he own?

Roman Abramovich together with his partners through a holding company registered in the UKMillhouse Capitaluntil 2002 controlled more than 80% " Sibneft", the fifth largest Russian oil company, 50% of the aluminum company " Russian Aluminum"(RusAl) and 26% of the company" Aeroflot" Through intermediary firms, according to some sources, Abramovich’s “holding” includes power plants, factories for the production of cars and trucks, buses, paper mills, banks and Insurance companies V different regions Russia. This “holding” accounts for 3 to 4% of Russia’s GDP.

Recently, Roman Abramovich has become the owner of a controlling stake in a London football clubChelsea.

Forbes Magazine based on the results of 2001 named Abramovich the second richest man in Russia, with a fortune estimated at about $3 billion, in 2002. second place again remained with him, but the size of his fortune increased to $5.7 billion. According to the British magazine EuroBusiness , the condition of Roman Abramovich based on the results of 2002. reached a value of 3.3 billion euros.

During 2003-2005, Abramovich sold his stakes in Aeroflot, Russian Aluminum, Irkutskenergo and Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station, RusPromAvto - and, finally, Sibneft.

Interesting Facts

In January - May 1998, the first unsuccessful attempt to create a united company, Yuksi, based on the merger of Sibneft and YUKOS, took place, the completion of which was prevented by the ambitions of the owners.

According to some information, the divergence of business and political interests of Abramovich and Berezovsky, which subsequently ended in a breakdown in relations, dates back to the same time.

In November 1998, the first mention of Abramovich appeared in the media (at the same time for a long time even his photographs were missing) - the dismissed head of the Presidential Security Service, Alexander Korzhakov, called him the treasurer of President Yeltsin’s inner circle (the so-called “family”). Information has become public that Abramovich pays the expenses of the president’s daughter Tatyana Dyachenko and her future husband Valentin Yumashev, was involved in financing Yeltsin’s election campaign in 1996, and is lobbying for government appointments.

In December 1999, Abramovich became a State Duma deputy from the Chukotka constituency No. 223. A year later he won the gubernatorial elections in Chukotka, having received over 90% of the votes, and resigns from his parliamentary powers. Abramovich brings his managers from Sibneft with him to Chukotka and invests significant funds of his own in improving the living conditions of local residents.

In 2000, Abramovich, together with Oleg Deripaska, created the Russian Aluminum company, and also became co-owners of Irkutskenergo, the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station and the RusPromAvto automotive holding (production of passenger cars and trucks, buses and road construction equipment).

At the end of 2000, Abramovich bought a stake in ORT (42.5%) from Boris Berezovsky and resold it to Sberbank six months later. In the spring of 2001, Sibneft shareholders bought a blocking stake in Aeroflot (26%).

In May 2001, the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia initiated several criminal cases against the management of Sibneft at the request of State Duma deputies on the basis of an act of the Accounts Chamber on violations during the privatization of Sibneft, but already in August 2001 the investigation was terminated due to the lack of evidence of a crime.

In the summer of 2001, Abramovich was included for the first time in the list of the richest people according to Forbes magazine with a fortune of $14 billion.

In October 2001, it became officially known that the shareholders of Sibneft created the company Millhouse Capital, registered in London and which received management of all their assets. The chairman of the board of directors of Millhouse becomes the president of Sibneft, Shvidler.

In December 2002, Sibneft, together with TNK, acquired at auction 74.95% of the shares of the Russian-Belarusian company Slavneft (previously, Sibneft bought another 10% of the shares from Belarus) and subsequently divided its assets among themselves.

In the summer of 2003, Abramovich bought the struggling English football club Chelsea, paid off its debts and filled the team with expensive players, which was widely reported in the media in Britain and in Russia, where he was accused of investing Russian money in foreign sports .

Starting from the second half of 2003, the Sibneft company was subject to inspections by the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the legality of the acquisition in December 1995 of a stake in a number of companies - Noyabrskneftegazgeofiziki, Noyabrskneftegaz, Omsk Oil Refinery and Omsknefteprodukt, and in March 2004 by the Ministry of Taxes and collections brought tax claims against Sibneft for 2000-2001 in the amount of about one billion dollars. Later it became known that the amount of tax debt was reduced tax authorities more than tripled, and the debt itself has already been returned to the budget.

In 2003, there was another attempt to merge Sibneft and the YUKOS company, which failed at the initiative of Abramovich after the arrest of Khodorkovsky and the presentation of multibillion-dollar tax claims to YUKOS.

The news that billionaire Roman Abramovich had problems renewing his British visa came as a complete surprise.

A few weeks ago, after the Skripal case began, Theresa May’s government began talking about tightening the fight against money laundering of dubious origin. According to the UK government, laundering of "dirty" Russian money poses a threat to the security of the country and it does not intend to turn a blind eye to it. However, it was very difficult to imagine that sanctions would affect Abramovich.

How Abramovich became an oligarch

He started his business in the late 80s of the last century. His first company was the Uyut cooperative, which produces children's toys from polymers.

Uyut was followed by AVK, Firm Supertechnology-Shishmarev, JSC Elita, JSC Petroltrans, JSC GID, and NPR - all these companies were engaged in the resale of petroleum products from the north of Russia. During his business activities, Abramovich repeatedly attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies.

Roman Abramovich's entry into the big oil business is connected with Boris Berezovsky and the latter's struggle for ownership of Sibneft OJSC. The years 1995-96 were fruitful for Abramovich: he founded several more companies, which he and Berezovsky used to acquire shares in Sibneft. Roman Abramovich and his partners, using loans-for-shares auctions, acquired the largest oil company Sibneft for $100 million. In 2011, a businessman said in court that privatization took place in violation of the law, and Abramovich became the man we know now.

In 2003, Abramovich purchased the English football club Chelsea for £140 million and actually moved to live in the UK.

In October 2005, he sold his stake (75.7%) in the Sibneft company to Gazprom for 13.1 billion rubles, after which he became the richest businessman in Russia.

According to Forbes magazine, his capital currently consists of shares in Evraz (31%), Channel One (24%) and real estate. Together with his partner in Evraz, Alexander Abramov, he owns 5.87% of the shares of Norilsk Nickel.

Why did Abramovich have problems with his visa?

Roman Abramovich had an “investor” visa, which is issued for a period of 40 months for investing more than £2 million in the British economy. Abramovich's visa expiration date, according to reports The newspapers Guardian, expired back in April.

Visas of this type were introduced in 2008 during the financial crisis to attract foreign capital. Until November 2014, to qualify for a Tier 1 investor visa, an applicant had to have £1 million, then the amount was increased to £2 million.

On September 1, 2015, new requirements were introduced: invested funds must not be acquired through illegal means. In addition, the authorities must be sure that the money is not used to harm the “public good.” Perhaps it was precisely this point that the British had questions for Abramovich.

However, on May 23, 2018, it became known that the British authorities did not require the businessman to explain the origin of the capital when collecting documents to extend the investment visa, a source close to the businessman told RIA Novosti. "There were no questions to explain the passage of capital. No additional requirements. The usual renewal process is just longer than usual,” the agency’s source said.

The richest Russians who settled in the UK

Russian oligarchs living in the UK are widely known for their extravagant lifestyles. The public associates them with expensive London mansions, shares in Premier League football clubs and superyachts.

The most famous among them is Roman Abramovich. He is ranked 13th on the list of the richest people in Britain. The assets of the owner of the Chelsea football club are 9.33 billion pounds.

The ranking also includes Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov, who occupies eighth place on the list. His fortune was estimated at £10.56 billion. Last year, Usmanov ranked 5th in the ranking of the richest residents of Great Britain. Usmanov, who owns 30% of the English football club Arsenal, made his money in steel and iron ore mining. The Russian-born billionaire now lives in London. He also owns Sutton Place, a famous estate located in Surrey that once belonged to billionaire John Paul Getty.

Russian-British relations

Relations between Russia and Great Britain deteriorated sharply against the background of the incident in Salisbury, where a former GRU colonel and his daughter Yulia Skripal were poisoned. London claims that Russia is involved in the poisoning of the Skripals, while the Kremlin categorically denies this.

Prime Minister of Great Britain Theresa May in March announced the measures that the British government was taking against Russia. In particular, control over Russian citizens arriving in the United Kingdom is being strengthened. The head of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, in turn, referring to the advice Russian Alexey Navalny, proposed to conduct a thorough check and disclose the origin of the assets of businessmen from Russia. In his speech, he mentioned Igor Shuvalov and Alisher Usmanov.

Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a billionaire, entrepreneur, former governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Since October 12, 2008, deputy of the Chukotka Duma. From October 22, 2008 to July 2, 2013 - Chairman of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Born on October 24, 1966 in Saratov. In the late 1980s - early 1990s, he was engaged in small business (production, then intermediary and trading operations), subsequently switching to oil trading activities. In 1991-1993 Abramovich headed the small enterprise AVK, which was engaged in commercial and intermediary activities, including the resale of petroleum products. In 1992, the investigation ordered his detention due to the suspicion that Abramovich had stolen 55 tanks of diesel fuel from the state-owned Ukhta oil refinery, worth approximately 4 million rubles (criminal case No. 79067 of the Moscow City Prosecutor's Office). In this article we will tell you in detail about how Roman Abramovich became rich.

So, in the early 90s, the fateful acquaintance of Roman Abramovich and Boris Berezovsky took place, after which at the beginning of 1995, 28-year-old Abramovich, together with Berezovsky, began to implement joint project to create a single vertically integrated oil company based on Noyabrskneftegaz and the Omsk Oil Refinery, which were part of Rosneft at that time. Viktor Gorodilov supported this idea of ​​investing $35.5 million in the company. The guarantor was again SBS-Agro Bank. CJSC Rifine-Oil was established with equal shares by the companies Servet and Oil Impex (both founded by Roman Abramovich). In June 1996, Roman Abramovich joined the board of directors of Noyabrskneftegaz JSC, and also headed the Moscow representative office of Sibneft. In September 1996, he was elected by shareholders to the board of directors of Sibneft. Much later, already during 2003-2005, Abramovich sold his stakes in Aeroflot, Russian Aluminum, Irkutskenergo and Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station, RusPromAvto - and, finally, Sibneft. From latest news It should be noted that in April 2012, Roman Abramovich and the Governor of the Omsk Region Leonid Polezhaev agreed to transfer free of charge the Moscow Arena Omsk into the ownership of the Non-Profit Partnership " Sport Club"Vanguard". Previously, the Avangard Hockey Center, built at the expense of Roman Abramovich, was transferred to the ownership of NP SK Avangard free of charge. By the way, in 2003 Abramovich acquired the English football club Chelsea for £140 million and actually moved to live in the UK.

Abramovich is associated with companies such as Russian Aluminum, Aeroflot, Slavneft, Yukos, ORT, RusPromAvto, and Chelsea football club. The most interesting thing is that those who had the honor of personally knowing Roman Abramovich claim that this man has excellent organizational skills, enviable willpower and, most importantly, he created his success with his own hands.

Roman Abramovich- a famous Russian entrepreneur, former governor of Chukotka - constantly tops the lists of billionaires and the richest people, both in Russia and around the world.

Many are interested in the history of his career, the history of his billions. How smog Roman Arkadievich Abramovich become one of the most rich and the most famous people of our time?

Roman was born in 1966 in the city of Saratov, into a Jewish family. His father worked in the Economic Council and died when the boy was only 4 years old, and his mother died even earlier, when Roman was 1 year old. Roman was raised in his uncle's family in Ukhta.

And in 1974 he moved to Moscow, to his other uncle. He graduated from school and served in the army. Then he entered college in Ukhta.

In the 80s - 90s. Roman Abramovich was engaged in small business - mainly intermediation and trade. And then he switched to oil.

Roman Abramovich met Boris Berezovsky, and then Boris Yeltsin. Abramovich became very close to Yeltsin’s family, which, as many believe, helped him acquire ownership of the Sibneft company and become governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. After all, it was in Chukotka that many organizations were registered that sold oil and petroleum products.

So, in 2000, Roman Abramovich became the governor of Chukotka. And, as they say, he invested considerable funds, including his own, in the development of the region and improving the standard of living of the population. However, then more than once Roman Arkadyevich asked President Putin to remove him from his post. But each time Putin did not agree and reappointed him. And only in 2008 Abramovich, according to at will, was removed from his post as governor by President Medvedev. On this moment Abramovich is the chairman of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

Abramovich associated with companies such as " Russian aluminum», « Aeroflot», « Slavneft», « Yukos», ORT, « RusPromAvto", football club " Chelsea».
Those who had the honor of personally knowing Roman Abramovich claim that this man has excellent organizational skills, enviable willpower and, most importantly, he created his success with his own hands.

You can also look video about Roman Abramovich's condition:

Just look into the eyes of this kind, seemingly simple and naive man :) But he is one of the richest people on Earth. Almost everyone knows Abramovich, even more than those who want to be him.

Today we will find out how the journey of the great billionaire began and how he managed to get so rich!

And his business began with toys! When he was still studying at the institute, in the meantime, together with his fellow students, he organized the cooperative “Uyut”. He made children’s toys from polymers. His future wife Irina Malandina brought samples. The guys who worked with him eventually formed the management team of Sibneft. Abramovich also worked as a broker on the stock exchange, pushing products on the Moscow markets.

From 92 to 95, Abramovich managed to create as many as 5 companies! He was not deprived of attention from law enforcement agencies; in 1992 he was even arrested for stealing 55 wagons of diesel fuel. In general, from 93 he continued to trade in oil again. Became head of a branch of the company “RUNICOM S.A.”

Next, Roman Abramovich, together with Berezovsky, creates the Closed Joint Stock Company “P.K.-Trust”. From 95 to 96 he created 10 more companies. After some time, after some machinations, Abramovich has complete control over the Sibneft company, owning at least 36% of the shares.

In 2001, he bought a stake in the Chelsea football club for $98.6 million. He also committed to repay its debts, which amounted to 29.6 million pounds. In total, the amount of the entire purchase was $230 million.

Abramovich served as governor of Chukotka from 2000 to 2008, and since October 2008 has been a deputy and chairman of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

According to Forbes magazine, the Russian tycoon's fortune is $12 billion. But Forbes calculates only according to official data, so no one knows how much money Abramovich actually has, except himself and his associates. Of course, he made most of his fortune from oil and aluminum.

From open sources you can find out that Abramovich owns a squadron of four ocean-going yachts, he owns residential buildings and land in Anadyr, Great Britain, Moscow region, USA and France, plus a bunch of apartments and very expensive cars.

Yes, Romka did something bad. I can’t even imagine how one person can organize so much. Many of us cannot cope with opening a kiosk or cafe, but here...

Some people envy him, others admire him. Some say he was just lucky, others say he stole it all. Of course, he broke the law more than once, maybe he got lucky somewhere, and influential people helped. But he would not have achieved any of this without hard work, without enterprise, risk, a certain mindset and the desire to work and earn money.

Therefore, we can answer the question of how Abramovich got rich very briefly - he did not sit on his ass exactly, unlike most people who want to become rich without putting any effort into it.