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Roman Abramovich
Roman Abramovich seems to be a very mysterious person thoroughly concealing his past, who surrounded himself with gossip and rumors. He is admitted to be the richest Russian, but his way to prosperity is full of blank spots.
Roman Abramovich was born on 24th of October, 1966 in the Russian town of Saratov. Roman lost his parents at a very early age: his mother died 18 months after his birth and father was killed in the accident, when the boy was four. He was brought up by his uncle and spent most part of his young years in the Komi Republic lying in Northern Russia. Roman was a polite and prudent child, that is what his relatives say, but then somehow there appeared two versions about his primary and secondary education. According to the first variant, future tycoon finished school in the Komi Republic and then entered the two universities simultaneously: one in Moscow (the Russian State University of Oil and Gas) and the other in Komi (Industrial University). The second version says Abramovich moved to the Moscow Region after finishing the first grade of school.
Komi journalists referred to Industrial University and found out that there was no record about student Abramovich; moreover, the same story happened with Moscow State University of Oil and Gas. What is known for sure is that not long time ago Roman got a degree in public law at Moscow State Law Academy. In one of his interviews Abramovich told that during his study at the university he set up a co-operative to produce toys. His business partners later became top managers of Sibneft Company.
However, Abramovich didn’t see himself a lifelong toy maker and turned to oil products, but it wasn’t so easy from the very beginning. In February of 1992 he was arrested on suspicion of theft of 55 carriages containing diesel fuel. A train with 55 tank-cars arrived from Ukhta to Moscow and departed to Kaliningrad several days later, but it never arrived at the destination point. According to the criminal case, Roman Abramovich used counterfeit documents and sent the tank-cars to Riga, where the diesel fuel was successfully sold.
For an unknown reason Abramovich wasn’t punished, some people believe that 55 tank-cars play a role of a “lead” controlled by the authorities. It is obvious, that the tycoon made a secret of his past life not at his whim, but to save his oil business.
In 1995-96 Abramovich established several fly-by-night firms and together with his friend Boris Berezovsky used them to acquire the stock of Sibneft. As a result the tycoon managed to pay for the company 25 times less than the market price said. Later he sold his share of the company to Gazprom.
Money
The Forbes magazine gave the top position on its list of the Russian richest people to Roman Abramovich, whose fortune was estimated at 19.2 billion dollars (though many say it is no longer true after he divorced). Today Abramovich owns Chelsea Football Club and going to
mine gold in Chukotka, where he was a governor.
Private life
Roman Abramovich has been married twice and has 5 children. In March 2007 he got divorced with his second wife after paying her record 11.6 million dollars of compensation. The tycoon doesn’t like advertising his fortune and avoids journalists. He refuses to shave, adores his worn-out jeans and sweater and puts on his tuxedo only on big occasions.
Sources:
www.dengitut.ru
www.megarelax.ru
Olga Pletneva
