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Roman Abramovich: Russian President
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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.
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When Roman Abramovich muttered something to one of his sidekicks at Old Trafford yesterday, was it a message to get on Shaun Wright-Phillips in place of Florent Malouda? When Eugene Shvidler, another of the Russian oil tycoons, burst into animated chatter, was he advising a switch to 4-4-2 against Fulham on Saturday?
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In addition to his involvement in professional football, Abramovich sponsors a foundation in Russian called the National Academy of Football. The organization sponsors youth sports programs throughout the country and has constructed more than fifty football pitches in various cities and towns. It ... funds training programs for coaches, prints instruction materials, renovates sports facilities and takes top coaches and students on trips to visit professional football clubs in England, Holland and Spain. In 2006 the Academy of Football took over the administration of the football academy at Primorksy, near Togliatti, Samara region, where over 1000 youths are in residence, following the death at 38 of its founder, Yuri Konoplev.[23]
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In 2003 Abramovich sold his 25% stake in the Russian aluminum company Rusal to another oligarch, Oleg Deripaska. Abramovich reportedly netted $13 billion after he sold Sibneft to the state-owned gas monopoly Gazprom in 2005. At that time, some Russian energy analysts believed that Sibneft was actually worth more than double that amount. Since then, Abramovich has returned to the metals business, seeking to expand Evraz through aggressive acquisitions abroad, including the purchase of the Vitkovice steel mill in the Czech Republic and a 75% stake in Italy's Palini e Bertoli steel plant. According to Business Week, the Evraz/Oregon Steel deal would combine the leading manufacturers of rails in Russia and the United States.
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Whatever his reasons, Abramovich looks as if he wants to keep selling. He recently ditched another 37.5% stake in the Ruspromavto auto company. So will the richest Russian swap his Chukotka governorship for the title of Sir Roman? That might depend on how much money Putin will let him withdraw from Russia. And the extent of Putin's generosity may tell other oligarchs how much of today's riches they might get to keep
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Earlier this year, Forbes magazine conservatively estimated Roman Abramovich's net worth at $18.2 billion. In October, the UK Daily Mail reported that the 40 year old father of five may be headed for a nasty divorce from his wife Irina over his relationship with a 23 year old Russian model. John Mann, a spokesman for the Abramovich family in Moscow, has denied the reports.
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