ABRAMOVICH THE ENIGMA Abramovich was the governor of Russian Far Easter region of Chukotka, from 2000 to 2008. However, Abramovich’s source of wealth has been mired in controversy. In 1992, he was arrested and sent to prison in a case of theft of government property. The case was later closed but by 1995, he and former business colleague, Berezovsky, acquired a controlling interest in the giant Soviet oil company, Sibneft, under controversial circumstances. In 2008, The Times reported that Abramovich admitted that he paid billions of dollars for political favours and protection fees to obtain a big share of Russia’s oil and aluminum assets as was shown by court papers obtained by the media house. Currently, Abramovich is divorced. His first marriage to Olga lasted three years- between 1987 and 1990. Abramovich remarried in 1991 to Irina Malandina, but was divorced again in 2007. Irina was paid a settlement of $300m (N48bn) following the divorce. He is now with girlfriend, Daria Zhukoya, who has had two children with him. However, Abramovich is regarded as the world’s greatest spender on luxury yachts, having been linked to five yachts in what the media have called “Abramovich’s Navy’. Until early 2013, Abramovich was the owner of the world’s biggest yacht, named, Eclipse, which stood at 533ft. He was knocked off the top of the super yacht league table, a position he held for three years, by United Arab Emirates President and Emir Of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 65, who recently acquired a 590ft vessel, Azzam. Eclipse was said to have cost the Russian billionaire around $30m in 2010. The Eclipse takes close to $50m (N8bn) each year to keep it running and single re-fueling costs around $650,000 (N104m) each time. With a crew of up to 60 persons, two swimming pools, two helipads, the Eclipse is considered as a giant of the sea. The yacht is fortified with advanced technology and has been embedded from all possible angles with the armor plating, bullet proof windows, advanced missile detection system and a provision to escape via submarine located at the bottom end of the yacht. Abramovich also has a Boeing 767, called ‘The Bandit’ and was the first owner of a private Airbus A340, largest personal plane ever built. His plane is reported to have a gym, Turkish bath, conference rooms, Jacuzzi, bar and a restaurant. He also owns three Eurocopter helicopters EC-145, EC-135T1 and EC-155B. One of these helicopters is found on one of his yachts and another at Blackbushe airport. He has homes in London, France, St. Barts, Colorado and Los Angeles. In 2003, Abramovich bought Chelsea FC for over $200m (N32bn), with an agreement that covered the club’s debts. With Cars like Ferrari FXX, Porsche Carrera GT (Modified), Bugatti Veryron, Maserati MC12 Corsa, Maybach 62 limousines, Ferrari 360 in his garage, Abramovish easily qualifies as a lover of suoer luxury cars.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 09:48:45 +0000
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