Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has been begging his Hollywood and US power broker friends to each lend him $1 million to keep him afloat as his assets are frozen by worldwide authorities.
Page Six has exclusively learned that the Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich – whose bank accounts are frozen in the US and the UK – is desperately asking for loans from his prominent and powerful friends to maintain his whispered $750,000-a-week staff payroll – which includes the minions keeping afloat his multiple luxury super-yachts.
But while Abramovich – who has hosted a series of starry celebrity parties on his boats and at his sprawling St Barth’s estate – has many close friends in Hollywood, Wall Street and the tech world, we are told his associates are wary about lending him money, even as he takes part in the peace talks between Russia and the Ukraine.
A source told Page Six, “Roman is asking some of his his closest powerful friends to let him borrow $1 million.
“He is saying he has never missed payroll for his staff, which is $750,000 a week, and with his assets frozen he can’t pay his people.
Brett Ratner Getty Images/Michael Loccisano“He has reached out to Hollywood producer and director Brett Ratner and the Rothschild family, among many others for money, but – while they are good friends with Roman – they have not agreed to give him money, because either they do not have that in liquid cash, or moreover it is not clear what are the repercussions under international law.”
Ratner declined to comment and the Rothschilds could not be reached. Neither have given money to Abramovich.
The United Kingdom and the European Union sanctioned Abramovich — who has a net worth of $14.3 billion, according to Bloomberg — in early March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich is selling a penthouse flat on the Chelsea waterfront in London, U.K.Bloomberg via Getty Images
A property being sold by the Russian billionaire in the Kensington district of London, U.K.Bloomberg via Getty Images
A Luxury property in Chester Square in London SW1 where a number of Russian property owners – including Roman Abramovich are said to have invested.In Pictures via Getty ImagesAbramovich then had his assets frozen by US hedge funds. The sanctions also prevented Abramovich from profiting from $3 billion sale of Chelsea Football Club.
Meanwhile Abramovich is still doing what can to keep his assets afloat, by including himself into peace talks to bring an end to Putin’s invasion in the Ukraine. He was invited to the peace talks by the Ukraine who believe he has a direct line to Putin, which he denies.
Abramovich, 55, reportedly made his fortune in the privatization rush after the end of the Soviet Union and was the owner of Millhouse Capital, an investment firm with stakes in nickel mining and steelmakers.
Abramovich’s private property in Governor’s Bay, on Saint-Barthelemy island, in the French West Indies. AFP via Getty Images
Abramovich bought this property in 2009 to Jeet Singh, co-founder of ATG, an e-commerce company. AFP via Getty Images
Another property of Abramovich’s in Governor’s Bay.AFP via Getty ImagesIn 2018 Abramovich transferred $92.3 million worth of Upper East Side properties to his ex-wife Dasha Zhukova, according to city property records.
He recently survived an attempted poisoning during the peace talks which left him reportedly suffering sore eyes and peeling skin. Two Ukrainian peace negotiators were also said to have been affected and the alleged poisoning was planned by Russian hardliners who wanted to sabotage the talks.
The irony is that Abravmovich owns at least four yachts, totaling almost $1,400,000 dollars. Plus a reported sprawling $700 million St Barth’s estate right on the island’s most beautiful Gouvenour Beach.
Roman Abramovich and his now ex-wife Dasha Zhukova Getty ImagesAnd his multiple luxury super-yachts remain afloat. Just a few days ago the government of Antigua confirmed that two yachts in its waters were linked to the mogul.
He is reported to have in Antigua the superyacht Halo and the support vessel Garcon, which are valued at approximately $40 million and $20 million respectively, according to the Financial Times.
Abramovich also owns the $700 million vessel Eclipse – one of the biggest yachts in the world, at 550 feet in length and with 24 cabins, with a crew of 70, featuring bullet proof glass and a missile defense system, which seems rather extreme, (unless you have a Russian president on board).
The 163-meter Eclipse, the world’s second-largest private yacht, moors in TurkeyAnadolu Agency via Getty Images
Roman Abramovich’s Super Yacht Solaris is seen moored at Barcelona Port on March 01, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. Getty ImagesHis $600 million yacht Solaris is slightly smaller but more modern in its design. Both Solaris and Eclipse are moored in Turkey, where the authorities are not enforcing sanctions on Russia., but are rumored to be a refuge for the Oligarchs and their money.
A rep for Abramovich could not be reached.
