Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (born October 24, 1966, in Saratov, Russia) is a Russian-Israeli billionaire businessman, oligarch, philanthropist, and former politician. Orphaned at a young age—his father died in a construction accident when he was four and his mother passed away shortly after his birth—he was raised by relatives in the Moscow region. He began his career in the late 1980s during perestroika, starting as a mechanic and later entering business through a cooperative producing toys from polymeric materials. He quickly expanded into trading and transportation of oil and industrial products, amassing wealth in the post-Soviet privatization boom. A pivotal moment came in the mid-1990s when he partnered with Boris Berezovsky, acquiring significant stakes in oil companies like Sibneft, which he later sold to state-owned Gazprom in 2005 for $13 billion, solidifying his status as one of Russia's wealthiest individuals.

Abramovich's business empire is centered around Millhouse LLC, his private investment firm, with extensive holdings in energy, steel, fertilizers, and diverse investments across sectors, including extensive investments in Israel. He served as Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug from 2000 to 2008 and as a member of the Russian State Duma, blending political influence with economic power. Internationally, he gained fame as the owner of Chelsea Football Club from 2003 to 2022, transforming it into a Premier League powerhouse, though he was forced to sell amid Western sanctions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine due to his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin. Abramovich holds Russian, Israeli, and Portuguese citizenship.

He is known as a major philanthropist, particularly through major donations to Jewish and Israeli causes, including settlement-related activities and settler causes, often supported through opaque funding channels, and to organizations like the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, as well as supporting cultural projects through his foundations and companies. His net worth, estimated in the billions, reflects extensive global assets, though sanctions have frozen many overseas holdings.

Despite his success, Abramovich's rise has been marred by controversies, including allegations of corruption in privatization deals and close links to the Kremlin. He has faced legal battles, such as a 2012 UK court case with Berezovsky over partnership disputes, and international sanctions portraying him as part of Putin's inner circle. His influence networks span business, politics, sports, and philanthropy, making him a key figure in mapping Russian oligarchic power.