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Football London
Football London
Sport
Daniel Orme

How much is Roman Abramovich worth? Chelsea owner's current net worth amid government sanctions

Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government for his close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

The Chelsea owner was found to have an association with Puting going back "decades", with the Russian leader "destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine".

The sanctions mean that the club will be hit with measures that stop the sale of any new tickets or merchandise and prevent the club from agreeing new contracts, among other issues.

While a sale of the club can still be agreed, it is unlikely to see Abramovich profiting in any way.

The Russian oligarch announced at the end of February that he would step back from the day-to-day operations at Stamford Bridge, having confirmed his intentions in a short statement.

Shortly after, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss revealed in an interview with Blick that Abramovich was looking for interested parties to sell the club to.

He said: "[Abramovich] wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly. I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.

"I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owe him [£1.5billion]. But Chelsea has no money. That means: those who buy Chelsea should compensate Abramovich.

"As of today, we don't know the exact selling price. I can well imagine starting at Chelsea with partners. But I have to examine the general conditions first. But what I can already say: I'm definitely not doing something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, then with a consortium consisting of six to seven investors."

Abramovich then took the extraordinary step of announcing that he would be selling the club.

Having overseen a 2003 takeover of the west London club, Abramovich has been a key figure behind the scenes as the Blues have enjoyed an unprecedented period of success.

Due to his considerable investment at Stamford Bridge and shrewd backroom appointments, Chelsea have established themselves as a powerhouse on both the domestic and European footballing landscapes.

At the current time, Abramovich is still considered one of the richest individuals in the sport and indeed in the world.

According to Forbes, the Russian’s current net worth sits at a huge $12.6billion (£9.4billion) which places him at No. 142 of the wealthiest people on the planet.

Despite that, it is clear that Abramovich’s wealth has fallen considerably since taking ownership of Chelsea nearly two decades ago.

He was once Russia’s richest man with a net worth sitting in the region of $23.5billion (£17.5billion), that number peaking in 2008. That fortune has no doubt taken a considerable hit with the 55-year-old’s continued investment in the Blues.

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