Roman Abramovich begs friends for $1m to pay staff

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has asked his Hollywood and US powerbroker friends to each lend him $1 million to keep him afloat as his assets are frozen by worldwide authorities.

Page Six reported that the Chelsea Football Club owner, 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 his multiple luxury superyachts afloat.

But while Abramovich — who has hosted a series of starry celebrity parties on his boats and at his sprawling St. Bart’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 Ukraine.

A source told Page Six, “Roman is asking some of 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.

“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 then had his assets frozen by US hedge funds. The sanctions also prevented Abramovich from profiting from the $3 billion sale of his Chelsea Football Club.

Meanwhile, Abramovich is still doing what he can to keep his assets afloat, by including himself in peace talks to bring an end to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine. He was invited to the peace talks by the Ukrainians, who believe he has a direct line to Putin — which he denies.

Abramovich, 55, reportedly made his fortune in the privatization rush after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was the owner of Millhouse Capital, an investment firm with stakes in nickel mining and steelmakers.