Chelsea Owner Pleading For Financial Help With Assets Frozen

Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich is seeking help from his Hollywood and US power broker friends with hopes of being able to secure a loan that will help keep him afloat financially with his assets frozen by worldwide authorities.

The Chelsea FC owner’s bank accounts have been frozen as a result of an ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is now reportedly desperately seeking loans from his prominent friends to maintain an alleged $750,000-a-week staff payroll, Page Six reported.

Known to be someone who hosts a series of celebrity parties on his boats, his known associates are allegedly wary of lending him money. This is despite Abramovich playing an active role in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

“Roman is asking some of his closest powerful friends to let him borrow $1 million,” an unnamed source said in the report. “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.”

Among those who Abramovich allegedly reached out to include Hollywood producer and director Brett Ratner and the Rothschild family.

Unfortunately, most have not been able to lend the oligarch money because they do not have that in liquid cash, or moreover, it is not clear what are the repercussions under international law.

Both parties that Abramovich allegedly reached out could not be reached for comment by Page Six. Latin Times could not independently verify the claims as well.

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 sales of his Chelsea Football Club.

The 55-year-old 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.