Roman Abramovich's net worth now and secret villa he lives in after Chelsea exit

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly living a luxurious lifestyle in Turkey, as Keir Starmer demands he unlock the funds from his enforced Chelsea sale

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich an ultimatum to relinquish the proceeds from his Chelsea sale. The UK government may face a fight to convince the Russian oligarch, however, despite the fact that he's believed to be holed up in Turkey due to European sanctions.

Abramovich, 59, owned the Blues for nearly 20 years before he was told to cash in amid Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine. American magnate Todd Boehly won the ensuing bidding war to buy the Premier League giants as his predecessor retreated to Istanbul.

Due to his close connections with the Kremlin, Abramovich saw his UK assets seized and was locked out of accessing the £2.5billion he received for selling Chelsea. Those funds are still legally his, even though he cannot access them, but Labour leader Starmer has now said they must be transferred to the UK government in order to help Ukraine's efforts in the war.

The Telegraph reported in early 2025 that Abramovich was living in a "gilded cage" in Turkey, where he continues to enjoy a life of opulence. The Russian's finances took a hit in light of the war's advancement in 2022, though he and his family have recovered assets and are now believed to be worth £6.9bn, according to Forbes.

That's a considerable cushion to fall back on despite EU and UK sanctions limiting his travel outside of Turkey. And yet Abramovich is believed to have maintained much of the lifestyle that once saw him jet-set across the globe.

Starmer sent a warning to the Russian oil tycoon on Wednesday, telling him to release the money owed from selling Chelsea. Abramovich has 90 days to respond, but former barrister Starmer has already stated his intent to litigate matters if necessary.

"My message to Abramovich is this - the clock is ticking," said the PM. "Honour the commitment that you made and pay up now. If you don't, we're prepared to go to court so every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin's illegal war."

Cutting his Premier League ties hasn't meant Abramovich has stopped living the good life. In fact, he's understood to be a regular fixture in some of the finest eateries along the Bosphorus Strait, with chef and restaurant manager Omer Ataysin becoming a regular host.

"I love Abramovich so much," Ataysin told The Telegraph earlier this year before retracting his comments following intervention from Abramovich's legal team. "He loves eating lamb and kebab. He always wants to order cold appetisers and my special salad for his home. He especially loves lamb tenderloin and spicy kebab."

Reports have also indicated Abramovich appears to be preparing to settle in Istanbul, suggesting he has conducted illegal construction on a property he owns on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Turkey's government was reportedly alerted to the use of "unauthorised wooden and prefabricated structures" on the mansion, once owned by convicted criminal Adnan Oktar.

The pressure is ramping up on Abramovich, who was briefly linked with purchasing Super Lig giants Galatasaray, to acquiesce in light of Starmer's plea and release the Chelsea takeover funds. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has also intervened in an effort to convince the Russian billionaire as his countdown begins.

"It’s unacceptable that more than £2.5bn of money owed to the Ukrainian people can be allowed to remain frozen in a UK bank account," said the Chancellor. "It’s time for Roman Abramovich to pay up. If he doesn’t act then we are prepared to do what is necessary to make sure that money gets to the Ukrainian people."