Man City clinched the Champions League title in a city where the former owner of Chelsea leads a reclusive life. The Russian billionaire hides himself in a rented villa overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, which connects Europe and Asia.
Let's explore the "hideaway" of Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea. It is located in the upscale neighborhood of Anadolu Hisari on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey. Passing through the Anatolian fortress and along a winding residential street, often congested with traffic, pedestrians eventually come across a row of large and heavily guarded buildings. These structures are shielded from the outside noise by towering walls, 24/7 surveillance cameras, and tightly secured barbed wire fences.
Roman Abramovich's villa sits at the end of the row, blending in with the surrounding architecture. One notable feature is its ideal view, overlooking the Bosporus Strait where the maritime route connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. This explains why Abramovich spends £40,000 per month to rent the villa from Ahmet Okumus, a renowned stock market player. Okumus had purchased the property for $25 million (£20 million) a decade ago, but its value has doubled since then.
Abramovich's villa offers a stunning view of the Bosphorus Strait
The local residents claim they have never seen Abramovich. Behind the cold gray painted walls lies an enigmatic mystery. From the seaside perspective, where ferries come and go, it is difficult to determine if anyone resides in the villa. The only sign of life comes from an always-open window on the second floor of the four-story mansion.
At a café opposite the ferry terminal, a barista simply laughs when asked if Abramovich lives there. Perhaps the residents in this area have grown accustomed to curiosity and fascination surrounding the former Chelsea owner. In December of last year, a Turkish media company even flew an unmanned aerial vehicle over the villa in an attempt to gather information about Roman Abramovich.
Roman Abramovich maintains a secluded and low-profile lifestyle in Istanbul
There have been numerous speculations about Roman Abramovich since he left Chelsea in February 2022. The Russian tycoon is said to have settled long-term in Turkey, where he anchors his four yachts worth a total of £1 billion. It is also rumored that the former Chelsea owner has plans to acquire a Turkish football team.
According to those who have encountered Abramovich, the Russian billionaire has a habit of taking morning walks before stopping by Rumeli Hisar café. The Guardian reports that Abramovich quietly invested £110 million to acquire Vitesse Arnhem, a club that was once Chelsea's feeder team during Abramovich's tenure. Therefore, many believe that the Russian billionaire still maintains his support for his former football club.
Following various sports and political events, Abramovich has experienced a significant decline in his wealth. As of 2023, his assets are estimated to be just over £7 billion, more than a 50% decrease from the previous year, with some of it illiquid. Nevertheless, Roman Abramovich remains the second richest person in Israel, the eleventh richest in Russia, and the wealthiest in Portugal (as Abramovich holds citizenship in these three countries)
