Quick Facts
- Net Worth: $232 Million
- Born: 1967, as Irina Malandina
- Nationality: Russian
- Known For: Ex-wife of billionaire Roman Abramovich
- Source of Wealth: Divorce settlement, London property
Who Is Irina Abramovich?
Irina Abramovich has a net worth of $232 million. She built this fortune almost entirely through her 2007 divorce from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club.
Before she became one of the most talked-about women in Russian business circles, Irina was just a flight attendant with a big personality and a fine arts degree. Her story is not really about business deals or company shares. It is about what happens when a marriage built on nothing turns into one of the richest divorces in history.
Today, she lives a quiet, private life in London, far away from the headlines that once followed her name.
Early Life: From Air Stewardess to Oligarch’s Wife
Irina Malandina was born in 1967 in Russia. Her childhood was far from glamorous. Her father worked as a waiter and died when Irina was only a toddler, leaving her mother to raise her alone.
Despite the hard start, Irina studied fine arts at Moscow State University. After finishing her studies, she landed a job as a stewardess with Aeroflot, Russia’s international airline. It was a respected role at the time and one that came with a certain glamour, especially for a young woman navigating post-Soviet Russia.
That job changed her life. While working an international flight, Irina met a young, ambitious businessman named Roman Abramovich. He was not yet a billionaire. He was just starting out, trading in oil and consumer goods during the chaotic aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse.
The two connected quickly, and their romance moved fast.
The Marriage: 1991 to 2007
Irina and Roman married in 1991, back when Abramovich had almost no money to his name. Over the next 16 years, he built one of the largest fortunes in Russia, buying into oil, aluminum, and steel companies during the country’s controversial privatization era.
The couple had five children together during the marriage: Anna, Arkadiy, Sofia, Arina, and Ilya. As Roman’s business empire grew, so did the family’s lifestyle. They moved between homes in Moscow, London, and the French Riviera, and Abramovich eventually became one of the most recognized businessmen in the world after buying Chelsea Football Club in 2003.
By the mid-2000s, cracks in the marriage had appeared. In 2007, after 16 years together, the couple divorced.
The $300 Million Divorce Settlement
The Abramovich divorce is still remembered as one of the most expensive marriage breakups in modern history.
Because the split happened in Russia, most of the legal details were kept private under the country’s secretive court system. Still, reports at the time estimated Irina walked away with a settlement worth around $300 million, along with several properties.
Here is why the number was so massive:
- Roman Abramovich had almost no wealth when the couple married in 1991.
- Under Russian family law, courts typically split assets built during a marriage, not before it.
- Since nearly his entire fortune was created after the wedding, Irina was legally entitled to a large share of it.
- Rather than fight through a drawn-out legal battle, the couple reportedly agreed on a lump sum plus real estate.
The properties Irina reportedly received included:
- Fyning Hill Estate in Petersfield, West Sussex — once Abramovich’s main UK residence
- A townhouse on Eaton Square, one of London’s most expensive addresses
- A property on Chester Square, also in the upscale Belgravia district
Combined with cash and other assets, this settlement forms the foundation of her current $232 million net worth.
Where Is Irina Abramovich Now?
Irina has kept a low public profile since the divorce, which is unusual for someone connected to so much wealth and media attention. She largely avoids interviews and public appearances.
She is believed to split her time between her London properties and other homes tied to the family, focusing on raising her children and staying out of the spotlight. Unlike many wealthy divorcees, she has never launched a business, fashion line, or public brand under her own name, choosing instead to remain private.
Roman Abramovich: A Quick Background
To understand Irina’s story, it helps to know a bit about her former husband.
Roman Abramovich became one of Russia’s wealthiest men during the 1990s, acquiring stakes in oil and metals companies through Russia’s controversial loans-for-shares privatization program. At his peak, Forbes estimated his fortune at well over $10 billion.
He is best known internationally for buying Chelsea Football Club in 2003, turning it into one of Europe’s most successful teams over nearly two decades of ownership. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK government placed sanctions on Abramovich over his ties to the Kremlin. He was forced to sell Chelsea that same year in a deal worth roughly £2.5 billion, with proceeds meant to support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. He is no longer connected to the club.
Irina Abramovich Net Worth Comparison
| Person | Relationship | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Irina Abramovich | Ex-wife | $232 Million |
| Roman Abramovich | Ex-husband | Several billion (fluctuates due to sanctions) |
| Dasha Zhukova | Roman’s second ex-wife | Est. tens of millions |
Note: Roman Abramovich’s exact current net worth is difficult to verify due to frozen and sanctioned assets across multiple countries.
Key Lessons From Irina Abramovich’s Story
Her story offers a few interesting takeaways, especially for anyone curious about how major divorce settlements work:
- Timing matters in marriage law. Wealth built during a marriage is often treated differently from wealth a spouse brings into it.
- Privacy can be power. Irina’s choice to stay out of the media has arguably protected her family and her peace of mind.
- Real estate is a safe bet. A large part of her settlement came in the form of property rather than just cash, which has historically held its value well in prime London locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Irina Abramovich make her money?
She did not build a business or career fortune. Her wealth comes almost entirely from her divorce settlement with Roman Abramovich, plus properties awarded to her in the split.
Who is Irina Abramovich’s ex-husband?
Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Israeli billionaire and former owner of Chelsea Football Club, who built his fortune through oil, steel, and aluminum investments in the 1990s.
How many children do Irina and Roman Abramovich have?
They have five children together: Anna, Arkadiy, Sofia, Arina, and Ilya.
Does Roman Abramovich still own Chelsea FC?
No. He was forced to sell the club in 2022 after being sanctioned by the UK government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What properties did Irina Abramovich get in the divorce?
She reportedly received the Fyning Hill Estate in West Sussex, along with London properties on Eaton Square and Chester Square.
Stay with faminaz for more deep dives into the fortunes behind the world’s most talked-about names.