Britain’s largest divorce in history is unraveling, with Billionaire Roman Abramovich divorcing his wife Dasha Zhukova. Abramovich is the world’s 139th richest man with a net worth of $9.2 billion. Page Six reports that Abramovich and Zhukova have separated.
The pair were married for over 10 years and have two children together. Reports indicate that the split is amicable. A joint statement was released stating that the two remain close friends and will continue as partners for projects that the pair have been working on.
The two will raise their children jointly, according to the statement.
“Family is the cornerstone around which many people build their lives. When that support is broken, it can often feel as if the ground has been pulled out from beneath you,” states Maxim Law.
Abramovich and Zhukova’s marriage is somewhat of a mystery, with reports that they were married a few years after they met in 2005. The net worth of the two includes a vast art collection, 18,000 square foot mansion in the Upper East Side and a yacht with a private submarine.
The yacht, named “Eclipse,” is the second-largest in the world and has its own helicopter and nightclub onboard.
Abramovich, a Russian billionaire, is also the owner of the Chelsea Football Club.
The couple announced their separation on Monday, with no announcement on when an official divorce will take place. The assets owned by the couple are worth billions, with Chelsea FC winning the Premier League last season and owning numerous mansions across the world.
The couple owns a $30 million mansion in France, an $80 million mansion in New York and a $60 million home in Kensington Palance Gardens. The Kensington home is next to Prince William’s home.
Abramovich is known for being private and never giving interviews. The two have worked to keep their life private. The two’s statement, asserting that the divorce is amicable, may lead to a quiet separation out of court.
Abramovich was married previously to a flight attendant named Irina. When the two divorced, Irina received a $300 million settlement. Irina, also very wealthy, came into the marriage as a Russian oil magnate’s daughter.
His first wife Olga helped him build a successful doll-making business, which led to his fortune. He was an orphan at the age of four. Following his divorce with Olga, he invested in other businesses and commodities, leading to his billion-dollar estate.
Abramovich can request the divorce be heard in Russia, where settlements are much lower than in the United Kingdom.
