Billionaire Russian businessman Roman Abramovich is best known for owning the United Kingdom's Chelsea Football Club.

He started his business in the late 1980s after the then Russian President Michael Gorbachev set in motion a few economic reforms.

Abramovich has invested around $500 million into Chelsea Football Club since buying it in 2003 and transformed the fortunes of the London team in just two years.

He also owns the private investment company Millhouse Capital, and with a net worth of $23.5 billion, is one of the richest persons alive.

He invested around $500 million since taking over the football club in 2003 and transformed the fortunes of the London team in just two years.

Image: Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich watches a football match in Bolton. | Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images