Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is reportedly begging his rich friends including Hollywood director Brett Ratner for £765,000 ($980,000) loans to help him pay his staff after being sanctioned by London and Washington, US sources have claimed.
The Chelsea Football Club owner, who has been accused in Britain of being a close ally of Russian warmonger Putin, is apparently asking for huge loans from his celebrity friends to maintain his staff, who are rumoured to be costing him £600,000-a-week.
Page Six alleges that Rush Hour director Ratner is among those Abramovich has asked, as well as other contacts in Hollywood and Silicon Valley. The oligarch is also said to have approached the Rothschild family after his assets in Britain and the US were seized last month. No one is thought to have agreed to give him the money.
A source told the website: ‘Roman is asking some of his closest powerful friends to let him borrow $1million. He is saying he has never missed payroll for his staff, which is $750,000 a week, and with his assets frozen, he can’t pay his people.
‘He has reached out to Hollywood producer and director Brett Ratner and the Rothschild family, among many others, for money, but – while they are good friends with Roman – they have not agreed to give him money, because either they do not have that in liquid cash, or moreover it is not clear what are the repercussions under international law.’
Ratner declined to comment when approached by Page Six, and the Rothschilds could not be reached.
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Ukraine war: Roman Abramovich 'begs celebrity friends for loans'