Boris Berezovsky, once Russia’s second richest man with a fortune of 1.9 billion pounds or $2.88 billion, died penniless with a an estate 300 million pounds ($455 million) in the red, owing 47 million ($71 million) in British taxes.
Berezovsky had a series of financial hardships, including losing a case against Chelsea owner and fellow Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The case cost Berezovsky tens of millions of pounds in legal fees. After losing the suit, he became increasingly depressed, which led to the assumption that he took his own life when he as found dead in his ex-wife’s apartment. However, family members, including his daughter Elizaveta, believes he might have been assassinated because he openly criticized Putin and said he feared that Putin’s cronies would destroy him. Berezovsky escaped an assassination attempt in 2007, which was halted by Scotland Yard.
Will you offer us a hand? Every gift, regardless of size, fuels our future.
Your critical contribution enables us to maintain our independence from shareholders or wealthy owners, allowing us to keep up reporting without bias. It means we can continue to make Jewish Business News available to everyone.
You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at office@jewishbusinessnews.com.
Thank you.
Berezovsky’s estate was declared insolvent by a High Court judge, according to Yahoo news. The next stage of the bankruptcy process will be a creditors meeting. A former partner, Elena Gorbunova, claims that the deceased owed her millions of pounds and has claimed an interest in two French properties. She had two children with Mr. Berezovsky and had been his partner until 2012.
