Before Roman Abramovich became one of Russia’s wealthiest oligarchs, he was a young man in northern Russia who fell in love with an Aeroflot stewardess. Olga Yurevna Lysova may not be a household name, but her brief marriage to Abramovich connects her to one of the most powerful business figures in modern Russian history. As The Biz Bureau explores the lives of people connected to major business personalities, Olga’s story provides fascinating insights into Abramovich’s early life.
Early Life and Background of Olga Yurevna Lysova
Born on April 6, 1965, Olga Yurevna Lysova came from a family with political connections in the Soviet Union. As the daughter of a high-ranking government diplomat, she grew up with certain privileges not available to most Soviet citizens during that era.
With her striking blue eyes and dark brown hair, the Aries-born Olga had a commanding presence from a young age. Her upbringing in diplomatic circles likely contributed to her poise and ability to navigate complex social situations.
By her early twenties, Olga was already a mother to a young daughter named Nastya from a previous relationship. This early motherhood experience shaped much of her life priorities before she ever met the future billionaire.
Career as an Aeroflot Flight Attendant
Before becoming linked to one of Russia’s future oligarchs, Olga carved out a career as a flight attendant with Aeroflot, the Soviet Union’s national airline. During the late Soviet period, working as an air stewardess was considered a prestigious position.
Aeroflot flight attendants had the rare opportunity to travel internationally during a time when most Soviet citizens couldn’t leave the country. This career path provided Olga with experiences and perspectives uncommon among her peers.
The position required professionalism, language skills, and the ability to represent the Soviet Union to international travelers. These qualities would have made Olga stand out in the northern Russian city of Ukhta, where she would eventually meet her future husband.
Marriage to Roman Abramovich in Late 1980s
In 1987, fate brought together 23-year-old Olga and 20-year-old Roman Abramovich in Ukhta, a city in Russia’s far north. Despite their youth, their connection was immediate and significant.
Abramovich, who was just beginning his entrepreneurial journey, was drawn to the slightly older and more experienced Olga. Despite her having a 2-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, their relationship progressed quickly.
By December 1987, the couple had married, beginning what would be a brief but important chapter in both their lives. For Abramovich, this first marriage came years before his rise to extraordinary wealth and international prominence.
Life During Her Marriage to Abramovich
The young couple’s life together was modest by any standard, let alone compared to Abramovich’s later lifestyle. They shared a Soviet-era sofabed in a small apartment on Tsvetnoi Boulevard in Moscow, living the typical life of young Soviet citizens in the late 1980s.
This period of their lives coincided with momentous changes in Soviet society. As Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika began transforming the country, opportunities for entrepreneurial Russians like Abramovich were emerging.
While Roman began exploring business opportunities that would eventually lead to his immense fortune, Olga balanced family life with her young daughter and developing relationship. Their modest living conditions reflected the economic realities of the Soviet Union’s final years.
The Divorce and Canadian Immigration Plans
After approximately three years together, Olga and Roman’s marriage ended in divorce in 1990. Interestingly, according to some reports, the couple initially planned their divorce as part of a strategy to emigrate to Canada, though this plan never materialized.
The timing of their separation coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Union, a period of tremendous upheaval and opportunity in Russia. While Abramovich stayed in Russia and began building his business empire during the privatization era, Olga’s life took a different direction.
Their divorce came just before Abramovich’s meteoric rise in Russian business circles, meaning Olga missed out on the extraordinary wealth her ex-husband would soon accumulate through his various business ventures, including Sibneft and later, Chelsea Football Club.
Second Marriage and Current Life
Following her divorce from Abramovich, Olga found love again with a musician named Stefan Stefanovich. This relationship has proven more enduring than her brief first marriage.
Today, Olga manages her husband’s music career, putting her organizational skills and experience to work in the entertainment industry. The couple resides in a split-level apartment in a Moscow high-rise, maintaining a comfortable but not extravagant lifestyle.
Interestingly, Olga still owns the flat on Tsvetnoi Boulevard where she once lived with Abramovich. Rather than selling this piece of her past, she has turned it into an income source by renting it out. She even keeps the Soviet-era sofabed she once shared with the future billionaire, a tangible reminder of her brief marriage to one of Russia’s most famous businessmen.
Legacy and Connection to Russian Business Elite
While Olga Yurevna Lysova has largely stayed out of the public eye, her brief connection to Abramovich gives her a unique perspective on Russia’s dramatic transformation. She knew the oligarch long before his Chelsea Football Club ownership and international prominence.
Unlike Abramovich’s subsequent marriages that attracted global media attention, Olga’s relationship with him represents a simpler time in both their lives. Her story provides a grounded counterpoint to the lavish lifestyle her ex-husband would later adopt.
At 59 years old today, Olga has witnessed tremendous changes in Russian society from a relatively ordinary citizen’s viewpoint. Her life story serves as a reminder that behind many of Russia’s most powerful business figures are early relationships and modest beginnings that shaped their journeys.
Olga Yurevna Lysova may not have shared in Abramovich’s eventual wealth and fame, but she remains an interesting footnote in the biography of one of Russia’s most famous business tycoons—a connection to his life before billions, yachts, and international headlines.
