Roman Avdeev
Roman Ivanovich Avdeev | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 17, 1967 Odintsovo, Moscow region, Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Ownership of Credit Bank of Moscow, co-ownership of FC Torpedo Moscow, philanthropy |
Roman Ivanovich Avdeev (; born in 1967) is a prominent Russian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. His estimated wealth stands at approximately $1.5 billion.
Early life and education
Roman Avdeev was born on July 17, 1967, in Odintsovo, located within the Moscow region.
He began his higher education at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute in 1984 but was conscripted into military service after two years. Avdeev later earned a degree in Construction Engineering from Lipetsk State Technical University in 1996, followed by completing a Banking program at the Moscow International University of Business and Management in 1999.
Business career
Avdeev’s entrepreneurial journey started in the late 1980s with a business focused on selling radio parts and television decoders. He also engaged in importing computer hardware to Russia through a partnership with the Ukrainian electronics firm ElectronMash.
In 1994, he took ownership of the Credit Bank of Moscow, where he amassed considerable wealth by providing cash management services throughout the 1990s. By 1996, Avdeev had ventured into agriculture but divested from this sector by 2006. That same year, he established Rossium Concern to centralize his business interests and subsequently expanded into real estate development and construction during the following decade.
Via Rossium, Avdeev held co-ownership of the "36.6" pharmacy network, founded in 1991. This chain attracted criticism for its assertive commercial tactics under Avdeev’s leadership alongside CEO Vladimir Kintsurashvili.
Avdeev entered the Forbes list of billionaires in 2013, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. In 2014, his holding company Garden Hills acquired over 98% of Veropharm, a major Russian pharmaceutical manufacturer, before selling it to Abbott Laboratories for roughly $650 million. In 2016, he purchased OPIN development group from Mikhail Prokhorov, incorporating it into his real estate holdings.
In 2017, Avdeev became a co-owner of FC Torpedo Moscow.
As of October 2024, Avdeev declared that he had sold his shares in Rossium Group, exited all Russian investments, and intended to concentrate on his family life.
Assets
- Majority stake (56%) in Credit Bank of Moscow,
- Ownership interest in FC Torpedo Moscow,
- Approximately 13.76% shareholding in the 36.6 pharmacy chain,
- Real estate and construction company Ingrad,
- Pension fund entities Soglasie and OPK.
Philanthropy
In 2014, Avdeev launched the Arithmetic of Good () foundation aimed at assisting Russian orphan children and families adopting them. By September 2018, this organization had supported more than 1,000 orphans alongside over 1,200 adoptive families. In 2016, he co-wrote Caravan of happy stories (), a publication showcasing narratives from adoptive families. In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, Avdeev was awarded the Wings of the stork () accolade by the Government of Moscow in 2017 as patron of the year.
Personal life
Avdeev is a father to 23 children, having adopted 19 of them since he began this commitment in 2002 at the age of 35. By 2013, both he and Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi were distinguished Forbes billionaires known for having 23 children each.