When people hear the name Roman Abramovich, they think of billion-dollar oil deals, massive yachts, and Chelsea Football Club. But long before the world knew him as a business mogul and Premier League powerhouse, there was Olga Yurevna Lysova — the woman who quietly stood by his side when his empire was just an idea.
Olga’s life is a story that rarely makes headlines, yet it’s layered with determination, reinvention, and the kind of strength that shapes destinies behind closed doors. Born on April 6, 1965, in Astrakhan, Russia, Olga grew up along the banks of the Volga River in a family that carried weight and status. Her father worked as a senior government diplomat, which meant she grew up surrounded by the language of politics, negotiations, and a worldview that extended far beyond her hometown.
Young Motherhood: A Challenge and a Turning Point
Unlike many young women raised in elite families, Olga’s early adulthood didn’t follow a predictable path. While still young, she fell in love with an actor. The relationship didn’t last, but it brought her first child, Nastya, into the world. Becoming a single mother in her early twenties was no easy task, especially in a society that often scrutinized young women who didn’t fit the mold.
Instead of letting early motherhood limit her future, Olga made it her motivation. She balanced raising Nastya with her own ambitions, showing early signs of the resilience that would later guide her through public scrutiny and private reinvention.
When Olga Met Roman Abramovich
The next turning point in her life came in 1987. Olga was 23, already balancing motherhood and the pressures of independence. One night in Ukhta, a small city in Russia’s Komi Republic, her path crossed with a determined, bright-eyed 20-year-old Roman Abramovich.
Ukhta wasn’t exactly a glittering hub for romance, but that night at a local restaurant, sparks flew. They connected despite different life stages — Olga, a young mother with real-life responsibilities; Roman, an ambitious man with a mind buzzing with business ideas.
Their bond formed fast. By December that same year, they were married. In a sense, this wasn’t just a marriage but the beginning of a partnership that would help launch one of Russia’s most famous billionaires.
A Business Built on Plastic Dolls
When people talk about Abramovich’s wealth, they usually jump straight to oil, steel, or football. But few remember that his first real taste of business was much more humble — plastic dolls.
Together, Olga and Roman co-founded a small company that produced plastic toys. The doll business wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. It gave Roman his first lessons in managing supply chains, handling money, and spotting opportunities. And through it all, Olga was there — not just as a wife but as a trusted partner who believed in his vision.
This early venture planted seeds for Roman’s later empire, showing that big dreams often start in small, unexpected places.
A Marriage Tested by Big Dreams
Big dreams can be exciting but also exhausting. As Roman’s ambitions grew, so did the strains on their young marriage. Reports suggest that the couple once planned to move to Canada, possibly hoping for a fresh start far from the constraints of the Soviet Union. But the plan never materialized.
In the end, the pressures of rapid change, money worries, and a young family proved too much. By 1990, just three years after they married, Olga and Roman parted ways.
Starting Over: Reinventing Life on Her Own Terms
For many, a high-profile divorce would have turned into tabloid fodder, but Olga refused to become a headline. She stayed in Moscow and focused on building her own life — a life that didn’t lean on Roman’s name or fortune.
Olga invested wisely in Moscow’s real estate market. She owned a flat on Tsvetnoi Boulevard, a lively stretch that mirrors Moscow’s constant reinvention. She rented the property out, giving herself financial stability and proving she understood business in her own right.
Years later, Olga found love again. She married Stefan Stefanovich, a musician whose creative life offered a softer contrast to her first marriage’s hard-driving business vibe. This time, she didn’t just stand beside her husband — she helped manage his career, showing she could adapt her business mind to the world of music as easily as she did with toys decades earlier.
A Mother First, Always
Through every chapter of her life, Olga’s relationship with her daughter, Nastya, remained central. While Abramovich’s fortunes skyrocketed and headlines focused on yachts and football clubs, Olga stayed grounded in her family.
Nastya, born before Olga ever met Roman, became a quiet constant in her mother’s story. The bond they share stands in stark contrast to the drama that often follows high-profile families. It’s a reminder that for all the big business deals and society gossip, the real backbone of Olga’s life has always been her role as a mother.
Quiet Influence on a Global Legacy
It’s easy to dismiss Olga’s story as just a footnote in Roman Abramovich’s timeline. But that’s too simple. Yes, their marriage only lasted three years, but those three years covered the very beginning of his empire.
They shared dreams, took risks, and built the first steps together. While Roman went on to become a household name, it was Olga who helped hold things together in the early days, supporting a young entrepreneur before the oil deals, football trophies, and billion-dollar headlines.
Why Her Story Still Matters
What makes Olga Yurevna Lysova interesting isn’t just her link to a famous ex-husband. It’s her quiet strength and refusal to let that one relationship define her life. Many people in her position might have turned the connection into a spotlight of their own — reality shows, book deals, tell-all interviews.
Instead, Olga chose the opposite. She built a private life on her own terms, stayed focused on her family, and found new ways to use her skills in business and music management. She’s a reminder that real power doesn’t always come with front-page headlines — sometimes it’s the steady hand that helps write someone else’s success story.
A Legacy Written Off-Stage
Today, Olga Yurevna Lysova still lives in Moscow, mostly out of reach of gossip pages and paparazzi. She and Stefan live in a split-level apartment, a small detail that says a lot: comfortable, private, and far from the glare of Abramovich’s world of billionaires and football fame.
She might never hold the same spotlight as her ex-husband, but for those who look closer, Olga’s legacy is clear — a young mother who turned life’s twists into fresh starts, a business partner when it counted most, and a woman who proves that sometimes the greatest strength is knowing when to stay out of the story and live your own.