Irina Abramovich

I had grown up without a father and that is why it was so important to me that my children would never be in need of anything.

My life with Roman was not the fairytale that the papers reported.

We went to theatres and museums with a crowd of bodyguards.

Of great wealth there is no real use, except in its distribution, the rest is just conceit.

Money can add very much to one’s ability to lead a constructive life, not only pleasant for oneself, but, hopefully, beneficial to others.

I always knew I was going to be rich. I don’t think I ever doubted it for a minute.

Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transform society, not simply maintaining the status quo or filling basic social needs that were formerly the province of the public sector.

My grandfather, along with Carnegie, was a pioneer in philanthropy, which my father then practiced on a very large scale.

Abramovich’s got six yachts which are just gigantic and you think, ‘What a waste of money. He could transform so many people’s lives if he put that money to good use.

very day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work.

Wealth – any income that is at least one hundred dollars more a year than the income of one’s wife’s sister’s husband.

I would be a billionaire if I was looking to be a selfish boss. That’s not me.

The Japanese banks are not having an easy time as they once had.

Riches are a good hand maiden, but a poor mistress.

Be not penny-wise. Riches have wings. Sometimes they fly away of themselves, and sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more.

You know, gentlemen, that I do not owe any personal income tax. But nevertheless, I send a small check, now and then, to the Internal Revenue Service out of the kindness of my heart.

Someday I want to be rich. Some people get so rich they lose all respect for humanity. That’s how rich I want to be.

Guilt for being rich, and guilt thinking that perhaps love and peace isn’t enough and you have to go and get shot or something.