Roman Abramovich’s career in business had inauspicious beginnings. The college dropout and former Red Army conscript started out trading rubber ducks, car tires, and dolls, having moved on from a short stint working as a mechanic.

Abramovich is Russia’s most recognizable oligarch, in large part because he’s owned Chelsea Football Club, a top-flight London soccer team, for nearly two decades. He’s also recognized for his extravagance.

But is he one of the good guys — a regular Russian who made it big? Or is he one of the bad guys — a run-of-the-mill businessman who got lucky with perestroika and was then only too happy to cozy up to Vladimir Putin?