The colorful Boris Berezovsky, who died in unexplained circumstances over the weekend at a country estate south of London, was one of the Russian oligarchs who made fortunes following the breakup of the former USSR. But by the time of his death the 67-year-old was reportedly in financial difficulties after he was ordered to pay a massive divorce settlement to his ex-wife as well as legal costs following the loss of a $6.5 billion lawsuit against fellow oligarch Roman Abramovich last year. His high-stakes later years were a far cry from his earlier career as a Moscow math professor and systems analyst who switched to more lucrative jobs in post-Soviet Russia, said CNN's Jill Dougherty, who interviewed him many times.
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Boris Berezovsky made fortune during the collapse of post-Soviet Russia
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Berezovsky was a critic of President Vladimir Putin and called for his overthrow
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He fled to the UK in self-exile after a falling out with the Kremlin
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He lost lawsuit against Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich
USSR
Businessmen who came to be known as oligarchs amassed massive wealth and political influence in the 1990s during the privatization of Russia following the fall of the @placeholder.
Boris Berezovsky
Boris Berezovsky
Berezovsky
It has been widely reported that Putin resented the meddling of the oligarchs, particularly @placeholder.
UK
Within months of Putin's election in 2000, the government began trying to collect on tax claims against the oligarchs, including Berezovsky, who fled to @placeholder.
UK
In 2003, as Russia was seeking his return, Berezovsky was granted political asylum by @placeholder authorities after they realized he was wanted on political grounds, not criminal, according to published reports at the time.
Vladimir Putin
In a deathbed statement he blamed @placeholder for his death, something the Kremlin strongly denied.