“The Queen of Mean” was a chain-smoking hotelier and real estate tycoon with a reputation for tyrannical behaviour. She took the view that “only the little people pay taxes” but was investigated and convicted of federal income tax evasion in 1989. Sentenced to 16 years, she served just 19 months in prison and 2 months under house arrest. Worth some $8 billion, Helmsley left her Maltese dog, Trouble, $12 million in trust.
Tag: America
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Leona Helmsley (1920 – 2007)
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Scott Disick
This reality television star commented of himself: “I may be a douche to some people, but I actually do run companies. I make a lot of money, and I’m more than capable of supporting myself.” The father of a child by Kourtney Kardashian, Disick owns a restaurant in New York’s Meatpacking District, generally sports Tod’s and boasts an extensive car collection. Sadly one is chrome wrapped.
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Andrew Embiricos (1985 – 2011)
A descendant of the Aga Khan and the grandson of Rita Heyworth. Gregarious and witty Embiricos was passionate about flying and worked for Virgin Atlantic. His departure came far too soon. -
Oliver Estreich
This New Yorker founded theNativeSociety private social networking website that cleverly brings together the most exceptional individuals under the age of 40. Oliver Estreich is also involved in the hospitality division of his father’s architecture practice, David Estreich Architects, and lists his favourite author as Bret Easton Ellis. Here is a gent who brings style and substance to all that he involves himself in. -
Captain Simon Mann
This former army officer boldly led a coup d’état in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. He was imprisoned for 34 years but received a presidential pardon from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in 2009. This Old Etonian’s account of the episode, Cry Havoc, is a great read and he now lives peacefully in Hampshire with his wife and seven children. Here is a top dollar chap who took the rap whilst others who were involved got off scot-free. -
Michael Savage (born Michael Alan Weiner)
The Savage Nation radio host calls himself an “independent-minded individualist” who “fits no stereotype.” (more…) -
Bono (Paul David Hewson)
This Irishman is one of the world’s best-known philanthropic performers. Having invested £56 million in Facebook in 2009, he’s now the richest living musician. His shareholding of 2.3% in the company is now worth some £940 million. This “face of fusion philanthropy” is rarely seen in public without his trademark sunglasses and created his stage name in honour of a hearing aid shop. -
Natalie Massenet
She met her financier husband at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1997 and founded Net-a-Porter a year later. She sold her share in the company for some £350 million in 2010 to Richemont but remains involved. She’s now similarly changing fashion for men with her latest website, Mr Porter. Massenet cuts her own hair as she claims she doesn’t have time to visit hairdressers and bizarrely, for a woman so successful, describes herself as “lazy.” -
Vicomte Arthur de Soultrait
A televised encounter with Pippa Middleton and an incident with a gun brought this French aristocrat to prominence but behind the wild façade, Arthur de Soultrait has a serious side. (more…) -
Lapo Elkann
The Agnelli “crown prince” is also nicknamed “Lapo of Luxury.” Regularly voted as being one of the best dressed men on the planet, he’s worked as a personal assistant to Henry Kissinger and for the family business on brands including Ferrari, Maserati and Fiat. Not without controversy, Elkann’s presence at any event leaves the girls swooning.