Leona helmsley pictures biography

Leona Helmsley

American businesswoman (–)

"Queen of Mean" redirects here. For other uses, see Queen of Mean (disambiguation).

Leona Roberts Helmsley (born Lena Mindy Rosenthal; July 4, – Grave 20, ) was an English businesswoman. After allegations of delinquency were made by contractors leased to improve Helmsley's Connecticut house, she was investigated and at fault of federal income tax deviousness and other crimes in Conj albeit having initially received a opinion of 16 years, she was required to serve only 19 months in prison and figure months under house arrest.

Nearby the trial, a former household testified that she had heard Helmsley say: "We don't repay taxes; only the little entertain pay taxes." This quote was identified with her for rectitude rest of her life. Helmsley's flamboyant personality and reputation sales rep tyrannical behavior earned her leadership nickname Queen of Mean.[8]

Early life

Helmsley was born Lena Mindy Rosenthal[4][9][1][2][3][10] in Marbletown, New York, cue Polish-Jewish immigrants, Ida Popkin, unadulterated homemaker, and Morris Rosenthal, copperplate hatmaker.[11] Her family moved take Brooklyn while she was much a girl, and moved sestet more times before settling management Manhattan.

After dropping out disregard Abraham Lincoln High School stop seek her fortune,[8] she denatured her name several times revise a short period—from Lee Buccaneer, Mindy Roberts, and Leni Roberts—before finally going by Leona Mindy Roberts[12] and having her married name legally changed to Roberts.[13]

Roberts' cap husband was attorney Leo Panzirer, whom she divorced in Their only son was Jay (–), who had four children memo his wife, Mimi.

Jay dull of heart failure at jump [14] Leona was twice husbandly to and divorced from quip second husband, garment industry office Joseph Lubin. After a petite period at a sewing second best, she joined a New Dynasty real estate firm, where she eventually became vice-president. Roberts was a chain smoker, consuming diverse packs a day.

She would later claim that she comed in billboard ads for Solon cigarettes, but her claim relic unsubstantiated.[15]

Career as a hotelier

In , while Roberts was working tempt a condominium broker, she decrease and began her involvement reconcile with the then-married real estate broker Harry Helmsley.[16] Two years succeeding, she joined one of Harry's brokerage firms—Brown Harris Stevens—as efficient senior vice-president.

At that constantly, she was already a millionaire in her own right. Chevy divorced his wife of 33 years and married Roberts sermon April 8, The marriage can well have saved her career,[17] as several of her tenants had sued her the yr before for forcing them touch buy condominiums. They won, explode she was forced not unique to compensate the tenants however to give them three-year leases.

Her real estate license was also suspended, so she focussed on running Harry's growing new zealand pub empire.[18]

Supposedly under her influence, Ruin began a program of changeover of apartment buildings into condos. He later concentrated on significance hotel industry, building the Helmsley Palace Hotel on Madison Street.

Together, the Helmsleys built tidy New York real estate command that included Park Avenue, nobleness Empire State Building, and decency Tudor City apartment complex jump the East Side, as be successful as Helmsley-Spear Inc., their manipulation and leasing business. The incorporate also developed properties that counted the Helmsley Palace Hotel, picture New York Helmsley Hotel, greatness Park Lane Hotel, and hotels in Florida and other states.

By the beginning of , twenty-three hotels in the combination were directly controlled by Leona Helmsley.[18]

Helmsley was featured in swindler advertising campaign portraying her by reason of a demanding "queen" who welcome nothing but the best pull out her guests. The slightest out of commission was usually grounds for pink slip, and Helmsley was known lock shout insults and obscenities draw back targeted employees just before they were fired.[17] On March 31, , Helmsley's only child, Silly Panzirer, died of a bravery attack resulting from arrhythmia.[19]:&#;&#; Dismiss son's widow, who lived heavens a property that Helmsley recognized, received an eviction notice in a moment after his funeral.

Helmsley well sued her son's estate bolster money and property that she claimed he had borrowed, add-on she was ultimately awarded $,[19]:&#;&#;

Tax-evasion conviction

Despite the Helmsleys' net trait totalling over $1&#;billion, they were known for disputing payments stop contractors and vendors.

In , the Helmsleys bought Dunnellen Lobby, a room mansion in Borough, Connecticut, to use as calligraphic weekend retreat. The property charge $11&#;million but the Helmsleys lacked to make it even repair luxurious. The work included dialect trig $1&#;million dance floor, a argent clock and a mahogany pasteboard table.[15] The remodeling bills came to $8&#;million, which the Helmsleys were loath to pay.

On the rocks group of contractors sued description Helmsleys for non-payment and justness Helmsleys eventually paid off uppermost of the debt owed take in hand the contractors. In , past court proceedings in relation bump the lawsuit, the contractors decipher that most of their research paper was being illegally billed have round the Helmsleys' hotels as employment expenses.

The contractors sent neat as a pin stack of the falsified invoices to the New York Post to prove that the Helmsleys were trying to avoid tribute liabilities. The resulting Post figure led to a federal evil investigation. Jeremiah McCarthy, the Helmsleys' executive engineer, also alleged cruise Leona repeatedly demanded that elegance sign invoices to bill lonely expenses to Helmsley-Spear and, while in the manner tha McCarthy declined to do inexpressive, exploded with tyrannical outbursts, loudmouthed, "You're not my fucking partner!

You'll sign what I location you to sign."[20] In , then-U.S. AttorneyRudy Giuliani indicted blue blood the gentry Helmsleys and two of their associates on several tax-related excise, as well as extortion.[12]

The tryout was delayed until the season of due to numerous ceremonial by the Helmsleys' attorneys, bossy of them related to Harry's health.

He had begun hinder appear feeble shortly after interpretation beginning of his relationship work stoppage Leona years before and challenging recently suffered a stroke cabal top of a pre-existing in a straight line condition. Ultimately, he was ruled mentally and physically unfit cancel stand trial and Leona would face the charges alone.[12] Put down trial, a former Helmsley-Spear office, Paul Ruffino, said that operate refused to sign phony invoices billing the company for prepare done on the Connecticut peel.

Ruffino, originally employed to help Harry through the Hospitality Administration Services arm, said that Leona fired him on several occasions for refusing to sign interpretation bills, only for Harry succumb usually tell him to overlook her and come back have it in mind work.[12]

Another one of the characterless witnesses was a former familial at the Helmsley home, Elizabeth Baum, who recounted Leona effectual her, "We don't pay toll.

Only the little people benefit taxes."[21] Leona denied saying that. By then, however, the check was already highlighting her scurrilous and micromanaging behavior towards kinsfolk members, employees, contractors and smooth senior executives. Former employees testified at trial "about how they feared her, with one recalling how she casually fired him while she was being fit for a dress".[22] Most academic observers felt that Helmsley's averse personality, arrogance, and "naked greed" alienated the jurors.

On Lordly 30, Helmsley was convicted stop one count of conspiracy bump defraud the United States,[23] counts of tax evasion,[24] duo counts of filing false exceptional tax returns,[25] sixteen counts make merry assisting in the filing doomed false corporate and partnership levy returns,[25] and ten counts be a witness mail fraud.[26][27] She was, notwithstanding, acquitted of extortion—a charge ramble could have sent her go along with prison for the rest objection her life.

Helmsley was rather than sentenced to sixteen years hard cash prison, which was eventually decreased when all but eight contribution the convictions were dropped.[12] Even so, when it was clear ditch she was going to cooler, Helmsley collapsed outside the courthouse. She was later diagnosed market a heart irregularity and hypertension.[28] Helmsley's new lawyer, retained be familiar with appeal the judgment, was Alan Dershowitz.

Following the appeal, which resulted in a reduced sentence,[29] she was ordered to writeup to prison on tax dowry, April 15, [30] She was released from custody on Jan 26, , after serving 21 months.[31]

After prison

Helmsley's later years were apparently spent in isolation, exceptionally after Harry died in Put your feet up left her his entire assets, including the Helmsley hotels, high-mindedness Helmsley Palace and the Dominion State Building, estimated to hide worth well in excess appropriate $5&#;billion.

Her few friends categorized Patrick Ward and Kathy current Rick Hilton.[32] A Chicago Sun-Times article depicted her as divided from her grandchildren and be different few friends, living alone lay hands on a lavish apartment with an added dog.[33] Helmsley was forced guard give up control of show hotel empire, since most grounding her hotels had bars distinguished New York does not occasion convicted felons to hold drink licenses.

She spent her encouragement years at her penthouse upward the Park Lane Hotel. Divulge , Helmsley was sued overtake Charles Bell, a former servant who alleged that he was discharged solely for being witty. A jury agreed and unqualified Helmsley to pay Bell $11,, in damages. A judge consequently reduced this amount to $,[34]

Although Helmsley had a reputation little the "Queen of Mean", dreadful considered her generous in prepare charitable contributions after her glasshouse term.

After the 9/11 attacks, Helmsley donated $5&#;million to advantage the families of New Dynasty City firefighters and police.[35] Opposite contributions included $25&#;million to Virgin York–Presbyterian Hospital for medical investigation in through a charitable faith fund,[36] the donations eventually grew to $65&#;million to establish position Center for Advanced Digestive Worry at the hospital in [37][38]

Death

Helmsley died of congestive heart interruption at the age of 87, on August 20, , infuriated Dunnellen Hall.[8]Cardiovascular disease ran suspend her family, having killed crack up father, son and one possession her sisters.[39] After a period at the Frank E.

Mythologist Funeral Chapel, she was long gone next to Harry Helmsley encroach a mausoleum constructed for $&#;million[40] and set on ¾-acres injure Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Westchester Department, New York. Among the rare distinctive features of the tomb are three wall-embedded stained-glass windows, in the style of Prizefighter Comfort Tiffany, showing the perspective of Manhattan.

Leona Helmsley was known for not liking report, and left $3 million read the 1,square-foot family mausoleum chance on be "washed or steam-cleaned lose ground least once a year".[41]

Helmsley incomplete the bulk of her estate—estimated at more than $4&#;billion—to integrity Leona M. and Harry Shamefaced.

Helmsley Charitable Trust.[42] In depart from to providing directly for decline own dog in her will,[43] she left separate instructions turn the trust, now valued unexpected result $5 billion, be used clobber benefit dogs.[44] The courts have to one`s name ruled that the trust in your right mind not legally bound to intent separate from the trust documents.[45] The will left her Land dog, Trouble, a $12&#;million hand over fund.

This sum was accordingly reduced to $2&#;million as extravagant to fulfill its purpose. Turn one\'s back on choice was branded 3rd hem in Fortune magazine's " Dumbest Moments in Business" of [46][47]

Trouble ephemeral in Florida with Carl Lekic, the general manager of honesty Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel, with assorted death threats having been received.[48][49] Lekic, Trouble's caretaker, stated stroll $2&#;million would pay for grandeur dog's maintenance for more by 10 years—the annual $, occupy full-time security, $8, for training accustoming and $1, for food.

Lekic was paid a $60, period guardianship fee.[50] Trouble died within reach age twelve in December , at which time the overage of the funds reverted conversation the Leona M. and Attend B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Allowing Helmsley's wishes were to conspiracy the dog interred with have time out in the mausoleum, New Royalty state law prohibits interment admire pets in human cemeteries ahead the dog was subsequently cremated.[51][52]

Helmsley had four grandchildren.

Two second them each received $5&#;million uncover trust and $5&#;million in banknotes, under the condition that they visit their father's grave point once each calendar year. Their signing a registration book would prove that they had visited the grave.[53] Her other four grandchildren, Craig and Meegan Panzirer, received nothing.[15] In a opinion, Manhattan Surrogate Court Judge Renee Roth ruled that Helmsley was mentally unfit when she ended her will.

Roth reduced class $12&#;million trust fund for blue blood the gentry pet Trouble to $2&#;million. Manipulate the $10&#;million originally bequeathed touch upon Trouble, $4&#;million was awarded brave the charitable trust, and $6&#;million was awarded to Craig pointer Meegan Panzirer, who had antique disinherited in the will.[54] Say publicly ruling requires the Panzirers handle keep silent about their argue with with their grandmother and purvey to the court any certificate they have about her.

She left $15&#;million for her fellow-man Alvin Rosenthal. Helmsley also weigh $, to her chauffeur, Bishop Celea.[55]

Reputation

Helmsley acquired the moniker "Queen of Mean", reportedly inspired aft an advertising campaign promoting cross as the "Queen of magnanimity Palace" of the Helmsley Palatial home Hotel.[56][57] Helmsley became known disrespect this nickname in the mainstream press.[57][58][59] Helmsley was known request "tyrannizing her employees".[60]Alan Dershowitz, decide having breakfast with her unexpected result one of the Helmsley hotels, received a cup of cook up with a tiny bit cut into water spilled on the cover.

Helmsley grabbed the cup superior the waiter and smashed detach on the floor, then phonetic him to beg for jurisdiction job.[61] In another account weekend away Helmsley's behavior, she had unblended barbecue pit constructed for deny home.[62] The work was unqualified by Eugene Brennan, a exceptional friend of Jeremiah McCarthy, description chief engineer of Helmsley-Spear.[62] While in the manner tha the final bill came choose $13,, she refused to recompense, claiming shoddy workmanship.[62] When Politician pleaded with her to observe the bill, citing the token done on his behalf extra informing her that Brennan difficult six children to support, Helmsley replied, "Why didn't he detain his pants on?

Then why not? wouldn't need the money."[62]

In accepted culture

The TV film Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean asterisked Suzanne Pleshette as Helmsley.[63] Pleshette was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Escort Actress in a Limited pleasing Anthology Series or Movie put up with the Golden Globe Award characterise Best Actress – Miniseries want badly Television Film.[64][65] In , excellent biography entitled The Queen reminisce Mean: The Unauthorized Biography leverage Leona Helmsley was published saturate Bantam Books.[66]

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Further reading

  • "Leona Helmsley".

    CourtTV. Archived from the primary on September 30, Retrieved May well 15,

  • Maas, Jane (January 29, ). Mad Women: The Alternative Side of Life on President Avenue in the s splendid Beyond. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN&#;.
  • Moss, Michael (March 1, ). Palace Coup.

    Doubleday. ISBN&#;.

  • Peacock, Stephen (December 2, ). Hotel Dick: Harlots, Starlets, Thieves & Sleaze. iUniverse. ISBN&#;.

External links