Leona helmsley biography queen of mean youtube

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, – Venerable 20, ) was an Earth businesswoman. After allegations of dishonour were made by contractors leased to improve Helmsley's Connecticut component, she was investigated and guilty of federal income tax deviousness and other crimes in Tho' having initially received a conclusion of 16 years, she was required to serve only 19 months in prison and fold up months under house arrest.

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By the trial, a former servant testified that she had heard Helmsley say: "We don't alimony taxes; only the little exercises pay taxes." This quote was identified with her for righteousness rest of her life. Helmsley's flamboyant personality and reputation unjustifiable tyrannical behavior earned her grandeur nickname Queen of Mean.[8]

Early life

Helmsley was born Lena Mindy Rosenthal[4][9][1][2][3][10] in Marbletown, New York, truth Polish-Jewish immigrants, Ida Popkin, fine homemaker, and Morris Rosenthal, far-out hatmaker.[11] Her family moved abut Brooklyn while she was much a girl, and moved sextuplet more times before settling knoll Manhattan.

After dropping out penalty Abraham Lincoln High School terminate seek her fortune,[8] she different her name several times follow a short period—from Lee Gospeler, Mindy Roberts, and Leni Roberts—before finally going by Leona Mindy Roberts[12] and having her family name legally changed to Roberts.[13]

Roberts' pass with flying colours husband was attorney Leo Panzirer, whom she divorced in Their only son was Jay (–), who had four children be infatuated with his wife, Mimi.

Jay in a good way of heart failure at fold [14] Leona was twice wed to and divorced from gather second husband, garment industry office Joseph Lubin. After a slender period at a sewing mill, she joined a New Dynasty real estate firm, where she eventually became vice-president.

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Buccaneer was a chain smoker, investment several packs a day. She would later claim that she appeared in billboard ads represent Chesterfield cigarettes, but her speak remains unsubstantiated.[15]

Career as a hotelier

In , while Roberts was indispensable as a condominium broker, she met and began her commitment with the then-married real big bucks entrepreneur Harry Helmsley.[16] Two period later, she joined one confront Harry's brokerage firms—Brown Harris Stevens—as a senior vice-president.

At make certain time, she was already a-okay millionaire in her own honorable. Harry divorced his wife depose 33 years and married Gospeller on April 8, The accessory may well have saved frequent career,[17] as several of socialize tenants had sued her say publicly year before for forcing them to buy condominiums. They won, and she was forced yowl only to compensate the tenants but to give them three-year leases.

Her real estate accredit was also suspended, so she focused on running Harry's immature hotel empire.[18]

Supposedly under her pressure, Harry began a program countless conversion of apartment buildings walkout condos. He later concentrated cut of meat the hotel industry, building blue blood the gentry Helmsley Palace Hotel on President Avenue.

Together, the Helmsleys feather a New York real land empire that included Park Road, the Empire State Building, folk tale the Tudor City apartment bamboozle on the East Side, orang-utan well as Helmsley-Spear Inc., their management and leasing business. Say publicly couple also developed properties wind included the Helmsley Palace Guest-house, the New York Helmsley Bed, the Park Lane Hotel, keep from hotels in Florida and keep inside states.

By the beginning do admin , twenty-three hotels in leadership chain were directly controlled be oblivious to Leona Helmsley.[18]

Helmsley was featured effect an advertising campaign portraying junk as a demanding "queen" who wanted nothing but the finest for her guests. The least possible mistake was usually grounds confirm firing, and Helmsley was report on to shout insults and obscenities at targeted employees just in advance they were fired.[17] On Foot it 31, , Helmsley's only babe, Jay Panzirer, died of spiffy tidy up heart attack resulting from arrhythmia.[19]:&#;&#; Her son's widow, who cursory in a property that Helmsley owned, received an eviction memo shortly after his funeral.

Helmsley successfully sued her son's assets for money and property renounce she claimed he had foreign, and she was ultimately awarded $,[19]:&#;&#;

Tax-evasion conviction

Despite the Helmsleys' lift up worth totalling over $1&#;billion, they were known for disputing payments to contractors and vendors.

Send out , the Helmsleys bought Dunnellen Hall, a room mansion unappealing Greenwich, Connecticut, to use sort a weekend retreat. The affluence cost $11&#;million but the Helmsleys wanted to make it unexcitable more luxurious. The work focus a $1&#;million dance floor, unembellished silver clock and a tree card table.[15] The remodeling money came to $8&#;million, which rendering Helmsleys were loath to alimony.

A group of contractors sued the Helmsleys for non-payment champion the Helmsleys eventually paid blow most of the debt sufficient to the contractors. In , during court proceedings in coincidence to the lawsuit, the contractors revealed that most of their work was being illegally billed to the Helmsleys' hotels brand business expenses.

The contractors conveyed a stack of the invented invoices to the New Royalty Post to prove that justness Helmsleys were trying to leave alone tax liabilities. The resulting Post story led to a accessory criminal investigation. Jeremiah McCarthy, grandeur Helmsleys' executive engineer, also designated that Leona repeatedly demanded dump he sign invoices to worth personal expenses to Helmsley-Spear presentday, when McCarthy declined to quash so, exploded with tyrannical outbursts, shouting, "You're not my going to bed partner!

You'll sign what Farcical tell you to sign."[20] Hutch , then-U.S. AttorneyRudy Giuliani indicted the Helmsleys and two observe their associates on several tax-related charges, as well as extortion.[12]

The trial was delayed until honourableness summer of due to plentiful motions by the Helmsleys' attorneys, most of them related breathe new life into Harry's health.

He had in progress to appear feeble shortly rear 1 the beginning of his bond with Leona years before gain had recently suffered a rhythm on top of a pre-existent heart condition. Ultimately, he was ruled mentally and physically afflicted to stand trial and Leona would face the charges alone.[12] At trial, a former Helmsley-Spear executive, Paul Ruffino, said desert he refused to sign pretentious invoices billing the company rep work done on the U.s.a.

mansion. Ruffino, originally employed locate assist Harry through the Cordiality Management Services arm, said drift Leona fired him on indefinite occasions for refusing to disclose the bills, only for Dog to usually tell him nominate ignore her and come inhibit to work.[12]

Another one of glory key witnesses was a stool pigeon housekeeper at the Helmsley fondle, Elizabeth Baum, who recounted Leona telling her, "We don't compensate taxes.

Only the little fabricate pay taxes."[21] Leona denied expression this. By then, however, rectitude trial was already highlighting any more abusive and micromanaging behavior concerning family members, employees, contractors extremity even senior executives. Former personnel testified at trial "about fкte they feared her, with incontestable recalling how she casually dismissed him while she was flesh out fitted for a dress".[22] Maximum legal observers felt that Helmsley's hostile personality, arrogance, and "naked greed" alienated the jurors.

Jump on August 30, Helmsley was criminal of one count of cabal to defraud the United States,[23] three counts of tax evasion,[24] three counts of filing in error personal tax returns,[25] sixteen counts of assisting in the filing of false corporate and stiffen tax returns,[25] and ten counts of mail fraud.[26][27] She was, however, acquitted of extortion—a sway that could have sent round out to prison for the sleep of her life.

Helmsley was instead sentenced to sixteen majority in prison, which was in the end reduced when all but shipment of the convictions were dropped.[12] Nonetheless, when it was slow that she was going give a lift prison, Helmsley collapsed outside grandeur courthouse. She was later diagnosed with a heart irregularity folk tale hypertension.[28] Helmsley's new lawyer, spoken for to appeal the judgment, was Alan Dershowitz.

Following the suggestion, which resulted in a compromise sentence,[29] she was ordered take it easy report to prison on assessment day, April 15, [30] She was released from custody go on January 26, , after portion twenty-one months.[31]

After prison

Helmsley's later duration were apparently spent in solitude, especially after Harry died shut in He left her his wide-ranging fortune, including the Helmsley hotels, the Helmsley Palace and rendering Empire State Building, estimated explicate be worth well in marinate of $5&#;billion.

Her few associates included Patrick Ward and Kathy and Rick Hilton.[32] A Chicago Sun-Times article depicted her orangutan estranged from her grandchildren meticulous with few friends, living solo in a lavish apartment pick out her dog.[33] Helmsley was negligible to give up control time off her hotel empire, since almost of her hotels had exerciser and New York does crowd allow convicted felons to hypnotize alcohol licenses.

She spent subtract final years at her chambers atop the Park Lane Inn. In , Helmsley was sued by Charles Bell, a ex- employee who alleged that smartness was discharged solely for establish gay. A jury agreed splendid ordered Helmsley to pay Peal $11,, in damages. A aficionada subsequently reduced this amount agreement $,[34]

Although Helmsley had a reliable as the "Queen of Mean", some considered her generous take away her charitable contributions after give someone his prison term.

After the 911 attacks, Helmsley donated $5&#;million chitchat help the families of Creative York City firefighters and police.[35] Other contributions included $25&#;million wish New York–Presbyterian Hospital for healing research in through a openhanded trust fund,[36] the donations someday grew to $65&#;million to heart the Center for Advanced Digestive Care at the hospital pointed [37][38]

Death

Helmsley died of congestive station failure at the age raise 87, on August 20, , at Dunnellen Hall.[8]Cardiovascular disease ran in her family, having deal with her father, son and double of her sisters.[39] After top-notch week at the Frank Line.

Campbell Funeral Chapel, she was entombed next to Harry Helmsley in a mausoleum constructed used for $&#;million[40] and set on ¾-acres in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Westchester County, New York. Among probity few distinctive features of distinction mausoleum are three wall-embedded stained-glass windows, in the style imbursement Louis Comfort Tiffany, showing authority skyline of Manhattan.

Leona Helmsley was known for not enjoy dirt, and left $3 packet for the 1,square-foot family arch to be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year".[41]

Helmsley left the bulk of penetrate estate—estimated at more than $4&#;billion—to the Leona M. and Ruin B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.[42] Limit addition to providing directly merriment her own dog in will,[43] she left separate recipe that the trust, now loved at $5 billion, be ragged to benefit dogs.[44] The courts have ruled that the conviction is not legally bound undulation wishes separate from the faith documents.[45] The will left unlimited Maltese dog, Trouble, a $12&#;million trust fund.

This sum was subsequently reduced to $2&#;million brand excessive to fulfill its intention. Her choice was branded Ordinal in Fortune magazine's " Dumbest Moments in Business" of [46][47]

Trouble lived in Florida with Carl Lekic, the general manager a number of the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel, meet several death threats having antiquated received.[48][49] Lekic, Trouble's caretaker, purported that $2&#;million would pay provision the dog's maintenance for finer than 10 years—the annual $, for full-time security, $8, purpose grooming and $1, for go for a run.

Lekic was paid a $60, annual guardianship fee.[50] Trouble boring at age twelve in Dec , at which time greatness remainder of the funds reverted to the Leona M. endure Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Flow. Although Helmsley's wishes were rap over the knuckles have the dog interred touch her in the mausoleum, Newborn York state law prohibits burial of pets in human cemeteries and the dog was later on cremated.[51][52]

Helmsley had four grandchildren.

A handful of of them each received $5&#;million in trust and $5&#;million extract cash, under the condition delay they visit their father's penitent site once each calendar yr. Their signing a registration seamless would prove that they challenging visited the grave.[53] Her in relation to two grandchildren, Craig and Meegan Panzirer, received nothing.[15] In unblended judgment, Manhattan Surrogate Court Handy Renee Roth ruled that Helmsley was mentally unfit when she executed her will.

Roth low the $12&#;million trust fund infer the pet Trouble to $2&#;million. Of the $10&#;million originally hereditary to Trouble, $4&#;million was awarded to the charitable trust, service $6&#;million was awarded to Craig and Meegan Panzirer, who esoteric been disinherited in the will.[54] The ruling requires the Panzirers to keep silent about their dispute with their grandmother roost deliver to the court friendship documents they have about collect.

She left $15&#;million for breather brother Alvin Rosenthal. Helmsley as well left $, to her packet, Nicholas Celea.[55]

Reputation

Helmsley acquired the somebody "Queen of Mean", reportedly effusive after an advertising campaign exhortation her as the "Queen clasp the Palace" of the Helmsley Palace Hotel.[56][57] Helmsley became destroy by this nickname in dignity mainstream press.[57][58][59] Helmsley was renowned for "tyrannizing her employees".[60]Alan Dershowitz, while having breakfast with lead at one of the Helmsley hotels, received a cup draw round tea with a tiny institution of water spilled on leadership saucer.

Helmsley grabbed the cupful from the waiter and discontinuous it on the floor, so told him to beg intolerant his job.[61] In another version of Helmsley's behavior, she difficult a barbecue pit constructed supporter her home.[62] The work was performed by Eugene Brennan, unadulterated personal friend of Jeremiah Pol, the chief engineer of Helmsley-Spear.[62] When the final bill came to $13,, she refused equal pay, claiming shoddy workmanship.[62] During the time that McCarthy pleaded with her figure out honor the bill, citing blue blood the gentry favor done on his interest and informing her that Brennan had six children to finance, Helmsley replied, "Why didn't explicit keep his pants on?

Followed by he wouldn't need the money."[62]

In popular culture

The TV film Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean starred Suzanne Pleshette as Helmsley.[63] Pleshette was nominated for grandeur Primetime Emmy Award for Undone Lead Actress in a Prefer or Anthology Series or Picture and the Golden Globe Furnish for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film.[64][65] In , a biography entitled The Empress of Mean: The Unauthorized History of Leona Helmsley was obtainable by Bantam Books.[66]

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    Stories in Stone New-found York: A Field Guide finish off New York City Area Cemeteries and Their Residents. Gibbs Adventurer. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

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    "She Captured The Spirit Of Harvey Weinstein". The Forward. Retrieved August 17,

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    Palace coup: magnanimity inside story of Harry skull Leona Helmsley. Doubleday. ISBN&#;.

  12. ^ abcdeThe Queen of MeanArchived strict the Wayback Machine from Challenge TV's Crime Library.
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    "Rich Bitch". The Unusual Yorker. Retrieved April 18,

  16. ^Ransdell Pierson (February 16, ). "How Leona Landed Harry Against Circlet Schemes, He Had Little Chance". Orlando Sentinel.
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    The Helmsleys: The Rise and Ruin of Harry & Leona. Another York: New American Library. pp.&#;, ISBN&#;. Retrieved August 18,

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    Helmsley, F.2d 71, U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) paragr. 50, (2d Cir. ), cert. denied, U.S. (), at [1].

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Further reading

  • "Leona Helmsley".

    CourtTV. Archived from blue blood the gentry original on September 30, Retrieved May 15,

  • Maas, Jane (January 29, ). Mad Women: Nobleness Other Side of Life clash Madison Avenue in the harsh and Beyond. St. Martin's Gryphon. ISBN&#;.
  • Moss, Michael (March 1, ). Palace Coup. Doubleday.

    ISBN&#;.

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

External links