September 16, 2008--The Donald Watch
Desperate for distraction I’ve been channel surfing and scanning the inner pages of the New York Times and the Enquirer for tidbits of juicy news. For the moment I’ve had it with Wall Street and now Sarah Palin’s Road to Nowhere, which actually got built.
Reruns of Hogan’s Heroes are working as is the news that actress Anne Hathaway’s former boyfriend, Raffaello Follieri, pleaded guilty recently to 14 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. At least someone who has been stealing money from investors is going to jail.
Remember him? He’s the one who parleyed his alleged connections to the Vatican and even the Pope into a considerable personal fortune, claiming he had an inside track to them that allowed him to scoop up Church real estate at below market prices. Through playboy developer Ron Burkle, close friend of Bill Clinton’s, he managed to wheedle his way to the former president himself, getting him interested in his real estate ventures by convincing him that he was going to use some of the profits for “socially responsible” purposes. It takes a charmer to charm a charmer.
How does someone get away with something for so long that’s so obviously scammy? In Follieri’s case, as with so many others, this did not take very long—he arrived in New York City in just 2003—and it involved using his attractiveness and likeability to work his way up the social food chain. At first, having no money, he mooched apartments from people he met at parties which in turn led to his being introduced to wealthy investors. They were seduced when he told them that the uncle of the Dean of the College of Cardinals was affiliated with his company. Before very long, Follieri’s new “friends” were pressing money on him to invest in his non-existent ventures.
Publicist Lizzie Grubman should know how this works. She makes a living, after all, from puffing up the reputations of the less-than-famous, that is after getting out of jail herself as the result of having been convicted of running down a half dozen working-class Southampton locals who wouldn’t quickly enough get out of the way of her SUV. The Times quotes her as saying that she saw Follieri working his con game at various social gatherings and charity events. (Article linked below.)
Such people, she said, lure others by enticing them with “symbols of wealth”—lavish vacations, private jets, and bottle service at clubs, whatever that is. “The game he played,” the unfortunately named Ms. Grubman said, “was not unique. Planes, trains, and automobiles are very sexy to anyone who is young.” Or, she could have added, some not-so-young ex-presidents.
Thus, Raffaello is off to jail. But the plea deal also requires him to give up $2.4 million in cash, nine pieces of jewelry, and 12 watches. The latter include a Rolex, a Cartier, a Harrods, and a Donald Trump. Yes, that Donald Trump, who apparently is not only defacing the skylines of cities around the world with his high rise monstrosities, but to complement his clothing line—available at Macy’s—The Donald is also hustling watches.
I know from Rolexes, but Donald Trump watches? Thus I went to the Internet to see what I could learn. I assumed they must be quite a luxury item if they are among the watches Follieri was forced to surrender. I was, however, surprised to discover that on eBay you can get your hands on one for anywhere between $29,98 and $56.98. Though maybe now that Follieri has made them notorious they will go up in value.
I would suggest, though, that if you’re in the market for an investment watch from The Donald, also on eBay, for $349.99, you can put your hands on a mint-condition, vintage Donald Duck.
Reruns of Hogan’s Heroes are working as is the news that actress Anne Hathaway’s former boyfriend, Raffaello Follieri, pleaded guilty recently to 14 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. At least someone who has been stealing money from investors is going to jail.
Remember him? He’s the one who parleyed his alleged connections to the Vatican and even the Pope into a considerable personal fortune, claiming he had an inside track to them that allowed him to scoop up Church real estate at below market prices. Through playboy developer Ron Burkle, close friend of Bill Clinton’s, he managed to wheedle his way to the former president himself, getting him interested in his real estate ventures by convincing him that he was going to use some of the profits for “socially responsible” purposes. It takes a charmer to charm a charmer.
How does someone get away with something for so long that’s so obviously scammy? In Follieri’s case, as with so many others, this did not take very long—he arrived in New York City in just 2003—and it involved using his attractiveness and likeability to work his way up the social food chain. At first, having no money, he mooched apartments from people he met at parties which in turn led to his being introduced to wealthy investors. They were seduced when he told them that the uncle of the Dean of the College of Cardinals was affiliated with his company. Before very long, Follieri’s new “friends” were pressing money on him to invest in his non-existent ventures.
Publicist Lizzie Grubman should know how this works. She makes a living, after all, from puffing up the reputations of the less-than-famous, that is after getting out of jail herself as the result of having been convicted of running down a half dozen working-class Southampton locals who wouldn’t quickly enough get out of the way of her SUV. The Times quotes her as saying that she saw Follieri working his con game at various social gatherings and charity events. (Article linked below.)
Such people, she said, lure others by enticing them with “symbols of wealth”—lavish vacations, private jets, and bottle service at clubs, whatever that is. “The game he played,” the unfortunately named Ms. Grubman said, “was not unique. Planes, trains, and automobiles are very sexy to anyone who is young.” Or, she could have added, some not-so-young ex-presidents.
Thus, Raffaello is off to jail. But the plea deal also requires him to give up $2.4 million in cash, nine pieces of jewelry, and 12 watches. The latter include a Rolex, a Cartier, a Harrods, and a Donald Trump. Yes, that Donald Trump, who apparently is not only defacing the skylines of cities around the world with his high rise monstrosities, but to complement his clothing line—available at Macy’s—The Donald is also hustling watches.
I know from Rolexes, but Donald Trump watches? Thus I went to the Internet to see what I could learn. I assumed they must be quite a luxury item if they are among the watches Follieri was forced to surrender. I was, however, surprised to discover that on eBay you can get your hands on one for anywhere between $29,98 and $56.98. Though maybe now that Follieri has made them notorious they will go up in value.
I would suggest, though, that if you’re in the market for an investment watch from The Donald, also on eBay, for $349.99, you can put your hands on a mint-condition, vintage Donald Duck.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
6:14 AM
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