Leona Helmsley was an American entrepreneur who possesses a flamboyant personality. She earned the nickname “Queen of Mean” because of her tyrannical behavior.
Helmsley faced charges of income tax evasion and was convicted of the crime after the contractors who worked in her home alleged that she failed to pay the bills. She was also convicted on other crimes. During her trial, Helmsley’s former housekeeper said she heard Helmsley saying, “We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.” This saying was notoriously identified with her until her death. She was sentenced with 16 years in prison but served only 19 months in federal prison and two months in hospital arrest.
Helmsley was born as Lena Mindy Rosenthal. She was an Abraham Lincoln High School dropout. She changed her name a number of times – Lee Roberts, Mindy Roberts, and Leni Roberts. Finally, she adopted Leona Mindy Roberts as her legal name.
In 1964, Helmsley started her career as a real estate person after Abe Hirschfield hired her to sell co-ops in New York. Later, she worked as a condominium broker when she met Harry Helmsley, who was a millionaire real estate magnate. Harry Helmsley eventually became her husband. Helmsley spent most of her time managing her husband’s hotel empire.
Reports indicated that it was Helmsley who influenced her husband to convert their apartment buildings into condominium units. Leona focused on the conversion while Harry concentrated on their hotel business. The Helmsleys were known as great realtors in New York following the construction of The Hemsley Palace off Madison Avenue. They were thought to build a real estate empire in New York because of huge projects which include 230 Park Avenue, the Tudor City apartment complex, the Helmsley-Spear, and the Empire State Building.
An ad featured Leona Helmsley where she was portrayed as a demanding queen who wanted the best for all her guests. She earned the reputation to fire her employees because of the slightest mistakes, hurl insults and obscenities at them before they were finally terminated.
Leona Helmsley was 87 years old when she died on August 20, 2007 because of a congestive heart failure.
Helmsley faced charges of income tax evasion and was convicted of the crime after the contractors who worked in her home alleged that she failed to pay the bills. She was also convicted on other crimes. During her trial, Helmsley’s former housekeeper said she heard Helmsley saying, “We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.” This saying was notoriously identified with her until her death. She was sentenced with 16 years in prison but served only 19 months in federal prison and two months in hospital arrest.
Helmsley was born as Lena Mindy Rosenthal. She was an Abraham Lincoln High School dropout. She changed her name a number of times – Lee Roberts, Mindy Roberts, and Leni Roberts. Finally, she adopted Leona Mindy Roberts as her legal name.
In 1964, Helmsley started her career as a real estate person after Abe Hirschfield hired her to sell co-ops in New York. Later, she worked as a condominium broker when she met Harry Helmsley, who was a millionaire real estate magnate. Harry Helmsley eventually became her husband. Helmsley spent most of her time managing her husband’s hotel empire.
Reports indicated that it was Helmsley who influenced her husband to convert their apartment buildings into condominium units. Leona focused on the conversion while Harry concentrated on their hotel business. The Helmsleys were known as great realtors in New York following the construction of The Hemsley Palace off Madison Avenue. They were thought to build a real estate empire in New York because of huge projects which include 230 Park Avenue, the Tudor City apartment complex, the Helmsley-Spear, and the Empire State Building.
An ad featured Leona Helmsley where she was portrayed as a demanding queen who wanted the best for all her guests. She earned the reputation to fire her employees because of the slightest mistakes, hurl insults and obscenities at them before they were finally terminated.
Leona Helmsley was 87 years old when she died on August 20, 2007 because of a congestive heart failure.
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