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Jerry and Jessica Support Schools, Kids and Jews

cityfile · 07/16/08 11:02AM

It's been more than ten years since Seinfeld went off the air, but Jerry Seinfeld still rakes it in: It's been estimated he collects as much as $60 million a year from reruns, DVD sales, and the occasional stand-up gig. Of course, he and wife Jessica know how to spend that money, too. But in addition to their many extravagances (huge apartment in the Beresford, massive estate in East Hampton, hundreds of Porsches), the couple donates a good chunk of change to charity. So which charities are the beneficiaries of the esteemed Seinfeld Family Foundation? Jerry's largest donation was to Scholarship America ($950,905). But he also handed over some cash to other causes near and dear, like the Comedy Cures Foundation ($1,000) and a non-profit that teaches chess to public high school students ($500). Have a look for yourself at the $3 million the Seinfelds handed out in 2006 after the jump.

Behold the Catsimatidis Mobile?

cityfile · 07/16/08 09:22AM

You may know John Catsimatidis as the generously proportioned owner of the Gristedes and Red Apple supermarket chains, or because he's gearing up to spend a record $100 million to try and succeed Michael Bloomberg as New York City's second billionaire mayor. But his real pride and joy? This silver "Lambo" (or Lamborghini Diablo), which is pictured above in its natural habitat, the Hamptons. Sweet ride, huh? Whether the $2.1 billion man has any chance of winning an election we'll leave up to the political pundits. But we're pretty sure that if elected he'd be the first "Lambo"-owning mayor in New York history.

Another Alleged Photo Of Banksy Surfaces

Hamilton Nolan · 07/15/08 02:46PM

For years, there has only been one known photograph of the supersecret celebrity street artist Banksy, whose identity was (probably) outed this week. That one was taken in Jamaica in 2004 by a photographer who, we hear, leaked it to the media after getting angry at the artist. That was the picture that the Daily Mail used as the key clue in its yearlong investigation of his true identity. But we've just been leaked another photo that supposedly shows Banksy in 1999.

Dan Loeb Wants to Help the Anorexics of America

cityfile · 07/15/08 12:43PM

You didn't think Dan Loeb had a heart, did you? Not withstanding the hedge fund mogul's rep for writing vicious letters to CEOs and otherwise terrifying underperforming management teams, Loeb likes to give a couple of bucks to charity from time to time, too. At least he was good for $778,615 in 2006. Where did the money go? He gave 100K to the Jewish Enrichment Center and 75K to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The public radio station WNYC wasn't as lucky: The billionaire gave the non-profit $100. The one-time ladies' man does, however, seem to have a bit more sympathy for young anorexic women: Loeb made out a check for $250 to the National Eating Disorder Association. The entirety of his charitable activities for 2006 after the jump.

Diller and DVF Have $5K for Juvenile Diabetics

cityfile · 07/11/08 09:06AM

Diane von Furstenberg and husband Barry Diller—who collected $295 million in salary and stock in 2007 as the chairman of IAC—have never had any problems spending money. Look no further than Diller's $200 million boat, EOS, one of the most expensive sailing ships in the world. But some of the money goes to charity, not just hyper-luxurious ocean vessels! The legendarily temperamental media mogul seems to have a softer side, contrary to popular opinion. Below, details on the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which seems to be considerably more legitimate than the Diller-von Furstenberg marriage itself.

Lloyd Blankfein's $262 Gift to Stroke Victims

cityfile · 07/09/08 12:31PM

It's good to be Lloyd Blankfein: In 2007, the Goldman Sachs chief collected $68.5 million in cash and stock, monies he plowed into the real estate market with the purchase of an apartment at 15 Central Park West for $27 million and a ten-acre home in the Hamptons for $41 million. But he also gave a few bucks to charity, too! After the jump, the nitty gritty details from the Lloyd and Laura Blankfein Foundation, including his astonishingly generous $262 gift to the American Stroke Association.

Scenes from the Holiday Cocktail Lounge

Sheila · 07/07/08 12:22PM

The scene: Holiday Cocktail Lounge, former haunt of W.H. Auden and Allen Ginsberg; St. Mark's Place
The time: Sunday, 8 p.m.
The players: Stefan, the 89-year-old Ukranian bartender; a man who has just gotten out of "somewhere" after thirty years; myself; the TV.

The Spitzer Prom!

cityfile · 07/07/08 11:06AM

Disgraced ex-governor Eliot Spitzer recently headed off for a summer vacation with his wife and daughters in tow. Just before the family headed out of town, one member of the family celebrated a very special event: 18-year-old daughter Elyssa Spitzer attended her senior prom. The Horace Mann graduate—and soon-to-be Harvard student—hit up the Pierre in Midtown for the big event. Beforehand, though, Elyssa had to suffer through that all-too-familiar rite of passage—the parental meet-and-greet—introducing her date, Sam, to her dad. (Curiously, though, Silda Wall Spitzer was absent from the pre-prom festivities. Update: A family rep informs us that Mrs. Spitzer was, in fact, present. She just wasn't photographed.)

Cayne's Loss Is a Loss for All Jews

cityfile · 07/07/08 06:49AM

Former Bear Stearns chief Jimmy Cayne has had a lousy few months, hasn't he? It was while Cayne was frittering away his days on the golf course that the investment bank imploded, of course, and the firm was later sold off for pennies on the dollar to Jamie Dimon's JP Morgan. Thousands of people lost their jobs, the Bear name has since been relegated to the dust bin of Wall Street history, and there's even been chatter that Cayne could face criminal charges in connection with the firm's demise. Then there's the humiliation of watching his personal fortune go up in smoke: Once worth more than $1 billion, Cayne now has less than 10% of that to his name these days. (Embarrassingly, Cayne's little nephew—who he broke into the business—is worth more.) Not that anyone is feeling sorry for Jimmy and his wife, Pat, now that they'll be forced to think twice before ordering up a $5,000 bottle of 1959 Château Margaux the next time they visit Le Bernardin. But those reveling in the schadenfreude, though, haven't considered the people who are really going to suffer: Jewish orphans! After the jump, everything you wanted to know about the James E. Cayne and Patricia D. Cayne Charitable Trust.

Before Harvey's Greed, Resentment

Hamilton Nolan · 07/02/08 01:14PM

Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has always resented the fact that peers made more money than him with what he deemed to be inferior films. These days, he's obviously overcome this problem by milking reality shows for millions to prop up his more artsy products; but he couldn't always be so sanguine. Here we have a priceless and EXCLUSIVE classic from the archives: a recording of a phone call between Weinstein and Disney exec Joe Roth, taped shortly after Michael Ovitz-a spectacular failure as head of Disney-was paid more than $100 million to leave the company in 1996. Weinstein is galled beyond belief (and perhaps a bit envious). "Let's quit today!" he jokes. Why, he works his ass off and what does he get? A fucking lecture. "Joe, you're a success, so therefore you're a failure in this business," Weinstein complains. Then he insults his fellow moguls: "Between Peter Guber and Mike Ovitz and everybody who fucked up...Everybody got wealthy on failure." Weinstein just cares too much about the films, you see; "We have character flaws that must be overcome," he sighs. Thanks to Project Runway, he's done so. Click to listen to the titan of Hollywood in all his expletive-spitting glory.

Did 1 Oak Try To Shrug Off Gay-Bashing Incident?

Hamilton Nolan · 06/24/08 12:35PM

When the Meatpacking District club 1 Oak opened in December, it was the toast of the Manhattan nightlife scene. It was founded by a quartet of club veterans including Butter frontman Richie Akiva , Lotus co-owner Jeffrey Jah, and former Ashley Olsen boyfriend Scott Sartiano as a "kind of boutique space" for the elite. But a tipster tells us that everything is not well at 1 Oak; last week, they say, there was a vicious gay-bashing incident in the club—forcing one victim to go to the hospital—that club management tried to sweep under the rug. The eyewitness' full account of the violence, and the club's response to our questions, after the jump.

Alex Albrecht's top secret new project has a name: Project Lore

Jackson West · 06/23/08 05:20PM

Diggnation co-host Alex Albrecht has been working on a new project behind the scenes for months now, and it could soon be coming to a browser near you — a tipster pointed us to projectlore.com, which is currently behind password protection, and an unused Twitter account by the same name. What could it be? Your guess is as good as mine. But it's my understanding that it's going to be a Hollywood-sized production.