Leona Helmsley
American businesswoman / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Leona Roberts Helmsley (born Lena Mindy Rosenthal; July 4, 1920 – August 20, 2007) was an American businesswoman. Her flamboyant personality and reputation for tyrannical behavior earned her the nickname Queen of Mean.[8]
Leona Helmsley | |
---|---|
Born | (1920-07-04)July 4, 1920 Marbletown, New York, U.S. |
Died | August 20, 2007(2007-08-20) (aged 87) Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
Other names | Lee Roberts[4] Mindy Roberts[4] Leni Roberts[4] Lena Rosenthol[5][6][7] |
Education | Abraham Lincoln High School |
Occupation(s) | Hotelier, real estate investor |
Spouses | Leo Panzirer
(m. 1938; div. 1952)Joseph Lubin, twice (divorced) |
After allegations of non-payment were made by contractors hired to improve Helmsley's Connecticut home, she was investigated and convicted of federal income tax evasion and other crimes in 1989. Although having initially received a sentence of 16 years, she was required to serve only 19 months in prison and two months under house arrest. During the trial, a former housekeeper testified that she had heard Helmsley say: "We don't pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes", a quote which was identified with her for the rest of her life.