David Geffen
David Geffen and the L.A. Times?
Is David Geffen going to buy the L.A. Times? The news comes from two blogs: Nikki Finke's and LA Observed.
LA Observed has it from a source who has it from three sources that Geffen is interested in buying it and was close to a deal last week. Nikki Finke has it from a source who says they are in "serious discussions."
Fixing Broken Windows, Or, Calling Out Out
Several Web sites have already taken note of Out Magazine's second annual Power 50 List which is, erm, out now. New York's Daily Intel has questioned the list's comprehensiveness while Gawker remains obsessed with Anderson Cooper. read more »
$37.5 M. for Old Geffen Place? Nice, But …
Deeds filed in city records on Monday show that David Geffen sold his apartment to the alliterative Blackstone Group co-founder Pete Peterson for $37.5 million. read more »
Geffen Duplex Gets $37.5 M., a Tad More Than Expected
College dropout David Geffen already has $4.6 billion (plus a song penned for him by Joni Mitchell). And, according to deeds filed today, he now has $37.5 million from alliterative Blackstone Group co-founder Pete Peterson.
The deal represents the second-biggest co-op sale in New York City history, behind only Rupert Murdoch's $44 million buy at 834 Fifth.
In exchange, Mr. Peterson has the 12-room duplex penthouse at 810 Fifth Avenue, which fickle Mr. Geffen bought just last year for $31.5 million. Most recently, in an article last week in the NY Sun, Mr. Geffen was said to be selling for only $34 million. Such chump change!
Despite his steep price, this buyer belongs in the building. As New York magazine pointed out when the deal was first rumored, the co-op building used to house Richard Nixon, the Blackstone man’s boss when he was the Secretary of Commerce.
Fittingly, Governor Nelson Rockefeller was once in the penthouse: Nelson’s little brother David preceded Mr. Peterson as a chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations; and older brother John III was a pal of the Blackstone boy’s too.
Beltway Bells Are Ringin’! David Geffen Unveils Andrew Sullivan’s Plans to Wed Actor
“Andrew, did you see David?” said authoress and blogger den mother Arianna Huffington to writer Andrew Sullivan read more »
Ron Burkle on David Geffen: "Aggressive!"
"... I have known David for a long time. David is very aggressive in his comments and very aggressive in his thoughts on everything."About whether Al Gore should run (and, remember, this is the guy who is holding a 1,000-person Hillary Clinton fund-raiser at his Beverly Hills house):
"I told him the other day, he has made me so much money, I hope he keeps working."What about his war with The New York Post? Was the Post pursuing a political agenda?
"I think it could have just as easily been an agenda by some people at the paper to make money."- Tom McGeveran
Rapid Response, Meet Rapid Response
From Wolfson:
"While Senator Obama was denouncing slash and burn politics yesterday, his campaign's finance chair was viciously and personally attacking Senator Clinton and her husband.Now, in response to the response, here's a statement from Obama communications director Robert Gibbs:"If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money."
"We aren't going to get in the middle of a disagreement between the Clintons and someone who was once one of their biggest supporters. It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom. It is also ironic that Senator Clinton lavished praise on Monday and is fully willing to accept today the support of South Carolina State Sen. Robert Ford, who said if Barack Obama were to win the nomination, he would drag down the rest of the Democratic Party because 'he's black.'"
Yikes.
--Jason HorowitzWolfson's Rage
"While Senator Obama was denouncing slash and burn politics yesterday, his campaign's finance chair was viciously and personally attacking Senator Clinton and her husband.
"If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money.
"While Democrats should engage in a vigorous debate on the issues, there is no place in our party or our politics for the kind of personal insults made by Senator Obama's principal fundraiser."
The offending comments are from a recent Maureen Dowd column [subscription].
Only another few moths of this to go. -- Azi PaybarahDavid Geffen Conspiracy Theory
Music mogul David Geffen was listed as one of the trustees buying the place, according to public records, but Saturday Night Live producer Marci (daugher of Calvin) Klein is the one moving in, according to a source. Got it? read more »
A few days ago, Dealbreaker attempted to unravel this mystery. The plot somehow involves Ashlee Simpson, plastic surgery, and the possible sale of the Los Angeles Times.
- Michael CalderoneIs David Geffen Moving to Mercer Street?
158 Mercer Street.
But today's issue of The Post doesn't report who will be living in the sleek, 11th floor apartment. It's strange because the newspaper already revealed the buyer in April: it's Saturday Night Live producer Marci Klein (who's also the daughter of Calvin Klein).
A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed to The Observer that Ms. Klein will be the one living there. Considering that Mr. Geffen passed the board at 810 Fifth, he should be pretty content with his current living situation in Manhattan (although it is unclear how he fits in with this real estate buying trust).
Nancy Candib, of Brown Harris Stevens, had the Mercer Street listing. read more »
And meanwhile, downstairs from Ms. Klein's new gigs, there is an open house today at Andre Balazs's 4,200-square-foot loft, that's selling for $10 million.
- Michael CalderoneLuxury Roundup: Geffen, Pinault, and Burkle
- Billionaire Ron Burkle is preparing to spend "up to $50 million" on a new Manhattan residence. And Jonathan Leitersdorf's Broadway penthouse (and Sex and the City party pad) is finally taking a breather from the luxury market.(New York Post)
- David Geffen may be selling off millions of dollars in art (not to mention Dreamworks), but he still closed on the duplex penthouse at 810 Fifth Avenue. Also, The Observer reported last month that French billionaire Francois Pinault sold his duplex at 515 Park Avenue. According to William Neuman, the mogul is having a problem with Ian Schrager over at 50 Gramercy. (New York Times)
