I lost $100M — and I’ve never been happier

nypost.com ^ | june 5, 2015 | jane ridley

[lowbridge]

Manhattan writer Suzanne Corso, 46, was once a card-carrying member of the 1 percent — until her financier husband lost their $100 million nest egg in the 2008 fiscal meltdown. Here, the mother of one, who has just published her third novel, “Hello, Hollywood,” tells The Post’s Jane Ridley her very New York story of survival.

My 6-year-old daughter doesn’t think twice about calling room service from our luxury residential hotel to order a $25 cheeseburger for herself.

It’s November 2005 and we’ve been living in an 11-room suite at the Ritz-Carlton on West Street for a little more than two years. And first-grader Samantha has developed quite the habit of ordering in.

Far from finding it cute, I’m appalled — I grew up on welfare in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, so the charm and appeal of the whole “Eloise at the Plaza” scenario is wasted on me as I consider that we might be raising a spoiled child.

How ironic, then, that just three years later that privileged lifestyle would come crashing down around our heads. My husband, Anthony, now 52, lost his entire fortune — more than $100 million — in the Wall Street financial crisis, leaving us wondering where our next rent check would come from.

Looking back, it was the best thing that ever happened. Hanging out with the uber-wealthy was dull and empty. If someone handed me $100 million today, I’d give it back in a heartbeat. Why? Because I’ve found the fulfillment I’ve craved since childhood.

[Michael.SF.]

If someone handed me $100 million today, I’d give it back in a heartbeat

I can relate to that. I would do the same thing as well.

(but I would charge a 10% handling fee)

[Snickering Hound]

Just a $25 hamburger? Peasant.

[al baby]

Amen to that i play the loserry every week i don’t want the 100 mil but a few mill tax free would be perfect

[al baby]

I put it all on the Underhills American Express card want the number ?

[DaxtonBrown]

Anyone who fails to firewall off a fortune so there is a rainy day fund is Uber stupid. Dumber than a box of rocks.

[terycarl]

Oh please, cry me a river....her 6 year old called and ordered a $25 cheeseburger....didn't mommie ever hear of the word NO????

This article is PATHETIC to say the least.

[MSF BU]

Is that for real?

[Ronald_Magnus]

Oh good, you found my receipt. Thank You.

[boop]

"A year earlier, I’d gotten involved with a mobster. We were together for eight years, during which he abused me, physically and emotionally"

Aww, you only stayed with the guy for eight years.

Not the brightest bulb, are you, miss?

Mobsters are of course KNOWN for their integrity.

My ass bleeds for you, you poor piker.

[kingu]

What I’d love would be for some stupidly rich person to read this type of article, and then send someone down with a 100 million dollar money order and just see what happens. Thing is, no one who has that much money is that stupid.

I know what’ll happen, same as the hypothetical rich person; they’ll cash the check, go right back to ‘easy street’ and be ‘one of the 1% once again’ and make a couple paltry contributions to charity.

Anyone who claims they’ll refuse money is almost always lying.

[sten]

Ummm... The top 1% of earners make a lot less then $1m/yr and have a net worth well below $100m

Of course, this article could be one of the first to transition from identifying taxable groups by income to taxing them by wealth.

[Michael.SF.]

No. It is a hoax. NY Post did the original, but then retracted it.

[Michael.SF.]

The top 1% of earners make a lot less then $1m/yr and have a net worth well below $100m

But anyone who makes more than $1m/yr or is worth more then $100M, is still in the top 1%.

[RginTN]

Hanging out with the uber-wealthy was dull and empty

---

maybe that’s because this woman is dull and empty.

if I had a $100 million I would have many adventures, do charity and still be at peace with myself.

I would prolly stay at the Ritz and order a $25 hamburger...just for the expperience and that money spent is used to create hotel jobs...win-win!

[MSF BU]

Of course, the interesting thing is that it is perfectly believable given her attitude of entitlement.

[Fightin Whitey]

I’d take the 100 mill no problem as long as I didn’t have to have my name and picture in the paper.

‘Course I’m too cheap to buy a ticket so am not likely to have to worry.

[Michael.SF.]

Thing is, no one who has that much money is that stupid."

celebrities who made millions and went broke

Actually, they can be. You just have to catch them early before the stupidity catches up with them. ;)

[kvanbrunt2]

i think you are supposed to buy puts or sell calls to cover that from happening.

[Michael.SF.]

Fake but accurate?