Posted on 03/05/2005 5:22:05 AM PST by Liz
The rarefied world of investment banking was stunned yesterday by the mysterious murder of Swiss banker Edouard Stern, scion of one of Europe's richest families.
The bullet-riddled body of the 50-year-old financier — known for his nasty temper and ruthless deals — was discovered inside his locked Geneva penthouse atop a super-secure building that houses a police station on the ground floor.
Geneva's chief investigator Michel Graber said there were no signs of a break-in, leading police to believe he let his killers inside the building, which is equipped with security cameras throughout.
French daily Le Monde said Stern's recent real estate dealings with shadowy Russian and Eastern European figures may be linked to the slaying.
Stern, whose estranged wife's family controls the Lazard Freres merchant bank, had spoken recently of death threats against him and had taken steps to protect himself, the daily said.
She's the daughter of one of the world's richest investment bankers, Michel David-Weill, whose family has controlled the Lazard empire since 1840.
After marrying her, Stern became a managing partner at Lazard and was the heir apparent to the multibillion-dollar banking fortune. But his foul temper caused a falling-out with his father-in-law, and he left the company in 1997 after just five years to start his own investment operation, valued now at about $800 million.
Stern was legendary for his short fuse, cruel tongue and heavy hand in business. At the age of 22, he plotted to throw out his own father, Antoine, from the family's Swiss bank, Banque Stern. He sold it later for $355 million and then married the Lazard heiress.
Colleagues said his arrogance and meanness drove out many of the firm's top pros.....
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Apparently a smart guy, but let his urges get control of him. He paid dearly.
I went house hunting here in L.A. and toured a home with very suspicious closets ... with devices to unlock from the inside. The hairs on my neck went up. How can one live like that!
I guess money can't buy you everything?
C'est la vie. C'est finit.
That is weird....but hey, so are a lot of things in La La Land.
OK, true. But I won't live in a home that looks like a torture chamber ... I suspect you won't either. I live in a semi-gay neighborhood (the "Swish Alps" hilly area of L.A). Maybe that's why I own a new home ... original owner.
This reads like a Susan Howatch novel. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
There was a csi episode where a super rich mogul had a secret room and he would put on a diaper and get into a giant baby crib and had a woman diaper him and change his spoiled diapers. He also had baby bottles with her breast milk inside. I told my wife I thought the show had maybe just jumped the shark? I guess not.
What is it with these rich guys??
LOL What, you've never seen a 'Yoga pole'?
Apparently you can get a nice latex suit though...
They just don't have enough nice things to say about this guy.
Have they cleared the wife? They say the spouse is always the first suspect cops look at.
Police are looking for the Sprockets guys from SNL, Deitrich and _________?
The bullet-riddled body of the 50-year-old financier — known for his nasty temper and ruthless deals — was discovered inside his locked Geneva penthouse atop a super-secure building that houses a police station on the ground floor."
Somewhere, right now, John Le Carre is reading this, stroking his chin and going "hmmmm..."
"They just don't have enough nice things to say about this guy."
LOL yeah really! And considering he's a murder victim too. He must have been some piece of work.
Stern's death sounds like a ritual killing which is part of the sado-sex lifestyle.
Someone once wrote a book about bizarre Hollywood-type deaths (library probably has it).
Albert Dekker ---Island of Dr Moreau star (catch it on AMC every now and then)--- found swinging from a showerhead, hog-tied, and savagely beaten.
Silent star Ramon Navarro was brutally killed by two gay prostitutes.
Sal Mineo was also killed in a gay sex romp.
Stories include one of the Gabor sisters dating a very prominent and successful executive who took her to his home---and a room outfitted like a torture dungeon. Can't imagine what went on there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.