10. Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean

Via Wiki Commons
Via Wikimedia Commons

Harry and Leona Helmsley were real estate tycoons who owned many buildings including the Empire State Building and the Ritz Carlton. Though 230 Fifth Avenue changed owners in the late ’90s, there are still employees (porters, engineers) of the building who once worked for the Helmsleys. Leona was given the nickname, “Queen of Mean” due to her treatment of the employees. One employee was in charge of labeling the extension sheets on all her telephones in her home. She fired her employees on a constant basis though some weren’t actually fired. Her quote  “We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes” sealed her fate and she was sent to prison for 19 months.

In 1999, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust was created in their name. The trust, formed after Leona’s stint in prison, aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional nonprofits and mission-aligned organizations in the U.S. and around the world in health, place-based initiatives, education and human services. Its headquarters are located on the sixth floor of 230 Park Avenue. Leona herself passed away in 2007.

Next, read about the Top 10 Secrets of Grand Central Terminal and see more of what remains of Terminal City.