Denise Eisenberg Rich

Denise Rich
Born Denise Eisenberg
January 26, 1944
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Other names Denise Eisenberg Rich
Joy Denny
Ethnicity Jewish
Citizenship Austrian[1]
Occupation Singer-songwriter, socialite, philanthropist, political fundraiser
Spouse(s) Marc Rich
(m. 1966-1996; divorced; 3 children)
Children Daniella Rich Kilstock[2]
Ilona Malka Rich (Schachter)[3][4][5][6][7]
Gabrielle Rich Aouad (died of leukemia in 1996)[8]
Parent(s) Emil Eisenberg
Gery Diamant (mother)

Denise Rich (née Eisenberg; born January 26, 1944) is a US-born Austrian singer-songwriter, socialite, philanthropist, and political fundraiser.[9]

Early life and education

Denise Eisenberg was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Emil Eisenberg and Gery Diamant.[10][11] In 1962, she graduated from Bancroft School.[12]

Music career

In 1984, Rich penned the lyrics to "Frankie", a hit in 1986 for the R&B group Sister Sledge.[9][13] Since then, she has written songs recorded by Phyllis Hyman, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, Marc Anthony, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross.[9][13][14] Her work has been nominated three times for Grammy Awards, most recently for the 1999 Aretha Franklin/Mary J. Blige duet entitled "Don't Waste Your Time".[15] She also co-wrote the international hit "Candy" recorded by Mandy Moore.

Philanthropy

Gabrielle Rich Aouad, Denise and Marc Rich's daughter, died of leukemia at age 27. As a result, Denise Rich and Philip Aouad, Gabrielle's widower, founded the G&P Foundation for Cancer Research.[13] It has since been renamed Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.[16][17]

Personal life

Eisenberg is in a relationship with Peter Cervinka, an Austrian property developer.[18]

Denise Eisenberg met Marc Rich on a blind date, engineered by her father, shoe manufacturer Emil Eisenberg.[19] They married in 1966 and had three children, Daniella, Ilona, and Gabrielle.[9][16][20] They divorced in 1996.[21]

Ex-husband's presidential pardon

Marc Rich received pardon from U.S. President Bill Clinton on January 20, 2001, Clinton's last day in office.[14][22] The pardon became controversial after reports surfaced that Denise Rich had made donations totalling more than one million dollars to the Democratic Party and the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park.[14][22] At a congressional hearing into whether the pardon was granted in exchange for her contributions, Rich invoked the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which denies the government power to compel self-incrimination.[14][22]

Citizenship

In what was widely speculated to be an attempt to avoid paying US taxes,[23][24] Rich renounced her U.S. citizenship in November 2011 and became an Austrian citizen.[25]

Offshore leaks

In April 2013, as part of the Offshore leaks tax evasion scandal, financial records were released that showed that Denise Rich in April 2006 had USD 144 million protected from scrutiny by the Cook Islands in the South Pacific in the form of a trust including a Learjet 60 and a 157-foot yacht called the "Lady Joy".[26][27]

References

  1. ↑ Browning, Lynnley (2012-07-09). "Socialite Denise Rich Dumps U.S. Passport - Yahoo Finance". Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  2. ↑ http://www.wwd.com/eye/people/denise-rich-sets-up-shop-5816565
  3. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2954888/Most-influential-Americans-in-the-UK-40-to-31.html
  4. ↑ http://www.thelondonmagazine.co.uk/interiors-gardens/celebrity-homes/inside-the-home-of-art-dealer-kenny-schachter.html
  5. ↑ http://www.foxnews.com/story/2001/04/04/fox-411-burt-loni-pulling-teeth-as-divorced-parents/
  6. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/garden/09Schachter.html
  7. ↑ http://observer.com/2001/03/denise-and-daughter-isnt-it-rich/
  8. ↑ http://www.gabriellesangels.org/who-we-are/our-inspiration/#.VBeSd1YQuRU
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Her E. Side Life of Glitter Loses Its Luster", Corky Siemaszko, New York Daily News, January 25, 2001
  10. ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/entertainment-us-usa-immigration-deniser-idUSBRE8680MN20120709
  11. ↑ http://www.telegram.com/article/20130626/NEWS/306269831/0
  12. ↑ http://www.telegram.com/article/20130626/NEWS/306269831/0
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Public Lives; Songwriter Who Doubles as Friend of Bill", Edward Wong, The New York Times, October 11, 2000
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Lady Gatsby", Don Wallace, Yachting, May 2006
  15. ↑ "Oh, That's Rich", Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly, March 2, 2001
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Joie de Vivre", Amen Wardy, Aspen, September 2008
  17. ↑ Gabrielle's Angel Foundation home page
  18. ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/entertainment-us-usa-immigration-deniser-idUSBRE8680MN20120709
  19. ↑ Ammann, Daniel (2009). The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich. New York: St. Martin‘s Press. ISBN 0-312-57074-0.
  20. ↑ "Fugitive Dinner", ""Page Six", New York Post, February 26, 2008
  21. ↑ "Roger Clinton Subpoenaed To Testify About Pardons", Robert D. McFadden, The New York Times, April 16, 2001
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Schudel, Matt Fugitive financier pardoned by Clinton The Washington Post, 26 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Denise Rich gives up U.S. citizenship, will save millions in U.S. taxes, report says". Fox News Channel. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  24. ↑ McCormick, Jason (11 July 2012). "5 citizens who left the U.S. to avoid paying tax". CBS News. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  25. ↑ Hughes, Siobhan (2012-07-09). "Denise Rich Gives Up U.S. citizenship". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  26. ↑ Secret Files Expose Offshore’s Global Impact The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. April 3, 2013
  27. ↑ Wayne, Leslie. Cook Islands, a Paradise of Untouchable Assets, The New York Times, 14 December 2013, accessed 27 December 2013.

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