Peter S. Kalikow

Peter S. Kalikow

Peter S. Kalikow at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2007
Born December 1, 1942
Nationality United States
Ethnicity Jewish
Occupation Real estate development;
public service
Known for President of H.J. Kalikow & Company, LLC
Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Owner and publisher of the New York Post
Spouse(s) Mary Kalikow
Children 2:
Nicholas Alexander Kalikow
Kathryn Harold Kalikow

Peter S. Kalikow (born December 1, 1942) is President of H. J. Kalikow & Company, LLC, one of New York City's leading real estate firms. He is the former Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA),[1] former Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey[2] and past owner and publisher of the New York Post< /> which he bought from Rupert Murdoch in 1988 for $37.6 million[2] and lost to bankruptcy in 1993.[2] His net worth in 2013 was reported at nearly $500 million.[1] Others in 2013 reported his fortune to be $1 billion.[2]

Career

Born to a Jewish family,[3] the son of Juliet and Harold J. Kalikow.[4] Kalikow was raised in Forest Hills, Queens, the grandson of an immigrant from Russia who developed housing on large tracts of undeveloped farmland in Queens in 1930s and then aided by his son, made a small fortune from the post-World War II housing boom building thousands of six-story apartment buildings.[5] After graduating from Hofstra University, Kalikow began his career in real estate in 1967 and became President of H. J. Kalikow & Co. in 1973. Following his father's death in 1982, Kalikow assumed responsibility for all Kalikow holdings. Kalikow is the third generation to preside over his family’s 77 year-old real estate company founded in 1927.[6]

In May 2000, Kalikow was named Chairman of the Grand Central Partnership Board of Directors. The Grand Central Partnership is one of the largest and most successful Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in New York City.[6] Kalikow is very familiar with the area covered by the Grand Central Partnership, as his company headquarters, 101 Park Avenue, was one of the first new office developments in the area dating back to 1982.

Political involvement

Kalikow is known for his support of Republican political candidates, and endorsed Herman Cain in the United States presidential election, 2012.[7] When Cain dropped out of the race, it was revealed that his "super PAC", called "Cain Connections,"[8] was funded by a single $50,000 donation from Kalikow.[9]

Philanthropy and accolades

Kalikow is a trustee of the Museum of Jewish Heritage and he serves on the boards of New York Presbyterian Hospital and Hofstra University.[10] He helped to create the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.[10]

In 1982, he was awarded the Israel Peace Medal, Israel’s highest civilian award, for his dedication in assisting the nation’s development.[10] In November 2008, Mr. Kalikow was honored by Consul General of Italy Francesco M. Talo,[6] with the Commendatore[6][11] in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Government of Italy. Mr. Kalikow is widely recognized as a cultural ambassador for his economic and philanthropic efforts as they relate to Italy.

Personal life

He and his wife Mary have two children, Nicholas Alexander and Kathryn Harold.

Kalikow's son Nicholas Alexander [6][12] graduated from Columbia University, after majoring in art history.[13] Nicholas works in the film industry.[14] He started his film company, called Film 101 Productions, after first working for his father in real estate for a short while.[13] He was executive producer for a film "The Outdoorsmen: Blood, Sweat and Beers," which showed at the Tribeca Film Festival and aired on Spike TV.[13] In 2004, he made a short film called "A Funny Thing Happened at the Quickmart," which also showed at the Tribeca Film Festival.[13] He also directed a film in Vancouver, called Concrete Blondes.[15][16] The movie was released January 2012.[17]

Car collection

Kalikow has been called one of the most famous car collectors in the United States.[18][19] He speaks with expertise on $250K and more expensive "muscle cars" and is interested in "personal coach building."[18] He has a particular passion for vintage Ferraris of the 50s and 60s.[18] The cars he uses most frequently are his "Californias (LWB and SWB) and of course my 400 Supermerica Aerodinamica."[18] He also commissioned Pininfarina with the design of one-off exclusive car called the Ferrari 612 Kappa.[18] Part of his instructions to Pininfarina were, “The car should be totally rebodied but the style changes should be so slight and fine to allow that no more than 10% of Ferrari experts to catch them at first glance.”[18] In doing this project, the small adjustments he asked for meant that body panels needed to be completely redesigned in order for the car to meet standards.[18] To work on the project, he received daily emails and made three or four trips to Torino to get the touch and feel of the car.[18] He also owns the Ferrari Superamerica 45,[20] celebrating Kalikow's 45th year as a Ferrari customer. In 1972, Kalikow started the Momo car company.[19] He "self-made" six models of the 1972 Momo Mirage, and in 2009 FedExed the one he owned to Como, Italy.[19] In 2006, he placed "best in show" at Villa d'Este, Como, Italy, for his Ferrari 410 SA Coupé Pinin Farina #1449 SA.[21] In another event, his 1959 Ferrari, a Superamerica 410,[22] valued at $1 million at the time, suffered damage on a Singapore Airlines flight from Zürich to New York in May 2006.[22] The car had been at Lake Como, Italy at a car show. Jet fuel spilled on the car while in transit. Insurance covered $32,157 worth of damages.[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 New York Post: "Kalikow’s kid in heroin bust - Nailed in Bronx with ‘junkie’ beau" By JAMIE SCHRAM, DOUGLAS MONTERO and SELIM ALGAR March 26, 2013
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic
  3. ↑ We Are Many: Reflections On American Jewish History And Identity By Edward S Shapiro retrieved April 6, 2013
  4. ↑ New York Times: "Paid Notice: Deaths LEVENE, JULIET KALIKOW" November 13, 2000
  5. ↑ New York Magazine: "Underground Man - Real-estate tycoon Peter Kalikow is rewriting his legacy by presiding over the biggest expansion of New York’s transit system in 60 years. And the Second Avenue subway is only part of the MTA chairman’s plan" by Craig Horowitz retrieved April 6, 2013
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 New York State Senate Resolution: J1693-2009: "Honoring Peter S. Kalikow upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition" ADOPTED May 5, 2009
  7. ↑ Dicker, Fredric (November 14, 2011). On the Cain train. New York Post. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  8. ↑ http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/01/31/8057/cain-candidate-or-cain-super-pac-man
  9. ↑ http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/former_new_york_post_publisher_funded_herman_cain_super_pac.php
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Museum of Jewish Heritage: "Peter S. Kalikow and Bruce C. Ratner Honored by the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust at its 12 th Annual Heritage Dinner" March 3, 2008
  11. ↑ http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/italian_studies/people.html
  12. ↑ http://dailyentertainmentnews.com/tag/peter-kalikow/
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 PRN newswire: "Latest Docu-Comedy from Kalikow's Film 101 Productions and Director" 2006
  14. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1597823/
  15. ↑ http://www.capricatv.net/2011/07/updates-husbands-comic-con-cast-roundup.html
  16. ↑ http://www.celebritynetworth.com/film/m/0h2s58c/
  17. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005185/
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 Veloce Today: "K is for Kalikow" January 24, 2007
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 The Daily Truffle: "World Report: FedEx the “Momo” to Como & meet me at Villa d’Este’s Concorso d’Eleganza" by Nic Kalikow May 1, 2009
  20. ↑ http://www.autoweek.nl/autonieuws/16689/ferrari-superamerica-45-daar-is-er-maar-van
  21. ↑ http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vintage-thru-365-gtc4-sponsored-redline-restorations/103227-peter-kalikows-410-sa-1449-sa-wins-best-show-villa-deste-2006-a.html
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/32g-stain-peter-kalikow-ferrari-article-1.242479
  23. ↑ http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/item_8mBbNzpKG3RNoVgXhv9CFI;jsessionid=C317C641BBA2B4C95E44FD6ED71BBB1F

External links