R.I.P.
Rhymes with Red

Hotelier Leona Helmsley, who once served prison time for tax evasion and was often called the "Queen of
Mean," has died. Helmsley suffered heart failure at her summer home in Greenwich, Conn., said her publicist, Howard Rubenstein.

Helmsley, with husband, Harry, ran a $5 billion real estate
empire which included managing the Empire State Building. A former housekeeper once said she heard Helmsley say: "We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes." She later served time in prison for tax evasion.

She denied making the statement, but the words followed her for the rest of her life.

She was 87.

Reader Comments

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1. nice pic LMAO!!!!!!

Posted at 10:22AM on Aug 20th 2007 by dubois

2. I thought she was already dead :(

Posted at 10:14AM on Aug 20th 2007 by I Am Me

3. Died from what?

Posted at 10:15AM on Aug 20th 2007 by MarciP

4. Wow...I don't know what to say. I grew up watching the NYC news stations and there was always something about her back in the 80's.

Mrs. Helmsley, I hope you're at peace where you are. It was obvious you didn't have any on earth.

Posted at 10:16AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Butterfly

5. I feel bad for saying this but, hooray! She was godawful!

Posted at 10:16AM on Aug 20th 2007 by LC

6. She looks like my left nut after surfing

Posted at 10:18AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Al baby

7. Wow.
Leona got more of an obit from TMZ than Merv Griffin!
I guess the "queens of mean" all flock together.

Posted at 10:17AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Kitty

8. Scary, ahhhhhhh

Posted at 10:18AM on Aug 20th 2007 by ZZZZZZZ

9. Everyone sing "Ding dong the witch is dead, which ole' witch the wicked witch is dead"

Posted at 10:21AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Cub

10. that's great new's she was a bitch.

Posted at 10:26AM on Aug 20th 2007 by joe russo

11. Sorry to hear. She had standards, didn't care for anything common, including common people. She knew what she wanted and didn't expect anything less. Also, she didn't "suffer fools gladly". My grandmother lived near her in CT. and having met her many times said she was always refined as well as friendly.

Posted at 10:26AM on Aug 20th 2007 by david

12. You should only speak good of the dead. She's Dead, Good!!!!

Posted at 10:28AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Thatsfunny

13. Yeah,..I am probably going to goto hell for this one but,........

Does she not look like Jack Nicholson as the Joker in that pic???

Posted at 10:31AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Bi-Polar Hippie

14. Sounds like a crusty old bitch.

Couldn't she afford to get her teeth whitened?? Yuck!

Posted at 10:36AM on Aug 20th 2007 by TwinMOm

15. #15...yes, she does and a bit like Grandpa Munster...

Posted at 10:39AM on Aug 20th 2007 by Wendy

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