Hot Tips

Posted by Bess Levin, Dec 16, 2008, 1:09pm

Obviously there are going to many lessons to be learned from the Bernie Madoff Movie of the Week, including but not limited to "don't run a Ponzi scheme" and "you wouldn't think it, but apparently fishing is a good enough alibi." One big one, mostly for the now destitute victims of the scam, is to diversify. You have got to diversify! Not only with your investments, but also in life. For instance: if your father, let's call him Walter Noel, Fairfield Greenwich Group founder, is going to put a metric fuckton of his assets into a Ponzi scheme, let's call it Madoff Investment Securities LLC, maybe don't marry one of his employees.

Picture 354.png
Noel girls: Ariane Sodie (the smart one), Alix Toub, Lisina Della Schiava, Corina Piedrahita, and Marisa Brown at their father Walter's house on Mustique.


Related: The Brazilian Connection in the Madoff Scandal


*Or encourage said spouse, employed elsewhere pre-marriage, to say thanks but no thanks to dad.

6Recommend this! 83Comments

Tags: If only you'd gone for a nice Citadel boy...you'd be in pretty much the same position

Comments

1

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:23PM

Too Ponzi, didn't read.

2

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:24PM

FUG!

3

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:27PM

That is one ugly group of rich girls.

4

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:30PM

@3: Growing up, they were considered super-"hot" in G'wich. I went to school with one of them.

5

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:30PM

a bunch of prudes........

6

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:30PM

@3- they're not rich girls anymore.

7

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:31PM

2nd from right ain't bad. The rest of them give me shivers.

8

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:31PM

Too equine, couldn't look.

9

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:32PM

too horsey, didn't read

10

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 1:33PM

Oh god. Again with the predictable ugly comments.

Are you gay? Do you hate women? WTF.

I may be a gay woman hater - but those are NOT ugly women you stupid, needle-dicked punk.


11

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:33PM

@ 8 thats great!

12

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:34PM

far right scores a "1" (binary scale)

13

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:34PM

corina is cute

14

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:35PM

@4...than G'wich is fucking up the definition of hot.

Move to L.A. - you will understand the definition of super hot...very quickly.

Yeah they are horsey looking now that i dared to peer up again.


What WAS Walter Noel's net worth before the fuckton of badness?

15

Posted by Anal_yst, Dec 16, 2008 1:36PM

@7

Not bad? She's gotta grill like Jaws of 007 infamy! Hope for their sake they're not prude, nothing worse than prude, stupid, (apparently now) poor, and (depending on who you ask) fugly

16

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 1:36PM

OK - the one in the middle looks like Sea Biscuit. I will give you that one.

17

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:36PM

Bess -- this is truly some of the most amazing journalism on the Madoff scandal I have seen! Kudos! Connecting the dots with all the FGG principals and Walter's girls and finding a picture of all five of them.... I'm speechless in awe.

18

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:38PM

I love how the husbands' bios include a full sentence on how they "hold FINRA licenses Series 7 and Series 63" like those exams are in any way indicative of their superior business skills, and not tests any monkey can take.

19

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:39PM

@5 - I'll take the other side of that. I'll bet each of them could suck a golf ball through a garden hose well before it was legal to let them do it.

20

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 1:39PM

And second from the left is Leif Garret (look it up)

21

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:39PM

me likey corina. the rest, not so much.

22

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:40PM

Actually, Marshall, 2nd from left is Alfred E Newman.

23

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:41PM

@10 WTF did you expect when pictures of rich, middle-aged, semi-ugly women are posted here? Bess knew full well what the comments would be like, hence the post. Capiche?

24

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:42PM

Keep in mind these women have been styled and made-up by professionals and that picture has been retouched until Hell wouldn't have it. This is as GOOD AS THEY GET. Subtract at least three from their 1-10 scores to get what they look like on an average day.

Well, maybe only two since they are/were all rich and can afford makeup/hair styling etc pretty much all the time.

25

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 1:43PM

I stand corrected.

And they were much better looking when they were younger.

Also- in at least two of the cases, the spouse was already in the FoF business before joining the family biz.

26

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:44PM

I don't believe any of this Madoff shit. I've been living in a cabin in Alaska since 2000 without any news source and I come back to civilization and read Madoff is in trouble?? You fuckers are nuts!! I'm surprised you haven't lost your minds and declared a great company like Enron to be a bunch of crooks, too!!

27

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:44PM

#4 here. Bess, BTW, they got married, THEN the husbands went to work for Daddy. Not the other way around (they didn't marry the men BECAUSE they worked for the dad). Corina's husband was a polo player, I don't think he made any money before FGG.

28

Posted by NAS Keflavik boi, Dec 16, 2008 1:44PM

The two on the right are both quite boneworthy. The other three are pretty low octane. As to #19's observation, I'm skeptical. They all look like they spit the tobacco out the window.

29

Posted by Bess Levin, Dec 16, 2008 1:47PM

@27/4- pretty sure my * covered that.

@23- yes, it couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that they're all married to FGG partners.

30

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:47PM

Bess -- this is truly some of the most amazing journalism on the Madoff scandal I have seen! Kudos! Connecting the dots with all the FGG principals and Walter's girls and finding a picture of all five of them.... I'm speechless in awe.

31

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:47PM

@26 - loser

32

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:50PM

4/27 here: oops, sorry Bess, I did not see the "*".

33

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:55PM

Jesus, it's all Madoff...all the time

Are there any Gasparino newsflashes around today with some totally unfounded rumors about something other thank Madoff? Guess I'm just missin my Gasbag fix.

34

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 1:55PM

Bess - nepotism was not involved. These are heavy hitters - read:

Mr. Toub received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College.
He joined FGG in 1999 after 16 years as Managing Director for two Italian textile firms
Mr. Piedrahita received his Bachelor's Degree from the Boston University School of Communications
Mr. Brown received his Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's College in San Francisco

35

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:56PM

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEED71531F932A15756C0A96F948260&scp=1&sq=Piedrahita&st=nyt

Check the NYT wedding section, they're all there. Brazilian connection? Fuggedaboutit, we got Arabs, Columbians, Italians, Swiss... it's the bloody UN over at FFG.

36

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:56PM

I see that FGG picks women about as well as they pick hedge funds.

37

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:56PM

@34: and don't forget - each of them has his very own Series 7!

38

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:57PM

They must clean up well.

39

Posted by Bess Levin, Dec 16, 2008 1:57PM

@34- Did I say it was? No. The point of the post was to not put everything in one basket, like these girls did (dad and husband).

40

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 1:57PM

Does anyone have a link to the mindless hagiography that Vanity Fair wrote about them several years ago?

41

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 1:58PM

Submitted without comment:

Detailed Due Diligence
Once a manager has passed FGG’s initial review phase, a more
detailed investigation begins. The qualitative and quantitative
reviews cover people, processes, portfolios and procedures. A number
of areas of inquiry are examined by a team of FGG professionals who
specialize in evaluating respective areas of risk. Analysis of portfolio
composition, portfolio stress testing, risk management, asset
verification, peer group comparison, operational and compliance
procedures, information technology, and a review of offering documents
and financial statements are among the areas of examination. This
detailed due diligence phase is extremely labor intensive for both
internal FGG resources and the external consultants we may retain to
assist in a technical aspect of due diligence. Typically, a manager may
be investigated and monitored for many months before that firm is
accepted onto the FGG platform. A long analysis period reduces the risk
of miscommunication and enables FGG to be more confident of its
decisions before proceeding with a manager.

42

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:00PM

@35. Ha! His father is a "commodities trader" in *Bogota*

43

Posted by girl, Dec 16, 2008 2:00PM

These girls epitomize what my brother has always referred to as "Hedge-fund-wife-'pretty' ": Sack of bones, horsey face, and 600 dollar highlights in assorted shades of darkish blonde.

Other non-visible shared qualities of the species include the ability to make other girls at Greenwich Country Day/Choate/Bar Mart cry on a daily basis, sleeping with circa 200 guys at Brown, and quietly nursing a cocaine habit while publicly scoffing at anyone who smokes cigarettes.

44

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 2:02PM

FGG’s due diligence process is deeper and broader than a typical fund of
funds, resembling that of an asset management company acquiring another
asset manager, rather than a passive investor entering a disposable investment.


Ah disposable. Now I get it. Could you run off a few scattergrams? Need to see the dot in the NWQ and then we are good to go.

45

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:07PM

i believe wu tang financial said it the best:

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=11887&title=wu-tang-financial

46

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:10PM

So if this actually gets made into a movie have we discussed casting? I submit that Robin Williams play Bernie Madoff.

Any other suggestions?

47

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:11PM

@42 - (*sniff*) whatever do you mean (*sniff*)??

48

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:12PM

@29 Yeah right...like this pic about the partners' wives was very news-worthy.

This is a tabloid, pure and simple, not the WSJ. No use pretending otherwise, but keep doing what you are doing coz it's obviously working.

49

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:13PM

@46 - Gerard Depardieu (yes, I'm sure I misspelled that) for Bernie, Hanz and Franz for the sons

50

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 2:13PM

@39 BESS -

SARCASM.

51

Posted by Bess Levin, Dec 16, 2008 2:14PM

@47- you're right, for the segment of the dealbreaker population who can't read, this post probably does seem pretty gratuitous.

52

Posted by MarshallStack, Dec 16, 2008 2:20PM

@37

And Series 63.

Proving that you can marry more money in 30 minutes than you can snort in a life time.

Or something like that.

53

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:20PM

bess, the post's not gratuitous; the picture clearly is.

54

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:21PM

can i haz new thread plz?

55

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:22PM

The one on the far right is beautiful, her face is pretty; can't tell what her body is like from the pic. The point is these girls are probably prettier than the average date for the comments posted above. LOL who wouldn't do a rich girl?

56

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:26PM

.5 fed fund rate

57

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:27PM

Yeah, free money for all. Thanks Uncle Ben.

58

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:27PM

can i haz new thread plz?

59

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:28PM

the two on the right are definitely doable, the others are not only equine but "rode hard and put up wet"

60

Posted by Lowly Assistant, Dec 16, 2008 2:28PM

I'd blow my cigarette smoke in their goddamned faces.

61

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:29PM

@55 Since you asked,
http://www.dansmagazine.com/style1-2005/well1.html

Makeup is a wondrous thing.

62

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:41PM

Come on guys, yes to 'em all, even if they are poor.

63

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:41PM

I just blew ass spackle all over my pants

64

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:47PM

Too orange&pregnant, didn't JO&C

65

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 2:54PM

Check this out people:

Madoff investors face off in Palm Beach
http://www.page2live.com/2008/12/16/madoff-investors-in-palm-beach-are-getting-snippy/

66

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:08PM

You know I've been on Facebook too much when I expect that highlighting a linked name beneath someone's picture will display a box around their face...

67

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:18PM

You know I've been on Facebook too much when I expect that highlighting a linked name beneath someone's picture will display a box around their face...

68

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:19PM

Oh man. Great, great, great work. An aversion to diversification apparently runs in the family.

69

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:24PM

Whoops, sorry for the FB-related double post.

Seriously, Bess, get better web-hosting. There's no need for the DB comments page to have the response time of a Russian kiddie-porn bulletin board....

70

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:25PM

re: Corina. Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a really expensive hook in it, courtesy of the right salesman

71

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:29PM

re: Corina. Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a really expensive hook in it, courtesy of the right salesman

72

Posted by Bulging Bracket, Dec 16, 2008 3:42PM

You know you're too WASPy for your own good when those girls look fairly attractive (for their age) and resemble the mom's and wives of people you know. 2 on the right are definitely the best of the bunch.

73

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 3:45PM

The picture does not do justice to the young women. I have met them all. They are very attractive, athletic, intelligent and should not be vilified for their father's investment with Madoff. Walter Noel is a self made man and the girls did not grow up in the lap of luxury, that happened later in life. Their mother is a true beauty, multi-lingual and a generous and kind woman. Shouldn't you focus on the villains here instead of rejoicing in the apparent downfall of a previously fortunate family?

74

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 4:13PM

@73 - Hi, Marisa! How are things in Southampton?

76

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 5:34PM

73 Not sure we're rejoicing in their downfall. Its instead a reaction to having this photo rubbed in our faces. Its probably from Town and Country, which most people avoid like the plague, in order to keep from vomiting. I would imagine that you're in that minority that finds T&C "funzy".

77

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 6:09PM

@75 Hells yeah. Nice!

78

Posted by guest, Dec 16, 2008 8:48PM

Caption contest: I can't believe this happened - Daddy had always said never trust Jews.

79

Posted by guest, Dec 17, 2008 8:46AM

Anyone have the link to the 2002 Vanity Fair article "Golden in Greenwich?"

80

Posted by guest, Dec 17, 2008 9:35AM

Does it even matter how they look? The truth is the son-in-laws can now realize they made a deal with the devil. Who would want to inherit this mess?!
Separately, FG seemed to be all about style and no substance. Clearly, W. Noel wasn't trying to hire the best people and hired family instead. . .all very troubling indeed.

81

Posted by guest, Dec 17, 2008 10:52AM

From lap pool to lap dances, that's a hard fall at any age. Most people's objection to these people is the constant, fatuous and fawning media coverage that they get for leading charmed lives. And jamming it in your grille every chance they get. FYI their mother acts as the media (and marriage) pimp.

Drink up the schdenfreude.

83

Posted by guest, Dec 22, 2008 5:08PM

Hey MarshallStack@34, another hedge fund hottie comes suitably equipped:

...in the evenings she attended Pratt Institute, where she majored in film. She graduated in five years with a fine-arts degree. Bidding Scudder farewell, Manzke embarked on a movie career. But after a year, she'd had enough. "Either I was making a lot of money, or I was poor for weeks on end," she recalls. "I had several gigs, and was about to become a script girl on a major production, but there was a strike and, all of a sudden, finance started looking like a pretty good option."

She re-entered the investment world by working briefly at a small firm, where she analyzed investment managers' performance. In 1978, she got an important break when she landed a position at Rogers Casey & Barksdale as the head of its performance-measurement unit.

Post Your Comment