Guggenheim family

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Entrance to Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Venice, Italy
ASARCO mine near Garfield, Utah.

The Guggenheim family is an American family, of Swiss Jewish ancestry. Beginning with Meyer Guggenheim, who arrived in America in 1847, the family were known for their global successes in mining and smelting (including the American Smelting And Refining Company). During the 19th century, the family possessed one of the largest fortunes in the world. They later became known for their philanthropy in diverse areas such as modern art and aviation, including several Guggenheim Museums as well as the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory and I. M. Pei's Guggenheim Pavilion at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. They sold off their global mining interests following World War I, then later purchased nitrate mines in Chile. Subsequently, the family largely left business. However, one family investment company, Guggenheim Partners, today manages over $100 billion assets.[1] Another family vehicle, Guggenheim Investment Advisors, oversees about $50 billion in assets.[2]


Members of the Meyer Guggenheim family include:

Barbara King-Farlowe John King-Farlowe

  • Robert G. Guggenheim (1867–1876)
  • Simon Guggenheim (1867–1941)
  • m. Olga Hirsch (1877–1970)
    • John Guggenheim (1905–1922)
    • George Guggenheim (1907–1939)
  • William Guggenheim (1868–1941)
  • Rose Guggenheim (1871–1945)
  • m. Albert Loeb
    • Harold A. Loeb (1891–1974)
    • Edwin M. Loeb (1894–1966)
    • Willard E. Loeb (1896–1958)
  • Cora Guggenheim (1873–1956)
  • m. Louis F. Rothschild (1869–1957)
    • Louis F. Rothschild, Jr. (1900–1902)
    • Muriel B. Rothschild (1903–?)
  • m. William Donald Scott
    • Gwendolyn F. Rothschild (1906–1983)

Contents

[edit] Alleged impersonation scandal

It is alleged by the FBI that over 2010 and early 2011 three grifters by the names of Catarina Pietra Toumei Toumei, 45, David Birnbaum from Brooklyn, 67, and Vladimir Zuravel, 45, from Queens allegedly represented as members of the Guggenheim family and tried to swindle investors of billions of dollars as they tried to sell them $1bn of diamonds "from the private collection of the Guggenheim family", a batch of "Guggenheim Vodka", and $4bn worth of crude oil from a Guggenheim-owned refinery in China. Reports stated that the FBI are looking for the alleged criminals and quoted Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York as saying "The defendants allegedly impersonated one of America's most famous families to fleece potential victims by pitching bogus investments,".[3][4]

Toumei, of Rancho Santa Fe, California who later surrendered and was released on a bond of $200,000 is said to have claimed to have been married to John Ratzenberger, an actor with roles in the famous sitcom Cheers and in animation film Toy Story 3. Ratzenberger's publicist said they had a "short lived relationship" and that Ratzenberger was unaware of any criminal activity.

David Birnbaum and Vladimir Zuravel have been charged in the failed scheme. Zuravel claims that Birnbaum was a legitimate heir of the Guggenheim family.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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