biography

Backgammon, Bocce and Conrad Black.

Just 10 years ago the continent’s wealthy were retiring to their lush Palm Beach estates where, although long since disappeared, the names like Vanderbilt and Kennedy still ring loud and clear. Many would spend the winter month’s soiree-ing with the elite at costume parties dressed as their favorite Wilde character. However, this is not the case for some of today’s wealthy businessmen and definitely not for Conrad Black. Instead of spending his nights in his $35 million dollar villa in Palm Beach, the infamous media giant and former owner of the Hollinger Empire has graciously decided to sell and move up the street to live a little more like the common people. Referred to as ‘slumming it’ this practice of downgrading one’s lifestyle has become a fanatical rage among the elite. Just check out any celebrity blog and you’ll see that scores of the affluent are heading the way of the lesser.

Today marks the day that Black will move into his one room Tampa apartment. Like all residents of Coleman, a 1000 + room facility, he will share his abode with a fellow “mogul-turned-downsizer.” Some of his possible roomies include: Stephen Clarke a fellow Canuck and resident of Coleman for almost a year, whose entrepreneurial skills made him owner of his own credit card company—a mighty feat for someone only 48 years of age. Or there is former lawyer and choir director Garland Hogan. Affectionately referred to as Caesar for his undefeated Bocce streak, his charity work with the elderly netted him over $110 million. Perhaps, however, Black will get lucky and end up with George A. Martorano. A former independent drug distributor and pharmaceutical owner, Martorano’s has taken a big gamble and already signed on to the Tampa-based establishment for the rest of his life. Stability is always nice when you’re the new guy on the block.

One Miami lawyer who has assisted many of these, often overworked, men with the disposal of their estates notes that Coleman is “a place where you can feel like you’re not going to be accosted,” which is important to high profile figures such as Black. Most of these “retirees” are exhausted from the constant barrage of media and the weekly appearances and wouldn’t mind a little peace or a few games of backgammon. Although the speed of today’s trends suggest that it’s only a matter of time before the nouveaux riche come up with a new trend, I have a feeling that facilities like Coleman will be around for longer than we think—say, oh I don’t know, five maybe six years.

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 For more information on Conrad Black and his trial read:

Tilted: The Trial of Conrad Black by Steven Skurka

© 2008 Defining Canada.