"Poor" Annie Leibovitz

Wed, 2009-02-25 12:39

Sven

Annie Leibovitz decided to pawn about $15 million (!!!) of her art (including the rights to every photogrpah she's ever snapped) as collateral in order to fund the debt on her housing mortgages and "other financial stresses".

All as reported in The New York Times: "Those who know Ms. Leibovitz said she used the money to pay off mortgages and deal with other financial stresses."

Now, there is someone who is seriously living beyond her means.

Wow.

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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Wed, 2009-02-25 15:34

#3

Stargazer

I like her as a photographer., and this is not supposed to be mocking. As in, I'm not so sure why you are gloating? Are you gloating?

Wed, 2009-02-25 15:39

#4

Sven

Stargazer wrote:
I like her as a photographer., and this is not supposed to be mocking. As in, I'm not so sure why you are gloating? Are you gloating?

Actually, no. I'm stunned that someone that wealthy is that screwed up financially. I'm a regular reader of Vanity Fair (and her photographs are are regular features of VF--all (?) covers of VF are based on her photos and many internal pieces use her photos as well) and I enjoy her work tremendously.

That being said, I think your question is a good one as many people do gloat when wealthy people like Leibovitz end up on hard times.

_______________________________________

[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Wed, 2009-02-25 15:42

#5

Michelle

I'm not sure what the point is either - I guess just general interest news about an artist?

Anyhow, yeah, I guess she was living beyond her means. A lot of us do. Especially when we're in an industry where our livelihoods directly depend on people's disposable income being spent on what we produce, and then all of a sudden, our target market's disposable income drops.

She's one of the few artists out there who make a decent income from her art. Hard to pity someone who is $15 million in debt, but then, at the same time, it's easy to see how someone could be living within their means but then suddenly finding themselves destitute when a sudden drop in income happens.

I've found, in my own modest home economics, that my expenses always stretch to meet my income when it goes up.

Wed, 2009-02-25 15:43

#6

Stargazer

I admire anyone that can make a good living off of their art. It's horrible that times are so bad, she has to sell off her photos just to cover her mortgage. I just never expected this to happen to her at all.

BTW Sven, do you like Tama Janowitz?? I was just wondering, as I have yet to meet anyone besides myself who so completely loves her writing.

Wed, 2009-02-25 15:43

#7

Unionist

Welcome to the National Enquirer®, "progressive" edition.

Wed, 2009-02-25 16:13

#8

Stargazer

Hmm....well you know, it sometimes nice to have distractions from our pain. If Tama or Annie's art makes me happy then hey, why not?

Wed, 2009-02-25 16:16

#9

Sven

Stargazer wrote:
Hmm....well you know, it sometimes nice to have distractions from our pain. If Tama or Annie's art makes me happy then hey, why not?

And, I'll admit, talking about Leibovitz here is akin to talking about the Oscars here. Is it "world problem" kind of news? No. But, what the hey.

_______________________________________

[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Wed, 2009-02-25 23:34

#10

jas

.

Wed, 2009-02-25 23:35

#11

jas

I'm surprised Annie Liebowitz had $15 million worth of assets to sell.

Wed, 2009-02-25 23:38

#12

Sven

jas wrote:

Now we can't even talk about octuplets because it's not the right "kind" of topic.

We can't?

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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Wed, 2009-02-25 23:54

#13

Sven

Sven wrote:
jas wrote:

Now we can't even talk about octuplets because it's not the right "kind" of topic.

We can't?

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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

_______________________________________ [b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Thu, 2009-02-26 00:09

#14

al-Qa'bong

I just heard on AM640 that "Vivid Entertainment" wants the Octo-mummy to shoot a porno.

I'm trying to think of a film title in which one could work in "post-partum depression."

Tue, 2009-03-10 10:34

#15

Scout

Quote:
When Sontag died in 2004, she bequeathed several properties to Leibovitz, who was forced to pony up half of their value to keep them. Yes, she makes a nice chunk of change from Vanity Fair, and yes, she probably could have just sold the properties when the market was good in 2004, but that’s not really the point. The point is she should never have been in the position of paying or selling to not pay as much in the first place. Her wealth and poor decision-making are incidental.

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/annie-leibovitz-financial-straits-fueled-by-gay-tax-inequalities.html

Tue, 2009-03-10 12:28

#16

remind

Thanks for that infomration piece scout, and I agree, the tax inequalities are the issue here.