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Meshulam Riklis

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (December 2, 1923-January 25, 2019)
    Born in Istanbul, Turkey
    Corporate raider
    Established Riklis Family Corporation
    Has owned Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics, Faberge, Samsonite, Culligan International, Beatrice Foods and the Riviera casino in Las Vegas
    Married Pia Zadora (1977-93)

Why he might be annoying:

    He got in trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission for mixing personal and company business (1978).
    He has been repeatedly accused of using multiple holding companies to strip assets from corporations and leave investors holding the debts.
    While running the Riviera, he was sued by Alan King, Buddy Hackett and Merv Griffin over cancelled bookings.
    He was sued by Donald Trump for back rent after he and Zadora snuck out of their Trump Tower suite in the middle of the night (1992).
    He was responsible for inflicting Pia Zadora's movie career on the public by financing her films.
    He treated members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to a Vegas junket after which the group decided to give Zadora a 'New Star of the Year' Golden Globe (1982).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was born two months prematurely while his parents were emigrating from Russia to Palestine.
    He got his business start as a child, wheeling and dealing in kites.
    He was a pioneer of business techniques such as junk bonds and leveraged buyouts.
    He donated $1 million annually to the United Jewish Appeal.
    Stacy Keach, who co-starred with Zadora in 'Butterfly,' said, 'People assume that Rik loves Pia because she's young and beautiful and she loves him because of his money. There's more to it than that.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 70 Votes: 54.29% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 16 Votes: 93.75% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying