Rich guy: Wife didn’t help me
BILLIONAIRE developer Harry Macklowe (top) claimed in divorce court Thursday that his estranged wife had nothing to do with building his real estate empire — but he had everything to do with her assembling her beloved art collection.
The 80-year-old’s testimony directly challenged Linda Macklowe’s account of their marriage of 58 years. Linda Macklowe, 79, (right) filed for divorce last year. The two are fighting over the value of their real estate empire and world-class art collection. He has estimated his marital assets are worth $1.3 billion.
“My wife, she played no role in the assembling of the buildings, building of the buildings, amassing of the buildings. She was invited by me to participate in the art aspects of the buildings I built,” Harry Macklowe said in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Linda Macklowe previously testified she provided an important artistic sensibility to Macklowe’s properties. She said the art collection was her life’s work and her husband had little interest in it.
“I paid for all of the art that we bought,” Harry Macklowe said.