Steve Bing
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Steve Bing | |
---|---|
Born | Stephen Leo Bing March 31, 1965 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | Stanford University |
Occupation(s) | Businessman, film producer, investor, philanthropist, screenwriter |
Years active | 1993–2020 |
Children | 2, including Damian Hurley |
Stephen Leo Bing (March 31, 1965 – June 22, 2020) was an American businessman, film producer, investor, philanthropist, and screenwriter. He was the founder of Shangri-La Entertainment, an organization with interests in property, construction, entertainment and music.
Early life
Bing was born in
Entertainment industry
In 2000, Bing launched his own production company, Shangri-La Entertainment.
In addition to his producing and film finance work, he also co-wrote both the screenplay and the story of Kangaroo Jack (2003).[11]
Politics
Beginning with a $500 contribution in 1993 to support Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. in his bid for re-election, Bing contributed more than $10.7 million at the federal level to the Democratic Party and its candidates.[12]
The biggest checks were written in 2002 when he gave a total of $8.2 million to the Democratic National Committee. He also gave to specific candidates, including Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein.
Bing was reported to have given at least $49.5 million during the 2006 election cycle in support of
In October 2008, Bing pledged to match donations made to the NO[
On December 18, 2008, the William J. Clinton Foundation released a list of all contributors. It included Stephen L. Bing, who gave between US$10–25 million.[16]
On August 5, 2009, a 737 private aircraft owned by Bing and based at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Southern California, was utilized in the return of American reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee who had spent 5 months of a 12-year sentence in North Korea.[17] Former President Bill Clinton was instrumental in their return and accompanied the reporters back to the United States. Bing reportedly covered the whole cost of the flight, estimated to be around $200,000.[18]
Personal life
Lisa Bonder
In 2001, Bing sued billionaire Kirk Kerkorian for invasion of privacy. Bing alleged that convicted criminal and private investigator Anthony Pellicano took Bing's dental floss out of his trash to collect his DNA. At the time, Kerkorian was in a legal fight with his former wife Lisa Bonder, a former professional tennis player, over the amount of child support he would pay, with the billionaire reportedly suspecting Bing (a previous boyfriend) to be the biological father of Bonder's daughter Kira. After Bing was proven by DNA testing to be the father of Bonder's child, Bing and Kerkorian settled their dispute out of court.[19]
Elizabeth Hurley
Bing had a relationship with
Anthony Pellicano
The paternity of Bonder's daughter was revealed by
According to excerpts of recorded calls, Pellicano bragged to Kerkorian's lawyer in April and May 2002 that he was "working for" and "consulting for" Bing in matters related to Elizabeth Hurley and her son's disputed paternity, which was then in the news. Martin Singer, a lawyer for Bing, called Pellicano's statement regarding Hurley "an absolute lie." (Daily Mail reportedly paid a "substantial" settlement to Bing in 2003 after Pellicano's sworn statement that he had "never been engaged by Mr. Bing nor his attorney Mr. Martin Singer to investigate anyone on Mr. Bing's behalf, including Ms. Hurley."[26]) Following two trials in 2008 in which Bing did not testify, Pellicano was convicted of 78 counts of wiretapping, racketeering, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Pellicano was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered, with Terry N. Christensen, to forfeit $2 million.[27]
Philanthropy
In April 2012, Bing committed to join The Giving Pledge, set up by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, willingly donating the majority of his wealth to charity.[28][29]
Death
Bing died by suicide on June 22, 2020, at the age of 55 by jumping from his condominium on the 27th floor of the
With a past linked to drug addiction, including the recent loss of a close girlfriend due to overdose, a history of failed investments in the film industry and failed relationships with both lovers and his own estranged children, at the time of his death, he was worth $300,000 having spent most of the $600 million he had inherited.[32]
References
- ^ a b c Austin Ramzy; Rachel Abrams (June 23, 2020). "Steve Bing, Hollywood Producer and Financier, Is Dead at 55". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Stephen Foley (August 8, 2009). "Steve Bing: Man on a mission". The Independent. London, England. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "$25 million gift endows overseas program, renamed in honor of Bings". Stanford News – Stanford University. October 12, 2005. Archived from the original on August 1, 2011.
- ^ "Vanity Fair". Vanity Fair Publishing Company. 2002 – via Google Books.
- ^ "50% of New "Giving Pledge" Donors are Jewish". the algemeiner. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Anousha Sakoui; Richard Winton (June 23, 2020). "Steve Bing, philanthropist and film producer, dies after fall from building". Yahoo! News. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Goldstein, Patrick (November 17, 2004). "Why is the $170-million 'Polar Express' getting derailed?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ "The Polar Express (2004)". The Numbers.com.
- ^ Richard Jinman (February 14, 2005). "Film notoriety awaits Beowulf". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Alexis Petridis (December 1, 2006). "CD: Jerry Lee Lewis, Last Man Standing". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Leydon, Joe (January 12, 2003). "Kangaroo Jack". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ Yi, Matthew. "Filmmaker a big donor behind the scenes / Stephen Bing spends $49.6 million backing oil tax proposition". SFGATE. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Californians for Clean Alternative Energy". OpenSecrets (Top Donors).
- ^ Gittelsohn, John (November 3, 2005). "Prop. 77: Tale of 2 Steves". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ "Entity Details | BING, STEPHEN". FollowTheMoney.org (Ballot Measure Committees).
- ^ "William J. Clinton Foundation | Contributor Information". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011.
- ^ Mark Landler (August 5, 2009). "After Clinton Trip, U.S. Studies Signals From N. Korea". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2009. (subscription required)
- ^ Alice Gomstyn (August 5, 2009). "Steve Bing to Pay $200K for Clinton Korea Trip". ABC News. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "Dramatic claim to Bing's massive inheritance". NewsComAu. June 23, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ Liz to Reveal All in Court – wenn.com 31 December 2001. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Bing is Hurley baby's father". BBC News. 19 June 2002. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Timeline: The Bing and Hurley affair". BBC. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Liz Hurley's son finally permitted to watch godfather Hugh Grant's movie". Yahoo news. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ David M. Halbfinger (January 11, 2007). "Lawyer Gave Information To Kerkorian". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2007. (subscription required)
- ^ David M. Halbfinger (April 20, 2006). "Billionaire Reports a Shakedown in Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2007. (subscription required)
- ^ David M. Halbfinger; Allison Hope Weiner (April 12, 2007). "Hollywood Evidence Raises Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2007. (subscription required)
- ^ Brooks Barnes (December 15, 2008). "15 Years for Hollywood Investigator". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2008. (subscription required)
- ^ "A Commitment to Philanthropy". The Giving Pledge. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ^ Ade Adeniji (April 16, 2017). "Steve Bing". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved October 19, 2018. (subscription required)
- ^ Pat Saperstein (June 22, 2020). "Steve Bing, Producer and 'Kangaroo Jack' Writer, Dies by Suicide at 55". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ staff writer. "STEVE BING Writer/Producer, Liz Hurley's Ex ... DEAD AT 55 FROM SUICIDE". TMZ. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ Hyde, Jesse (October 20, 2020). "The Tragic Last Days of Movie Mogul Steve Bing". Town & Country. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
External links
- Steve Bing at IMDb
- Steve Bing discography at Discogs