Leona Helmsley

Leona Helmsley was an American business woman who, with her husband Harry, owned and operated the Helmsley Hotel Chain. She was known for being imperious with her employees, and was dubbed "The Queen of Mean" in the press. She was sent to prison for tax evasion in 1989.

Helmsley, who died in 2007 of heart failure, left the majority of her fortune to dog charities, in honor of her pet Maltese Trouble. However, the trustees of her estate announced on April 21, 2009 that the majority of the fortune—estimated at over $5 billion—would go toward medical charities, and only $1 billion to dogs. In making the decision, the trustees reportedly used a stipulation in Helmsley's will allowing them "discretion" in the money's allocation.Los Angeles Times: Leona Helmsley's trustees throw $1-million bone to dogs (April 21, 2009)

Leona Helmsley was born in Marbletown, New York. She moved to Brooklyn with her family when she was six and eventually dropped out of high school.

She started working in a real estate firm and quickly rose through the ranks to be made vice president. In 1968 she met Harry Helmsley, who was a multi-millionaire real estate investor; the couple married in 1972.

In 1988 United States Attorney Rudy Giuliani prosecuted Leona Helmsley and her husband for tax evasion. Leona served 18 months in prison.