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How a Malaysian Money Scandal Ensnared Leonardo DiCaprio, Miranda Kerr, and Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Street, almost wasn’t made.It was ONLY made possible by a production company named Red Granite Pictures. Founded by Riza Aziz, stepson of the PM of Malaysia, Red Granite Pictures gave more than $100 million to see DiCaprio & Scorsese’s 2013 film to completion. DiCaprio found himself embroiled in a large-scale Malaysian money-laundering scandal.
Red Granite Pictures was potentially investing money that had been pilfered from 1MDB, a fund set up by the PM of Malaysia in order to jumpstart economic development. According to complaints, over $3.5 billion was misappropriated from the 1MDB fund from 2009 -2015. Instead of improving the well-being of the Malaysian people, 1MDB money was allegedly used to fund films like The Wolf of Wall Street & purchase incredibly valuable artwork & real estate, According to the DOJ, the funds were allegedly laundered through a series of shell companies and bank accts in Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the U.S. The money was then processed through U.S. financial institutions.
A wide-reaching web of implicated celebs fit into this criminal plot through Jho Low, a businessman and childhood friend of Riza Aziz. For Low's 28th birthday in Vegas, it's reported he flew his entire entourage to Caesars in a jumbo jet, detailing a 4 day extravaganza, “sources said the pool was stocked with bikini-clad party girls and surrounded by caged lions and tigers.” Low and guests kept the party going at a Vegas nightclub, where he reportedly purchased 120 bottles of Cristal and partied with Paris Hilton, Usher, and Jamie Foxx.
Low who stands accused of using stolen 1MDB funds to bankroll his lavish lifestyle had a particularly special friend in Leo DiCaprio. Low wasn’t just the “face of the financing” at Red Granite, he also quickly became the star’s No.1 bro.Low joined DiCaprio for trips, like an $11 mil Vegas rampage. DiCaprio reportedly got onstage during Low’s 30th birthday party and rapped with Busta Rhymes. Low and DiCaprio’s bond was cemented through frequent, one-sided presents. Low and Red Granite Pictures even gifted DiCaprio with Brando’s On the Waterfront Oscar, a $600,000 token of affection.
According to a recently filed complaint, DiCaprio also accepted a host of expensive art from his pal. Among those marked for seizure are a $3.28 million Picasso, a $750,000 Diane Arbus photograph, and a $9.2 million Basquiat.
DiCaprio’s spokesperson maintains the actor was fully cooperative & had his reps call the DOJ. & offered the return of any illegal gifts or donations,
DiCaprio pledged to return any donations to his charitable foundation that are found to be illegal; Low donated a $700,000 Roy Lichtenstein sculpture at DiCaprio’s 2015 charity auction.
Model Miranda Kerr, who was romantically linked to Low was forced to surrender $8.1 million worth of jewels. Low gifted the pieces,including a $3.8 million, 8.88-carat diamond pendant to the model in 2014.The first present was a heart-shape diamond inscribed with the model’s initials, for $1.29 million.
Kerr and DiCaprio are the only celebs to have surrendered assets to the feds so far. Low allegedly paid Paris Hilton $1 million to party with him in St. Tropez. Her publicist denied reports, claiming “He has not paid her in any way, although he is extremely generous.” Lindsay Lohan, received 23 bottles of Cristal from Low on her 23rd birthday. He flew Busta Rhymes & Ludacris to Malaysia to perform & allegedly bankrolling his favorite celebrities’ pet charities.
Another high-profile recipient of Low’s is the director, Scorsese. According to reports, more than $4.2 million in stolen funds were used to purchase original movie posters, including a $1.2 million original of 1927’s Metropolis. He also adorned his ill-begotten apt. with these expensive posters, Riza Aziz also gifted some of the posters to DiCaprio and Scorsese, according to the feds’ suit, DiCaprio actually introduced Aziz to the poster purveyor. Then there’s Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Institute, which received donations from Low’s Jynwel Foundation. While The Tribeca Film Institute does not deny the charitable contribution, De Niro when asked by The to speak of his link to the Malaysian scandal, he responded, “I don’t care whether my name is associated with it. I didn’t do anything.” He continued, “I’m aware of it, but I don’t give a shit. When I have to tell something to somebody, I’ll answer to them and that will be it.”
All of the other celebs that Low has either paid or partied with, include Megan Fox and Kanye West. As a result of their investigation into Red Granite, the federal government has seized the rights to Dumb and Dumber Too.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-a-malaysian-money-scandal-ensnared-leonardo-dicaprio-miranda-kerr-and-martin-scorsese