Court documents released on Friday show that Bernard Madoff and his wife Ruth lived a life of high luxury, with exclusive homes, yachts and other assets worth $823-million. The revelations came in documents filed with the US Court of Appeals due March 19 to hear Madoff's appeal to be granted bail. He was jailed on Thursday after pleading guilty to a multibillion-dollar investment fraud.
The documents, filed by Madoff's lawyer, show the Wall Street con man and his wife had $22-million worth of real estate at the end of 2008. This included the $7-million Manhattan apartment where Madoff lived between his arrest in December and Thursday's court hearing, when he pleaded guilty to 11 counts, including fraud, perjury, money laundering and theft.
Lawyers for Madoff, 70, argue he should be allowed back there on bail while he waits for a June 16 sentencing hearing. He is expected to receive to a lengthy prison sentence, with a maximum term of 150 years.
In addition to the apartment, the Madoffs had a $1-million house in exclusive Cap d'Antibe in the south of France, another in New York state, and an $11-million house in Palm Beach, Florida. Apart from the real estate, the disclosure lists nearly $10-million worth of furniture and art, and a $7-million yacht named Bull in France, complete with its own $1,5-million slip.
Long known for lavish tastes, the Madoffs are revealed to have owned $2,6-million in jewellery, a $39 000 Steinway piano and $65 000 worth of silverware in their New York apartment alone.
Madoff's documents show a $700-million value on his now disgraced investment business. Madoff claimed in court on Thursday that although his personal investment advisory business was crooked, the trading branch of his firm was legitimate.