Gilded Lily: Lily Safra: The Making of One of the World's Wealthiest Widows

by Isabel Vincent

“Isabel Vincent has written a riveting account of the life of the international socialite and billionairess Lily Safra, allegedly the third richest woman in the world.... It’s a very good read.” — Dominick Dunne In this absorbing biography of Brazilian-born philanthropist and socialite Lily Safra—the first ever published—acclaimed investigative journalist Isabel Vincent ( Bodies and Souls ) delves beneath the intrigue surrounding one of the world’s richest women. From her humble beginnings in a Rio de Janeiro shantytown to the tragic death of her fourth husband, legendary billionaire banker Edmond Safra, in an arsonist’s fire in their Monte Carlo penthouse, Gilded Lily combines all the elements of compelling fiction in an absolutely enthralling account.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2010

About the author

Isabel Vincent (born 1965 in Toronto) is a Canadian investigative journalist who writes for the New York Post, an alumna of the University of Toronto Varsity newspaper, and the author of several books.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Vanity Fair - Dominick Dunne junkie, I have always wondered about the mysterious Edmond and Lily Safra. The book is well-written and provides as much information as was possible to get about someone as discreet as Edmond Safra. A fast read. I enjoyed it tremendously and came away feeling very sad for Lily's children.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world may never know the truth of the mysterious deaths of Lily Safra's second and fourth husbands. For this book, Isabelle Vincent has assembled a large amount of material which helps the reader understand the facts and the legalities of both. Given the difficulty of even delivering a summons to this elusive widow, given her army of attorneys and experts, the question will remain open, perhaps forever.

Even if the Lily Safra is innocent of both deaths, she is no innocent. There are many people in her wake. It's almost Darwinian how she proves herself the fittest in battles with both husbands' families.

If her relationship with husband number 3 was as he idealizes it, after the death of husband number 4 one would expect her to initiate contact, if only for old times sake. But Ms. Safra is not sentimental. The graves and headstones of her parents and siblings go unattended for want of $3,000.

However she got her "job", Lily seems to be making the most of widowhood, living it on her terms. She gives money, a small percentage compared to her resources, and piles up honors.

Vincent was both successful and unsuccessful on three continents getting interviews and researching public records. Her efforts have created a fascinating book, due in part to her fascinating subject.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating story, but the writing was so flat and sucked much of the excitement and intrigue out of it.

Vincent had such rich (I couldn't resist!) material to work with here - the rags to riches story of Lily, FOUR husbands, TWO suspicious deaths, boat loads of money, family drama and mistrust, several accidents to family members that lent a Kennedy-esque feel to the whole thing, luxe parties on multiple continents - and I found myself feeling bored at times with this book.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, juicy read. Perfect for vacation.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast, "lite" read that can't decide whether it's a dirt-dishing tell-all unauthorised biography, or a "sweeping saga" of the airport-novel type (those 600 page novels people buy in airports to read on long overseas flights). The author can't quite decide whether to present Lily as a hard hearted, grasping harpy who will stop at nothing--not even murder--to grab the jackpot, or as a woman of mystery who has suffered terribly because she just happened to marry men who died very very rich, under dubious circumstances.

Vincent needed a good proofreader and editor; her consistent misuse of prepositions and certain clunky turns of phrase had me wondering if English is perhaps not her first language. The book itself needed to be tightened up and pruned; there are many repetitions, sometimes word-for-word, including the unnecessarily lengthy Epilogue--a recap from the very beginning of the book. Vincent often goes off down rabbit trails, telling us all the details of some relatively minor character's origins, past etc. At one point we are subjected to a detailed history of a US cemetery that was "on the way" to Maher's home at the time, including a "who's who" of the historical personages buried in its graves. What is the point of all that?--unless it was mere padding to stretch out an already too-long book laced in parts with more conjecture and gossip of the "he said, she said" type than hard fact, as well as minute descriptions of the homes, meals, clothing (particularly clothing) and hairstyles of the extremely rich and famous, including some prices.

I finished the book because in spite of its length it was a superficial read that sped by mercifully quickly. I don't think I'll bother to look up any more of Vincent's writings.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has basically consumed my life since it arrived in the post last Friday -- apologies to everyone who has had to tolerate my musings about Lily Safra this week.

Just when you think the story can't get any dodgier, you turn the page to discover a whole new layer to the intrigue. The author steers clear of making any speculation allowing her extensively cited references to speak for themselves without threatening her credibility (or chances of being sued). Riveting, albeit frankly deeply upsetting given that this book is firmly nonfiction.

Interestingly, traces of one of the less flattering news articles (from 2001, mind you, firmly in the online era) referenced in the book seem to have been all but scrubbed from the internet with only one passing reference to the article available online from a third party and the accompanying photo impossible to find.

Highly recommend if this sort of society intrigue interests you.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nouveau riche. I've read about suspicious circumstances that Safra died, and to be honest everything about the murder does look suspicious. There is no great fortune without great crime. What is interesting that wealth doesn't equal taste. The description of clothes and parties - they are just tacky akin to what I've read in descriptions of wealth in 18 or 19th century. Same lack of taste despite the ostentatious wealth.

Regarding Lily - not guilty until proven so - though it does seem interesting that men around her died while she just kept getting wealthier. The woman certainly has wits and desire to survive in a male's society.

[Nancy Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

possibly only interesting if you knew of the Sanfras back in the day

I worked at republic national bank when I was in my twenties and the Safras had not yet married. Lots of gossip about Lily before they married. When I read D Dunnes piece in vanity fair I was left wanting to know more. So I enjoyed all the details in the book but I doubt it would be as interesting to others not affiliated with Edmond or Lily Safra.

[Susan Longo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - so many twists and turns - read like a novel but a true story. Now I am going to listen to some podcasts to get some other points of view on Lily, the nurse Ted and other characters... Also want to see the articles that Dominick Duane wrote on this.....Lingering questions...
Five Stars.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about this many years ago in a Vanity Fair article by Dominick Dunne. This book looks at the situation and personalities in depth. Can you get away with murder? Can you get away with it twice?

[Renata Boghosian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muito bom

Já recomendei para várias pessoas. Impressionante o que as pessoas são capazes por dinheiro e poder. Essa mulher é um monstro.

[Perla Ashouri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rags to riches story, as close as a book can get to elitist tabloid gossip.

[Faiqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good and solid, reads like a novel

[Marina Capello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story. Well written and easy to follow.

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book! I stayed focused and totally into reading chapter after chapter. A great read.

[Amanda Daman · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read about lily safra! Reads like a fiction novel about a socialite going through 4 husbands but happens to be real life.

[Steve McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written book about a person I have no interest in but I kept reading! Lots of intrigue - 4 marriages, two suspicious deaths of husbands. Well researched.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about this many years ago in a Vanity Fair article by Dominick Dunne. Great story.

[Marco Chau]

Let me ask, was Lily Safra born on the 20th or the 30th? because Wikipedia says December 30, 1934.

[Cat Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting investigation into the mystery that shrouds Lily Safra. I’ve been aware of the Safra family for many years, yet I’m astounded by all the sinister revelations that were exposed in this book. This book was well researched and well written.

[Billi Haug · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a sleeper! Unfortunately the author did not have enough material to create an interesting read.

[Ellanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

total trash couldn't resist-disappointed-good enough read but for all her research, I didn't really get much more than I had read in the papers, no conclusions-what do people think really happened-suggestions she has been shunned but all too oblique-need more-little about the children still living and too few recent pictures and too many of Benhadan. Vincent clearly has spent a tremendous amount of time doing research in the Brazilian courts, but I wonder if that was time well spent-

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this. It's well-researched and Safra's story is undeniably a fascinating one, but the book reads like it was heavily edited by lawyers before publication. With that said, it's well-done and worth reading if you don't know the truly unbelievable story of Lily Safra.

[Theresa Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and certainly had me questioning what truly happened when her last husband died.

[Frini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting facts and makes you think alot.