Leonardo DiCaprio has voluntarily surrendered several works of art worth millions of dollars and an Oscar statuette that once belonged to Marlon Brando to the U.S. Government, as part of its ongoing investigation into a money laundering operation connected to Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.
The surrendered items include: a Picasso painting, “Nature Morte au Crane de Taureau,” valued at more than $3 million; a Basquiat collage, “Redman One,” valued at at least $9 million; a Diane Arbus photograph valued at $750,000; and the Oscar Brando won for his performance in “On the Waterfront.”
The paintings and photograph were reportedly gifts from Malaysian financiers connected to Riza Aziz, co-founder of Red Granite Pictures, the outfit that produced the DiCaprio-starring “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The Justice Department has been investigating whether Aziz assisted Prime Minister Razak, his father-in-law, in embezzling more than $4 billion. Some of that money was used to finance Red Granite, and several of the company’s films.
The paintings and photograph were included in a 250-page forfeiture complaint filed last week by the Justice Department. However, representatives for DiCaprio say that the paintings were surrendered to the government before the complaint was filed.
DiCaprio intended the art for an upcoming charity auction, not for his personal collection, his representatives say.
The Marlon Brando Oscar, a set gift from Red Granite, was not mentioned in the Justice Department complaint, but was turned over voluntarily along with the other items nonetheless.
“Last July, upon hearing of the government’s civil action against certain parties involved in the making of The Wolf of Wall Street, Mr. DiCaprio’s representatives – working under his instruction – initiated contact with the Department of Justice,” representatives for DiCaprio said in a statement. “This effort was to determine if there were any gifts or charitable donations originating from the parties named in the civil complaint, and to offer the return of any such gifts or donations with the aid and instruction of the government.”
The statement continued: “Prior to the government’s filing of the civil pleading today, Mr. DiCaprio initiated return of these items, which were received and accepted by him for the purpose of being included in an annual charity auction to benefit his eponymous foundation. He has also returned an Oscar originally won by Marlon Brando, which was given to Mr. DiCaprio as a set gift by Red Granite to thank him for his work on The Wolf of Wall Street.
Mr. DiCaprio is grateful for the support of the government in this effort, and continues to hope that justice is done in this matter.”
Welcome to the platform, I wish everything work out for you. It’s not easy here but not difficult neither but just ask an extra effort, engagement is the key good luck I’m @goodaytraders Start by following people and they will do the same.
If that was you or me, you know where I'm going with this..
He handed them over as a show of good will..
It all depends on his status in the actors guild & if he doing what the establishment wants..
Cause if not, the Hollywood Star Wackers will get him..LOL
Randy Quaid's Bizarre "Star Whacker" Speech to Vancouver Media;
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