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Leon Charney, a billionaire Manhattan real estate owner and familiar fixture on NYC public television, has passed away at age 77.
The cause of death has not been released, Bloomberg reports.
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Born in New Jersey to a sewing-supplies salesman, Leon went on to assemble a real estate empire that included three skyscrapers in Times Square—including the iconic One Times Square—and other properties, totaling 1.5M SF.
Leon, an outspoken Israel booster, hosted The Leon Charney Report on WNYC beginning in 1988. Israeli prime ministers, New York City mayors and many others appeared on the show over the years.
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Leon also served as a behind-the-scenes adviser to President Jimmy Carter, helping to bring together the Camp David Accords that established peace between Israel and Egypt.
Forbes estimated his net worth at roughly $1B. He is survived by his wife, sister Bryna, and sons Mickey and Nati. [Bloomberg]
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