Billerica Public Library

The Bettencourt affair, the world's richest woman and the scandal that rocked Paris, Tom Sancton

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 339-396)

individual biography

illustrationsmaps

no index present

non fiction

The Bettencourt affair

bibliography

962353377

Tom Sancton

the world's richest woman and the scandal that rocked Paris

Victim of a con man-- or her own family? Liliane Bettencourt is the world's richest woman, but at ninety-four she's embroiled in an controversy that has dominated the headlines. An artist and photographer named Francois-Marie Banier was given hundreds of millions of dollars by Liliane. Francoise, her daughter, considers Banier a con man and filed a lawsuit against him. Europe's biggest scandal in years uncovers a shadowy corporate history, buried World War II secrets, illicit political payoffs, and much more. Sancton looks at a complex, fascinating family and the intruder who nearly tore it apart

Prologue: Lost in the fog -- Part one. Life before Banier -- The founder -- The heiress and the consort -- Poor little rich girl -- Part two. Banier enters the scene -- Portrait of the artist -- Such good friends -- Dark roots -- A generous man -- The Christmas visitor -- The ambitious Monsieur Sarkozy -- The whistle-blower -- Part three. The Bettencourt affair -- The opening salvo -- Sibling rivals -- Sarkozy joins the fray -- Metzner's end run -- Part four. The net spreads wider -- The butler did it -- Behind closed doors -- The Woerth affair -- Filthy rich -- Banier's Année Terrible -- The fixer -- Part five. The endgame -- Bordeaux -- Hardball -- A president in the crosshairs -- Banier strikes back -- Life and death -- The reckoning -- The eye of the beholder -- The wheels of justice -- Farewell to paradise? -- The verdict -- Epilogue: Wings -- Cast of characters