KUALA LUMPUR – Investigations by the FBI into the relationship between actor Leonardo DiCaprio and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho revealed the duo had traded ideas about a mega fund involving US$1 billion (RM4.48 billion) for more films, a Warner Bros. theme park in Asia, and an eco-friendly resort in Belize.
According to reports by Bloomberg, investigations also revealed a picture of Low and DiCaprio that showed how close the men were.
The movie star introduced Low as “my man”, and the investor called DiCaprio “Ldogg”. Even their mothers had met each other.
In fact, DiCaprio’s relationship with Low extended far beyond parties and largesse.
Agents collected thousands of BlackBerry messages and emails between the two and their associates and built a spreadsheet of all the gifts Low had given to DiCaprio across five years and the US$6 million he pledged to his charity.
They also reviewed photos of the two wearing tuxedos at an event, signing paperwork, and standing in front of a Basquiat artwork Low donated to DiCaprio’s charity.
The FBI task force interviewed not only A-listers but also the middlemen who serve the world’s most famous people. Ralph DeLuca, a memorabilia broker, told the agents how he sold associates of DiCaprio and Low US$10 million in vintage movie posters.
Reports said that famed jeweller Lorraine Schwartz recalled bringing a diamond to a yacht in Monaco for Low to examine and crafting a necklace worth more than US$20 million for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
The FBI also reported that Low once told Schwartz not to tell others about the purchases he made from his own account.
Schwartz thought this was because Low did not want people to know how much he was spending on gifts for others, especially supermodel Miranda Kerr, who briefly dated Low.
She had since turned over gifts Low gave her to the US government.
Low’s connection to DiCaprio and other celebrities has come under renewed scrutiny as prosecutors prepare for the criminal trial of hip-hop legend and The Fugees member Prakazrel “Pras” Michél.
Michél stands accused of directing foreign money into Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign and lobbying on behalf of Low and the Chinese government. Among the bright lights on Michél’s potential witness list are DiCaprio, Obama, former president Donald Trump, and hotel magnate Steve Wynn.
Often in the middle of those interactions was Rick Yorn, DiCaprio’s manager, a powerful figure in Hollywood.
Yorn became a hands-on negotiator and peacemaker, working directly with Low. Emails show Yorn saw Low as a potential partner in future deals.
Like DiCaprio, Yorn became part of Low’s social circle, visiting his yacht in the Mediterranean and planning to join the financier at a party in Las Vegas.
DiCaprio told the FBI he was not exactly sure where Low’s wealth came from. He said it was the responsibility of Yorn and DiCaprio’s entertainment lawyer to look into him.
“Usually, DiCaprio relies on his reps to read the reports and give him an okay to continue to work with someone. In this case, his reps gave him the green light to continue to work with Low,” FBI agents wrote.
American socialite Kim Kardashian had told the FBI in February 2019 how she had met Low and partied with him in Las Vegas and that he had given her fiancé at the time, NBA journeyman Kris Humphries, US$100,000 for fireworks at their 2011 wedding.
Kardashian also recounted an unusual money transfer.
According to the FBI summary of her interview, she and others – including Wolf of Wall Street co-producers Riza Aziz (Najib’s stepson) and Joey McFarland – were at a casino in Las Vegas with Low where the group played baccarat in a private room.
At 5am, Kardashian was ready to leave, but a friend told her to drink some coffee and stick around, because he had heard stories of Low giving people chips at the end of the night.
As the gamblers screamed “monkey” (baccarat lingo that basically means “I need a 10 or face card”), Kardashian called out which bets to make and won a big hand.
According to reports, Kardashian tried to turn the winnings over to Low, but he told her to keep the chips, which were then worth US$350,000.
She told the FBI that when she went to the casino counter to cash out, she was handed US$250,000 in “a trash bag full of one hundred dollar bills”.
“Kardashian put the trash bag full of cash in her carry-on bag and boarded a Southwest Airlines flight back to Los Angeles,” FBI agents wrote. She collected the other US$100,000, again in a trash bag full of cash, during a later trip to party with Low in Las Vegas.
Michel’s trial is scheduled on March 27 with former US presidents Obama and Trump and real estate tycoon Wynn expected to testify, among others. – The Vibes, March 3, 2023
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