By Ilana Siyance
Billionaire Ron Perelman is ending his annual Apollo in the Hamptons bash. For the past decade, the 76-year-old business man, investor and philanthropist has hosted the star-studded event at his East Hamptons estate, the Creeks, to raise funds for the famed Harlem theater. Every year since 2009, in August he has hosted a memorable evening of entertainment and music to benefit the historic Apollo and its educational programs for children. This year the event took place on Saturday August 3rd. However, all good things must come to an end. He informed the public in advance that this would be the last Apollo fundraiser that he will be hosting. “We wanted to end things on a high note and think that after 10 years and nearly $30 million raised, it was time to change things up,” said a spokesman for Perelman. “Ronald loves and will always support the Apollo.”
Perelman serves as the Vice Chairman of the Apollo, which is a non-profit theatre with artistic, educational, and outreach programs, a nurturer of emerging talent, and an economic anchor in Harlem. Perelman’s company MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated, has invested in a wide array of companies including Revlon, AM General, Deluxe Entertainment SIGA Technologies, RetailMeNot , Scientific Games Corporation, Valassis, and Harland Clarke. He reportedly has an estimated wealth of $9.4 billion, and has been named the 49th-richest American, and 152nd-richest person in the world, and one of the biggest philanthropic donors in the world. Additionally, in 2017, Forbes magazine named Perelman one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds.”
As reported by the NY Post, tables at his intimate fundraising events have sold for as much as $250,000, with the funds benefiting the Apollo. Jack Nicholson, Colin Powell, Jennifer Lopez and her beau Alex Rodriguez are just a few of the notable celebrities to have joined. Over the past years, performers have included Christina Aguilera, Smokey Robinson, Sting and Shaggy. This year, Perelman reportedly tapped uber-producer Mark Ronson to curate the event, and turn it in to a suitable finale. Ronson reportedly pulled out all the stops for the event, producing a jaw dropping event featuring Black Eyed Peas, Dave Matthews Band, The Isley Brothers, Maggie Rogers, Patti LaBelle, Pharrell Williams, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bon Jovi, and Joseph Simmons from Run – DMC. There were also special appearances by Gary U.S. Bonds and Vusi Mahlasela, as well as The Roots as the live house band.
Asked about future plans for fundraising for the Apollo, the spokesman said: “We haven’t made any plans, but the Apollo is thinking through new options and plans for the future and we are, of course, working with them.”
