Stephen L. Bing
March 5, 2001 Stephen Bing made his money the old-fashioned way: He inherited it. The millionaire grandson of New York real estate magnate Leo Bing, he stands to inherit an estimated $600 million from his father, Peter, who serves on the board of Stanford University. Much of his money goes to support his lifestyle. A notorious playboy, Bing reportedly keeps a permanent room at the swank Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles and has been linked romantically in the media to actresses Farrah Fawcett, Uma Thurman, Sharon Stone, and, most recently, Elizabeth Hurley. He is also linked financially to national politicians. In addition to the $759,000 he gave to support Democratic candidates, Bing contributed $1 million to help pay for the party's national convention. He also gave $1 million to help defeat a California referendum that would have cut cigarettes taxes and depleted programs to teach children about the dangers of smoking. Professionally, Bing has been trying to make a name for himself as a Hollywood screenwriter, producer, director, and actor, lending his talents to television's "Married With Children," Sylvester Stallone's "Get Carter," and the Chuck Norris "Missing in Action" trilogy. In 1993, he wrote and directed "Every Breath," starring his brat-pack friend Judd Nelson. The Internet Movie Database summarizes the thriller's plot: "An unemployed actor gets involved with a strange woman who hangs out in lesbian nightclubs and her rich arms dealer husband." -- Pam Smith | | |
