Haute 100 New York Updates

OUR ANNUAL HAUTE 100 LIST IS A COMPILATION OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUALS IN BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY, FASHION AND OTHER TOP INDUSTRIES. WE DON’T HAVE TO SEARCH FAR TO FIND THE 100 MOST INTRIGUING AND SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN NEW YORK, BUT IT CAN BE QUITE A TASK TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. AS SUCH, A YEARLY UPDATE SIMPLY ISN’T ENOUGH.

Jeff Koons Debuts BMW Art Car During Art Basel

Recently deemed the most expensive living artist, Jeff Koons is continuing his reign in the spotlight with the American debut of his BMW Art Car at Art Basel in Miami. “It is with great pride we bring the Jeff Koons Art Car to the US and present it for the first time publically in North America,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW North America.
Following in the footsteps of other renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein and A.R. Penck that have also painted luxury automobiles, Koons painted a 2010 BMW M3 GT2 for the prestigious BMW Art Car Collection. “You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy,” he revealed. “There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car—it’s really to connect with that power.”

Alicia Keys Visits The Philippines Following Typhoon Haiyan

Alicia Keys is widely known for her charitable ways, but during a recent trip to the Philippines, the award-winning musician showed that her generosity truly has no bounds. Following Typhoon Haiyan, Keys performed a special concert in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena to help ease the suffering of those affected by the natural disaster. “Music has a way of lifting your spirit and that’s what I hope to do for the Filipino people,” she revealed. Following the performance, Keys visited the Villamor Air Base to distribute crayons and books to children affected by the devastating typhoon, which claimed the lives of 5,260 people and left 1.9 million homeless.

Hillary Clinton Receives Human Rights Award from Lantos Foundation

In honor of her activism and generosity, Hillary Rodham Clinton will receive a human rights award today from the Lantos Foundation, a liberal advocacy group founded by the late Rep. Tom Lantos. Former recipients of the Lantos human rights award include the Dalai Lama and Elie Wiesel.

“Her proclamation that ‘women’s rights are human rights’ changed the way the world thinks about human rights and opened doors for women in a way that only Hillary Clinton could,” Katrina Lantos Swett, the foundation’s president, said in a statement.

The philanthropic former First Lady has been awarded 19 honors since leaving the State Department in February from top organizations such as the American Bar Association, Yale Law School, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the National Defense University Foundation.

Billy Joel To Perform Once a Month at Madison Square Garden

Billy Joel is coming to Madison Square Garden—every month! The 64-year-old Grammy Award-winning musician recently announced his plans to perform at New York City’s Madison Square Garden once every month.

“We’re gonna dust off some stuff. We’re gonna feature more of the album tracks, more obscure songs,” Joel said. “We’ll still do some songs people are familiar with and like, but we’re gonna change it up. It gives you an edge.”

The New York native first performed at the iconic city venue in 1978 and has played a total of 46 times since. “I said it in `78, and I’ll say it again, there is no better venue in the world,” he revealed.

Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Donates $3 Million to Save Tigers in Nepal

The Leonardo DiCaprio foundation has graciously granted $3 million to the World Wildlife Foundation to increase the endangered tiger population in Nepal. In hope of doubling the tiger population by 2022, the foundations are working together to empower local communities by reinvigorating natural habitats, and in turn, renewing indigenous species.

“Time is running out for the world’s remaining 3,200 tigers, largely the result of habitat destruction and escalating illegal poaching,” explained DiCaprio. “WWF, the government of Nepal, and local communities are on the front lines of this battle and I am hopeful this grant will help them exceed the goal of doubling the number of these noble creatures in the wild.”

The actor’s grant will be used in Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal, a 9,000 square mile area, which also includes protected areas for tigers, rhinos and elephants.