Entrepreneur Of The Month: Elie Hirschfeld

If ever a man fits the description of driven to succeed, Elie Hirschfield does. His father, Abe Hirschfeld was a major real estate developer, but Elie has taken it to the next level – his real estate holdings include over 1,000 apartments in New York City, approximately one million square feet of commercial property in the City, and added to that, other real properties including what was once the summer home of the Clinton’s – with an estimated value of over $32 million for just that property. He’s the President of Hirschfeld Properties. The list of historic and luxury properties he developed reads like a who’s who for New York City real estate including Park Avenue Court, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hotel Pennsylvania, the first open air garage, and the Grand Sutton. Conservative estimates are that his personal fortune is worth approximately $500 million.

But real property is only one place Elie focuses his energy. He enjoys a good show on Broadway – usually about 25 of them each year. He’s also produced and co-produced several Broadway plays and is a voting member for the Tony Awards on the Broadway League. In addition to those arts, he’s also an avid art collector holding several modern art pieces from artists including Andy Warhol and Francoise Gilot, he also has art from others such as Norman Rockwell.

He established the Hirschfeld Foundation as a charity supporting athletics, healthcare, education, and more. Education is obviously important to him, having studied at and graduated from the London School of Economics, Brown University, and New York University Law School. He serves as trustee emeritus for both Long Island University and Brown University. Elie also sits on the board for Weizmann Institute of Science (US Board director), and various other organizations including the Jewish National Fund.

Elie Hirschfeld directed Hirschfeld Properties, LLC into partnerships with other distinguished real estate development firms such as the Zeckendorf Organization, the Donald Trump Organization, The Silverstein Organization, Empire Realty Group, Belz Enterprises of Memphis and the shopping mall development group, The Mel Simon Organization.

Oh, and did we mention, he’s also a triathlete – even though he’s in his 60’s he’s completed over 100 endurance events including marathons, triathlons, and ironman races. He even took first in his age group at least once.

He continues to work in the City of his birth and enjoys a few properties owned personally where he lives with his current wife, Sarah J. Schlesinger MD. Along with being a doctor, she’s also an associate professor at Rockefeller University working in clinical investigation.

Elie Hirschfeld is a great entrepreneur.

ELIE HIRSCHFELD EAST HAMPTON HOME TO HOST PREVIEW PARTY FOR THE EAST HAMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S 2015 HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR

The celebrated and storied East Hampton home of the renowned New York developer and philanthropist Elie Hirschfeld will play host to the Preview Party of the East Hampton Historical Society’s 2015 House & Garden Tour. The magnificent 12,000 square-foot mansion on 200 feet of dazzling ocean front was chosen by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as their summer vacation home in 2011 and 2012.

“It is truly an honor for me that the Historical Society selected my home as the venue for such a meaningful event on the East End of Long Island,” said Hirschfeld.

The landmark home was originally designed and built in 1920 by celebrated architect John Custis Lawrence and boasts five fireplaces, eight bedrooms, 7.5 baths, two powder rooms, a large living salon, formal dining room, gourmet kitchen and a massive library. Hirschfeld noted that the former President did a fine job of reorganizing the library during his stay at the home.

“The President showed me how he reorganized the library not only by subjects but also by putting them in chronological order,” Hirschfeld said.

Hirschfeld, whose Manhattan projects include the Grand Sutton co-op and the Crowne Plaza hotel, bought the 12,000-square-foot oceanfront property in 1996.

“Manhattan is my home, but East Hampton will always hold a special place in my heart,” says the iconic New York figure who has become a prominent figure on the East End.

In June, the accomplished triathlete excelled in the Mighty Montauk Triathlon, the proceeds of which benefitted theLustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research , the St. Therese Youth Group , The East Hampton PBA and The Montauk Ambulance Squad.

The benefit Preview Party will run from 6 to 8 p.m. “Where Lily Pond Lane Meets Georgica Beach,” in the Hirschfeld home.

Tickets start at $200, which includes admission to the self-guided house and garden tour the following day. Tickets to the tour alone are priced at $65 in advance and $75 on the day of the event.

They can be purchased online or at the Historical Society building at 101 Main Street.

For more information, please call: 631-324-6850.

Or go online to: easthamptonhistory.org