If I’m being completely honest, 2024 has not been great for me considering the whole “almost died” thing*. And yet, I’d rather relive this year ten times over than trade places with disgraced and disbarred former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. A judge has now ordered him to turn over essentially all of his valuables to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the Georgia election workers he defamed following Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. That means giving up his penthouse apartment, several watches, and even a 1980 Mercedes-Benz 500SL previously owned by Lauren Bacall.
Bacall, as you may recall, is still considered one of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen, appearing in films such as “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Written on the Wind” and “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” among others. She also appeared on Broadway and won two Tony Awards for “Applause” and “Woman of the Year.” That description doesn’t even begin to do Bacall’s career and talent justice, but even if you aren’t a fan of the R107 SL (and many are not), it’s still pretty cool to think about owning one of her cars.
Of course, for Freeman and Moss to get to the point where the guy who farted on Jenna Ellis handed over Bacall’s old car, his New York penthouse apartment, some legitimately nice watches (as well as a grubby fistful of Shinolas, Invictas and Raymond Weils), cash, jewelry sports memorabilia, furniture and even his TV, they first had to endure a vile harassment campaign after Giuliani singled them out and sicced the MAGA crazies on them.
The harassment was so bad, the court ordered Giuliani to pay each woman $20 million for emotional distress on top of $16-ish million they were awarded for defamation. Giuliani was also ordered to pay $75 million in punitive damages. Altogether, he owes about $150 million, and no amount of money will ever erase what he forced them to go through.
It’s unlikely that either Freeman or Moss will get much use out of their new Mercedes and penthouse apartment. Giuliani’s valuables will be kept in a trust and most likely sold to ensure they at least get a little money out of the man who’s also been credibly accused of sexual assault by both Noelle Dunphy and Cassidy Hutchinson. If they do decide to keep Bacall’s SL, though, they don’t live far away from me. Maybe I could convince them to let me take it for a spin around the block. Personally, I’m also hoping they get his World Series rings and Palm Beach condo, but the judge won’t decide on that until later. Fingers crossed!
*ER doc’s assessment, not my own