Scene Last Night at Robin Hood: Bundchen, Lady Gaga, Cohen, Och
At around 10 Monday night, Lady Gaga arrived in a glowing egg positioned on top of a cart filled with cakes and macaroons.
Escorted by brawny men in sleeveless Roman tunics, the cart rolled past hedge-fund founders Dan Och, David Einhorn, Steven A. Cohen, Ken Griffin, and more than 4,000 others gathered in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the Robin Hood Foundation benefit.
Soon “the Gaga,” as emcee Brian Williams called her, emerged onstage wearing a cream outfit that exposed her midriff.
“I’d like to thank all the rich people for donating tonight,” she said. “And when I say rich, I mean rich in spirit.”
By the time she was serving up “Bad Romance,” the event had raised $47.4 million for the foundation, which helps New Yorkers in need.
Earlier, guests heard from Tony Bennett before confronting a medley of cold beef, chicken, kale and artichokes. And one guest had punched in the amount of $400,000 into a wireless device at his table to win a recording session with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. There was also plenty of time for air- kissing and mingling.
Stand By Me
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) president Gary Cohn was photographed with model Gisele Bundchen who wore a sheer, black lace top with a vest in just the right places. Husband Tom Brady mingled with lesser masters of the universe.
Sarah Jessica Parker, dressed in what she described as “electric heliotrope,” dined with Harvey Weinstein, Naomi Watts, and Liev Schreiber.
Yet the mood seemed intentionally more subdued than in years past.
“I think this is a year full of challenges,” said David Saltzman, Robin Hood’s executive director, while standing under a large sign reading, “The Forces for Good Are Gathering.”
“In some ways people think the worst is behind us, and yet for poor people the worst is in front of us.”
Kid Rock captured the ambiance in a song he wrote for the occasion.
“I can’t change the world and make things fair,” the rocker sang as hundreds of servicemen and servicewomen filled the aisles of the dining room, “The least that I can do is care.”
‘Wired to Serve’
The foundation has a new program to help military veterans.
“They are wired to serve. What they need is a bridge,” Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview with Tom Brokaw.
Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have a much higher suicide rate than the general population or of veterans of past wars. They also have a higher homeless rate.
“We want to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help,” said Michael E. Thornton, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and one of the five Medal of Honor recipients present.
The night had its moments of good old-fashioned Wall Street humor.
Seth Meyers of “Saturday Night Live,” referring to his stint two weeks ago speaking at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, said, “How refreshing it is tonight to finally perform for the people who run the country.”
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog appeared in a video to give the crowd a ribbing.
“Your contributions are completely tax deductible,” said the acerbic puppet voiced and manned by Robert Smigel, “which might be of interest to you, if you actually paid taxes.”
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Robin Hood Benefit
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Paul Tudor Jones, chairman, founder, and CEO of Tudor Investment Corp., and founder of Robin Hood Foundation, with his wife, Sonia Jones.
Paul Tudor Jones, chairman, founder, and CEO of Tudor Investment Corp., and founder of Robin Hood Foundation, with his wife, Sonia Jones. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Charles Murray; Jack Saltzman; Michael Thornton; Teddy Saltzman; Jack Jacobs; David Saltzman, executive director of the Robin Hood Foundation, and Bruce Crandall. Murray, Thornton, Jacobs, and Crandall are all recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service to the armed forces.
Charles Murray; Jack Saltzman; Michael Thornton; Teddy Saltzman; Jack Jacobs; David Saltzman, executive director of the Robin Hood Foundation, and Bruce Crandall. Murray, Thornton, Jacobs, and Crandall are all recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service to the armed forces. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Lee S. Ainslie III, managing partner at Maverick Capital Management, and Robin Hood's chairman.
Lee S. Ainslie III, managing partner at Maverick Capital Management, and Robin Hood's chairman. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Lady Gaga arrives in her egg.
Lady Gaga arrives in her egg. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga. Photographer: Evan Agostini/PictureGroup
Robin Hood Benefit
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Sarah Jessica Parker. Asked about wearing the color green, as some guests did in honor of the Robin hood theme, Parker said, "It's surprisingly flattering for some women, but I'm not among them."
Sarah Jessica Parker. Asked about wearing the color green, as some guests did in honor of the Robin hood theme, Parker said, "It's surprisingly flattering for some women, but I'm not among them." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Larry Gagosian, art dealer, and Steven A. Cohen, a Robin Hood board member and founder and CEO, S.A.C. Capital Advisors LLC.
Larry Gagosian, art dealer, and Steven A. Cohen, a Robin Hood board member and founder and CEO, S.A.C. Capital Advisors LLC. Photographer: Patrick Cole/Bloomberg
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Giants defensive end Justin Tuck.
Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Annie Stark, Harvey Weinstein, and Glenn Close.
Annie Stark, Harvey Weinstein, and Glenn Close. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Gayle King, host of "The Gayle King Show," and Ellen Barkin, currently starring in Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" on Broadway.
Gayle King, host of "The Gayle King Show," and Ellen Barkin, currently starring in Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" on Broadway. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Julius Guadio, managing director, D.E. Shaw & Co., and Mark Bezos, senior vice president, development and communications, Robin Hood Foundation.
Julius Guadio, managing director, D.E. Shaw & Co., and Mark Bezos, senior vice president, development and communications, Robin Hood Foundation. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Tom Brokaw and Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, on stage at the Robin Hood benefit.
Tom Brokaw and Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, on stage at the Robin Hood benefit. Photographer: Patrick Cole/Bloomberg
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Purnima Puri, managing director, and Glenn Dubin, co-founder, CEO, and managing partner, at Highbridge Capital Management LLC. Dubin is a founding board member of Robin Hood Foundation.
Purnima Puri, managing director, and Glenn Dubin, co-founder, CEO, and managing partner, at Highbridge Capital Management LLC. Dubin is a founding board member of Robin Hood Foundation. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Allison Mignone, Joe DiMenna of Zweig DiMenna Partners LP, and Kathleen McCabe, managing director, Morgan Stanley.
Allison Mignone, Joe DiMenna of Zweig DiMenna Partners LP, and Kathleen McCabe, managing director, Morgan Stanley. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Dan Och, Robin Hood Foundation's vice chairman, and founder, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC; Donald Sussman, founder, Paloma Partners LLC; Representative Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from Maine; and Callie Siegel, development director at the GO Project, which helps low-income public school students in Lower Manhattan who are struggling academically.
Dan Och, Robin Hood Foundation's vice chairman, and founder, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC; Donald Sussman, founder, Paloma Partners LLC; Representative Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from Maine; and Callie Siegel, development director at the GO Project, which helps low-income public school students in Lower Manhattan who are struggling academically. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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David Puth, executive vice president and head of State Street Global Markets, State Street Corp., and Amy Sinclair, event producer, Robin Hood Foundation.
David Puth, executive vice president and head of State Street Global Markets, State Street Corp., and Amy Sinclair, event producer, Robin Hood Foundation. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Tony Bennett crooned two tunes before taking his seat next to Susan Benedetto, executive director of the nonprofit Exploring the Arts, which she and Bennett co-founded.
Tony Bennett crooned two tunes before taking his seat next to Susan Benedetto, executive director of the nonprofit Exploring the Arts, which she and Bennett co-founded. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Mimi Haas, collector; Tiger Management LLC's Julian Robertson; and Marie-Josee Kravis, president, Museum of Modern Art.
Mimi Haas, collector; Tiger Management LLC's Julian Robertson; and Marie-Josee Kravis, president, Museum of Modern Art. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Ron Howard and David Letterman.
Ron Howard and David Letterman. Photographer: Patrick Cole/Bloomberg
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Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan.
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan. Photographer: Evan Agostini/PictureGroup
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Ken Griffin, president and CEO of Citadel LLC.
Ken Griffin, president and CEO of Citadel LLC. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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The benefit drew 4,100 guests to the Jacob K. Javits Center.
The benefit drew 4,100 guests to the Jacob K. Javits Center. Photographer: Patrick Cole/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Patty Smyth.
Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Patty Smyth. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Kid Rock performing at the Robin Hood benefit.
Kid Rock performing at the Robin Hood benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Jennifer Goff, operations analyst; Daniel Roitman, COO; and Amelia Wierzbicki, administrative assistant, at Greenlight Capital Inc. Goff and Wierzbicki dressed in Robin Hood outfits on a dare from Roitman. When the invites stating "green tights optional" arrived at their office, Roitman sent an email around promising to donate $2,000 to Robin Hood for each couple who showed up at the event in Robin Hood outfits. "Amelia and I, we're single, but you know what, for a good cause, why not?" said Goff.
Jennifer Goff, operations analyst; Daniel Roitman, COO; and Amelia Wierzbicki, administrative assistant, at Greenlight Capital Inc. Goff and Wierzbicki dressed in Robin Hood outfits on a dare from Roitman. When the invites stating "green tights optional" arrived at their office, Roitman sent an email around promising to donate $2,000 to Robin Hood for each couple who showed up at the event in Robin Hood outfits. "Amelia and I, we're single, but you know what, for a good cause, why not?" said Goff. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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David M. Solomon, co-head, investment banking division, Goldman Sachs & Co., and his wife, Mary Solomon. David M. Solomon is a Robin Hood Foundation board member, and he was a co-chairman of the benefit.
David M. Solomon, co-head, investment banking division, Goldman Sachs & Co., and his wife, Mary Solomon. David M. Solomon is a Robin Hood Foundation board member, and he was a co-chairman of the benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Kerry Washington.
Kerry Washington. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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Gary Cohn, president and chief operating officer at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; Gisele Bundchen, model; and Will McDonough, vice president, investment management, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Gary Cohn, president and chief operating officer at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; Gisele Bundchen, model; and Will McDonough, vice president, investment management, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Keren Craig, co-founder of Marchesa, with Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.
Keren Craig, co-founder of Marchesa, with Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Larry Fink, chairman and CEO, BlackRock, Inc., in a Brioni suit, and his wife, Lori Fink. Larry Fink was a co-chairman of the benefit.
Larry Fink, chairman and CEO, BlackRock, Inc., in a Brioni suit, and his wife, Lori Fink. Larry Fink was a co-chairman of the benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robin Hood Benefit
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A screen projection at the 2011 Robin Hood benefit.
A screen projection at the 2011 Robin Hood benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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