Financier and philanthropist Michael Steinhardt attends the International Jewish Values Winners Gala at the 2016 Marriott Marquis in New York.
Evan Agostini / Evan Agostini / Invision / AP
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Evan Agostini / Evan Agostini / Invision / AP
Financier and philanthropist Michael Steinhardt attends the International Jewish Values Winners Gala at the 2016 Marriott Marquis in New York.
Evan Agostini / Evan Agostini / Invision / AP
A ceremonial cup from Turkey in the shape of a stag’s head. The three death masks, possibly unearthed from the mountains of Israel, date to around 6000 or 7000 BC. An ancient Greek chest for human remains.
It was one of 180 stolen artifacts that the former hedge fund manager and philanthropist Michael Steinhardt transferred under an agreement with New York City prosecutors. The agreement, reached after a years-long investigation into his activities, also barred Steinhardt from collecting any other historic sites during his lifetime.
In return, Steinhardt would avoid prosecution because what authorities called “his lust for looted antiquities” crossed the line of law.
“His pursuit of ‘new’ additions to display and sell knows no geographical or ethical boundaries, manifesting in the vast underworld of antique dealers, crime bosses, washers money and tomb raiders on which he relied to expand his collection,” Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. said in a statement in Monday.
Steinhardt, who is also known as the co-founder of Birthright Israel, a company that pays young Jews to visit Israel, has denied any wrongdoing in the antique acquisition. He said many of the dealers who sold his items had claimed that they were the rightful owners of the items. “Mr. Steinhardt is pleased that the District Attorney’s years-long investigation has concluded without any charges and that items mistakenly taken by others will be returned to their home countries,” read one. statement from his attorney provided to NPR.
Authorities said they would return 180 antiques, worth about $70 million, to their “legitimate owners” in the 11 countries where they originated.
Vance said the decision not to prosecute Steinhardt means the relics can be returned more quickly and that witnesses and other parallel investigations will be kept secret.
The investigation into Steinhardt, who is also known as the co-founder of Birthright Israel, which pays young Jews to visit Israel, began in 2017. It was revealed that he had purchased some items from known antique dealers without any information. about their origin. At least 100 of the pieces that Steinhardt agreed to turn over appeared covered in dirt before he bought them, which authorities say is a sign of looting.
During an exchange with investigators over a subpoena regarding another antique, Steinhardt is said to have pointed to Larnax – the Greek chest he agreed to confiscate – and said: “You Did you see this piece? There is no source for it. If I see a piece and Like it then buy it”.
A version of this story originally appeared inside Morning version live blogs.
