Empires of New York
1985-86: Image Is Everything
S1 E3:
By the mid '80s, five larger-than-life New Yorkers - Donald Trump, Ivan Boesky, Leona Helmsley, John Gotti, and Rudy Giuliani - are starting to change the way we think about power and success. They're bragging about their victories, showing off their wealth, openly targeting their enemies - and with tabloid journalism on the rise, the media can't get enough of the show. Who cares that many of them are spinning lies? TV and print outlets put them on a pedestal - and America buys into their story hook, line, and sinker. But as all five titans will soon learn... too much exposure can burn.