Heinz family. The truth.

[Neserk]

My husband were having a discussion over dinner :eek: and I discovered some interesting information. Thought you'd all like to hear it. Thought the rest of you need to hear it because it pertains to the assertions of how much money Kerry is worth.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040421/news_1n21heinz.html

[IJ Reilly]

Interesting. A couple of months ago the LA Times ran a lengthy article on the Heinz Kerry fortune, which they estimated at nearly $1 billion. I only skimmed it so I didn't realize that Teresa Heinz Kerry's holding in the HJ Heinz Corp was relatively so small. The Republican criticisms of her verge on the bizarre, but then, we have learned to expect this.

[Neserk]

The Republican criticisms of her verge on the bizarre, but then, we have learned to expect this.

Indeed we have. I've also learned not to believe a word they say ;)

[Lyle]

... I discovered some interesting information ... it pertains to the assertions of how much money Kerry is worth.The only specifics I see about how much Kerry (or more specifically, John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry) is worth is a reference to her $500 million portfolio (in the fourth paragraph) -- a relatively small part of which is tied up in Heinz Co. stock. As IJ noted, the L.A. Times has been investigating the Heinz Kerry family fortune. A lot of people would like to know "The Truth" about how much the family's worth, and we still don't know that. According to the Associated Press (http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/9454982.htm), the Times and one other newspaper are trying to get to the bottom of the story:
"After the heir to the Heinz fortune died, Heinz Kerry took control of the family fortune, which some valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, but the Times, citing Securities and Exchange Commission filings and other public records, estimated at $1 billion."

[IJ Reilly]

As IJ noted, a lot of people would like to know "The Truth" about how much the family's worth, and we still don't know that.

I don't recall noting that at all. I'm not even sure I see the point of knowing whether the Heinz family fortune is worth $500 million or twice that amount, but if the "truth" of this is important to you, then look up the LA Times article.

[Lyle]

I don't recall noting that at all.You are correct; I've edited the previous post to say that you merely noted that the L.A. Times was investigating this story.

I'm not even sure I see the point of knowing whether the Heinz family fortune is worth $500 million or twice that amount...In her original post, Neserk stated that the article "... pertains to the assertions of how much money Kerry is worth." As I read it, the story doesn't have much at all to say about how much Kerry is worth. It does have a lot to say about how much the Heinz Co. has donated to the GOP, and points out that Mrs. Heinz Kerry has a relatively small stake in the Heinz Co. Although I'd love to have "only" $4 million worth of stock in that company. ;)

... but if the "truth" of this is important to you, then look up the LA Times article.I did find the story (I think) in their archives, but am not willing to pay to read it at this time. I suppose, however, that if the Times succeeds in getting the Heinz estate records unsealed there will be some follow-up stories.

[IJ Reilly]

I did find the story (I think) in their archives, but am not willing to pay to read it at this time. I suppose, however, that if the Times succeeds in getting the Heinz estate records unsealed there will be some follow-up stories.

From what I recall by my quick reading of this article some months ago, I don't believe the Times was trying to get any records unsealed. This seems to be another effort to gin up a story were none exists.

[Lyle]

From what I recall by my quick reading of this article some months ago, I don't believe the Times was trying to get any records unsealed.Perhaps it had not progressed to that point in the earlier story that you saw, but according to the AP Story (http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/9454982.htm) that I linked earlier, there are now three newspapers (including the L.A. Times) pursuing this. I see that all three of those newspapers are owned by the Tribune Company (http://www.tribune.com/) but I don't know what (if anything) that indicates. I don't think that this company falls under Rupert Murdoch's umbrella (i.e. it doesn't appear to be a part of News Corp.) but, then again, he has an awfully big umbrella. ;)

[IJ Reilly]

Perhaps it had not progressed to that point in the earlier story that you saw, but according to the AP Story (http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/9454982.htm) that I linked earlier, there are now three newspapers (including the L.A. Times) pursuing this. I see that all three of those newspapers are owned by the Tribune Company (http://www.tribune.com/) but I don't know what (if anything) that indicates. I don't think that this company falls under Rupert Murdoch's umbrella (i.e. it doesn't appear to be a part of News Corp.) but, then again, he has an awfully big umbrella. ;)

Okay. I still don't understand the "intense interest," though. What do they expect to find, another billion dollars?

[zimv20]

I see that all three of those newspapers are owned by the Tribune Company (http://www.tribune.com/) but I don't know what (if anything) that indicates. I don't think that this company falls under Rupert Murdoch's umbrella
afaik, it does not