André Balazs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André Balazs
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Balazs at the 2012 Time 100 gala
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| Born |
André Tomas Balazs
January 31, 1957 Boston, Massachusetts, US
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| Alma mater | Cornell University Columbia University |
| Occupation | Hotelier, residential developer |
| Known for | Standard Hotels Chateau Marmont |
| Spouse(s) |
Katie Ford
(m. 1985; div. 2004) |
| Partner(s) | Uma Thurman (2003–2007, 2014–2015) Chelsea Handler (2011–2013) Cosima Vesey (2017–present) |
| Children | 3 |
André Tomes Balazs (born January 31, 1957) is an American businessman. He is known for owning and managing hotels and developing homes. He is the head of André Balazs Properties. This company owns many hotels across the United States. It also develops homes, especially in New York City.
Early Life and Education
André Balazs was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Endre Alexander Balazs, was a research professor. He worked at Harvard Medical School. He also started the Retina Foundation. This foundation helps with eye research. His father also founded the Boston Biomedical Research Institute. His mother, Eva K. Balazs, was a family therapist. She was also a psychologist. She later helped start a jazz band.
Balazs went to Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School. This was a private school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He then went to Cornell University. He also studied at Columbia University. There, he earned two master's degrees. One was in journalism, and the other was in business.
Career in Business
In 1980, Balazs worked as a press secretary. He helped Bess Myerson in her campaign. She was running for Senator in New York State.
In 1988, Balazs started a company called Biomatrix. He co-founded it with his father. This company worked with biotechnology. They created products using hyaluronan. This is a natural substance in the body. In 2000, the company was sold.
Between 1988 and 1989, Balazs invested in different projects. These included a nightclub in Manhattan. He also invested in a supper club in Los Angeles. In 1989, he bought The Mercer Hotel property. It was an old manufacturing building in SoHo. In 1990, Balazs bought and fixed up the Chateau Marmont. This famous hotel was built in 1929. It is located on Sunset Boulevard. He reportedly paid over $12 million for it. In 1997, he bought and updated the Sunset Beach Hotel. The next year, he opened the new Mercer Hotel in SoHo.
In 1998, Balazs opened the first of his five hotels. These hotels were called The Standard. The first one was in West Hollywood. He later opened more Standard hotels. These were in Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and Miami. He also opened two in New York City. He sold his share in these hotels in 2017.
Balazs has focused on the food at his hotels. His properties have many restaurants. These include the Standard Grill in New York. There is also The Lido Restaurant in Miami. Bar Marmont is at the Chateau Marmont. He also has The Standard Biergartens in New York and Los Angeles.
In 2007, Balazs worked with Wölffer Estate Vineyard. They created his own special rosé wine.
In 2011, Balazs started a sea plane service. This service flew people from Manhattan to the Hamptons.
In 2012, Balazs started The Farm at Locusts-on-Hudson. This farm grows organic food. The food is used in his New York restaurants. The farm is on land he bought in Hyde Park, New York. This land used to belong to the Astor family.
He also owns the Chiltern Firehouse. This is a hotel in London. It used to be a fire station. Balazs is very involved in designing his hotels. The Chiltern Firehouse has bars, a restaurant, and suites.
Balazs has also worked in residential real estate. He developed 15 William. This is a condominium building. It is in New York City's Financial District.
In June 2021, Balazs sold his loft in SoHo. It was on the 10th floor of the New Museum Building. He sold it for $10.35 million. He had bought it for $5.75 million in 2003.
In 2023, Balazs partnered with Habitas. They opened Habitas's seventh hotel. It is their first location in the U.S. The hotel is in Rhinebeck. This is about two hours from New York. Balazs bought the property before the pandemic. He wanted to open a new hotel there. The property has 30 guest rooms. It also has a restaurant, a pond for swimming, and hiking trails. A stay there costs about $450 per night.
Boards and Awards
In 1982, Andy Warhol asked Balazs to join a group. He became one of the first Trustees. This was for the New York Academy of Art. He has also served on other boards. These include the New York Public Theater. He was also on the board of the Wolfsonian Museum.
In 2011, he received an award. It was the first Design Patrons Award. This was from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design.
In 2014, Balazs won another award. British GQ gave him the “Men of the Year” award. He won in the entrepreneur category. An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs a business.
Personal Life
André Balazs has three children. He bought a special house in 2007. It was called Maison Tropicale by Jean Prouvé. Balazs reportedly paid $4.97 million for this unique house.
See Also
- List of Cornell University alumni
- List of Columbia University alumni
