On July 20, Leonardo DiCaprio hosted one of the largest charity events of the year in St. Tropez, celebrating the third anniversary of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF). The gala attracted a number of international celebrities, including Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell, Bradley Cooper, and Joan Smalls. However, during the event, DiCaprio’s charity unexpectedly became the center of a major scandal involving allegations of international money laundering.
LDF and its Connection to Malaysia’s Corruption Scandal
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, LDF is accused of receiving funds from high-ranking Malaysian officials via the state investment fund 1MDB. This has been one of the largest corruption scandals in the world, with billions of dollars embezzled. Court documents from Los Angeles reveal that although DiCaprio was not directly involved in the corrupt activities, the name “Hollywood’s number one actor” appears multiple times in the investigation files. Malaysian officials are alleged to have used 1MDB to funnel money into DiCaprio’s charity, raising questions about a potentially dubious connection between LDF and 1MDB.
Leonardo DiCaprio Responds to the Allegations
One of the controversial aspects of LDF is its operating model. Unlike traditional nonprofit organizations, LDF was set up as a donation advisory fund linked to the California Community Foundation (CCF), which exempts it from disclosing detailed income and spending reports. This has led to concerns over the lack of transparency in LDF’s financial transactions, especially after the charity became entangled in the 1MDB scandal.
Although DiCaprio has not been directly accused of wrongdoing, both he and representatives from LDF and CCF have declined to comment on the transparency issues surrounding the charity’s operations. This decision has disappointed many fans and charity finance experts, who fear that this lack of accountability could damage DiCaprio’s reputation and the public’s trust in LDF.
From Scandal to a Grand 50th Birthday Party
Despite the money laundering scandal dating back to 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio has continued to maintain his career and personal life in the spotlight. On November 12, he celebrated his 50th birthday with an extravagant party in Los Angeles, attended by numerous A-list celebrities, including Tobey Maguire, Emile Hirsch, Edward Norton, Benicio Del Toro, Jamie Foxx, Bill Maher, and Brad Pitt, along with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. The event also saw the presence of his father, George DiCaprio, and stepmother, Peggy DiCaprio.
