«GOOD BUSINESS IS THE BEST ART»

In the manner of a successful corporate brand, Madonna has spread herself far and wide.Aside from her creative output — 14 albums, eight world tours, 19 feature films, videos and a series of children’s books — she has been an indefatigable dealmaker.In 1992 she set up Maverick, a record label with video, film and publishing interests, which she jointly owned with Time Warner until 2004.Since 1989, when she accepted 5-million from Pepsi for a TV commercial (which got pulled after one showing for its presumed blasphemy), she has been involved in ad campaigns for BMW, Max Factor, Versace and Gap. Last year she put her name to a clothing line for high-street retailer H&M. This year she has collaborated with Ed Hardy on a tattoo-inspired range for Christian Audigier. Then there are the merchandising deals, investments in fine art and property and appearance fees.... About one fifth of Madonna’s £300-million fortune is in property. She now owns six houses in London. She also owns an 18th-century Mayfair pub, The Punchbowl, in Farm Street, which is near the £15-million townhouse that was her main home while she was married to Guy Ritchie...Madge Central is now a huge apartment on New York’s West 57th Street. Her other home is a villa on Sunset Boulevard. Her art collection, over 300 paintings, including works by Léger, Dali, Man Ray, Damien Hirst and Frida Kahlo, is valued at around £80-million. She paid 5-million for Picasso’s Buste de Femme à la Frange.

Times
April 14 2009