Top Lazard banker Matthieu Pigasse is being chased for $165,000 after a broker claimed he rented a Hamptons beachfront mansion — but left after two days because he said he “didn’t like the view.”
Paris-based Pigasse, the co-CEO of Lazard in France who recently bought left-leaning newspaper Le Monde, arrived at 2170 Meadow Lane in Southampton in early August. He flew in from France having paid no deposit, but a broker agreed to let him into the $30 million Norman Jaffe-designed, five-bedroom house.
Broker Jack Prizzi, who rented Pigasse the house and met him on arrival, told us: “It was my mistake letting them in with no deposit or signed contract, but they flew in at night. He had eight people with him including a 16-month-old baby. By 3 p.m. the next day, all hell broke loose because the money still hadn’t arrived. They said they didn’t like the house because it didn’t look like the pictures — it looks exactly like the pictures.”
Pigasse may have been disappointed to find himself near a public campground. “They said they didn’t like the views,” said Prizzi. “They called a contact in New York who found them another house on Meadow Lane and they left after two days.
“I trusted him. It was a calculated move on their part in order to see the place first. The owner ended up losing the month’s rent.”
Sources last night claimed the European owners of the house are now demanding Pigasse pay them the $165,000 in rent.
Altour International president Alexandre Chemla, who helped Pigasse find the second rental, told us, “It was a misunderstanding. Mr. Pigasse stayed there for one night. There were no contracts exchanged. What was promised to him and what he got was something very different.”
A spokeswoman from Lazard last night declined to comment. Calls to Pigasse’s Paris office and to his cellphone were not returned.