Leonardo DiCaprio is about to get a gift that he was supposed to receive long ago — a photo of himself with Nelson Mandela that the South African freedom fighter inscribed to the movie star in 2007 with “Best wishes!”
Memorabilia dealer Gary Zimet of MomentsInTime.com bought the photograph at auction in Europe earlier this month.
Zimet wouldn’t tell me how much he paid, or who the seller was, but said the photo wasn’t stolen.
“Mandela wanted to give it to DiCaprio, but DiCaprio never received it. It never got to him,” Zimet said.
The photo was taken when DiCaprio was in Africa filming the 2006 movie “Blood Diamond,” co-starring Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou.
Zimet said he had received offers of well over $25,000 for the 8-by-10-inch photo, but has decided to give it to DiCaprio.
“I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” Zimet said. “Life has taught me, what comes around, goes around.”