Somers Farkas is well known in the Hamptons, Upper East, and Palm Beach. A major Republican donor, Somers — who has a regal bearing — is a philanthropist, socialite, former model, and one time advertising exec.
Now she’s the US Ambassador to Malta. It only cost her $300,000.
Don’t worry, she has it. Or had it until she donated roughly that amount this year to Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican party. This is thanks to husband, Jonathan Farkas, whose wealthy well known New York family used to own Alexander’s department store across from Bloomingdale’s and then well full on into real estate. The Farkases have homes off Madison Avenue, in Water Mill, and Palm Beach that are worth millions.
The Farkases are very nice people whom I’ve seen on the social circuit for years. Jonathan’s mother was a huge indomitable force named Ruth Farkas, who was really the dynamo in the family as a philanthropist herself. And here’s what ties the late Ruth to Somers.
A lifelong Republican,Ruth, and her family, Ruth Farkas reportedly donated the very same $300,000 to Richard Nixon’s 1972 re-election campaign. This yielded Ruth an ambassadorship to Luxembourg. But the appointment almost blew up in her face.
During the Watergate hearings in July 1974, Herbert Kalmach, Nixon’s lawyer and fund-raiser testified before the House Judiciary Committee that Farkas knew her donation would lead to an ambassadorial posting. Farkas denied the charges, and her Senate confirmation was delayed. She eventually prevailed, although, of course, Nixon lost his job.
You get what you pay for. Somers Farkas held two other positions in the first Trump White House, but nothing this prestigious. Malta — a glittering island between the south of Italy and Africa — has only 500,000 in population.
The country gained its independence from Spain and Italy in 1964, and stands as a vacation retreat for the rich and famous. It’s composed of five islands, never has bad weather, and yes — that’s where The Maltese Falcon came from. This appointment is similar to Kimberly Guilfoyle’s in Greece. A nice pay off for everyone involved.
It’s good to know Malta is in safe hands!
