Book description
William Mason is arguably America's greatest ever jewel thief. During
a thirty-year career he charmed his way into the inner circles of high
society and stole over million worth of fabulous jewels from people
such as Armand Hammer, Phyllis Diller (twice), Bob Hope, Margaux
Hemingway, Truman Capote, Johnny Weissmuller and even the Mafia.
Along the way he seduced a high-profile Midwest socialite into
leaving her prominent industrialist husband, nearly died after being
shot in a robbery, tricked both Christie's and Sotheby's into fencing
stolen goods for him, was a fugitive for five years and the object of
a nationwide manhunt, and yet spent a total of less than three years
in prison despite the best efforts of law-enforcement agencies from
several states as well as the federal government.
Shadowy, elusive and intensely private, Mason has been the subject
of many magazine and newspaper features, but no journalist has ever
come close to uncovering the true story. Now, in his own words and
with no holds barred, Nine Lives: Confessions of a Master
Jewel Thief reveals it all, and the real story is more
incredible than any of the reporters, detectives or FBI agents who
pursued Mason ever imagined.
Bill Mason, is the most successful jewel thief that the USA has ever
known. While working as a real estate manager and investor and raising a
family with his first wife, he excelled in his after-hours career as a
jewel thief. He currently lives with his second wife in New York City.
