The Economist
Date
Reading Time
6 Minutes
The Economist – “Reason Not the Need”
The Economist reviewed the saga of Manhattan’s General Motors Building – a project spearheaded by Cecilia Benattar – and lauded her extraordinary dedication. In that piece, Benattar is famously described as “the ‘housewife tycoon’, who was so wrapped up in dealmaking that it took her six months to name her first child.”
This vivid anecdote highlighted her intense focus and business prowess. The article placed Benattar among a cast of bold real estate players, noting that while other tycoons engaged in “dangerous gambling, double-crossing and… suing” in pursuit of the trophy property, Benattar distinguished herself by outsmarting the competition. (The piece mentions colorful rivals – for example, calling one a “uniquely unpleasant financier” – underscoring the cutthroat context in which Benattar thrived.) Overall, The Economist portrayed Cecilia Benattar in a positive light as the unlikely “housewife-turned-tycoon” who outpaced her peers through sheer tenacity and shrewd deal-making.