Sunday, October 16, 2011 Richest panhandler: Professor Frances Gabe sets world record (Video) NEW YORK, USA -- 97-year-old Irwin Corey, aka 'Professor' Irwin Corey, comedian, actor and left-wing political activist, who has an $3.5million apartment in an affluent area of New York, strolls along Manhattan's East 35th Street pan-handling every day, seven days a week, for the last 17 years; he uses the money to buy medical supplies for children in Cuba , setting the world record for the Richest panhandler, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com). Photo: Irwin Corey — better known to comedy buffs as Professor Irwin Corey, the World's Foremost Authority — donates all the money he gathers each day at a red light on East 35th Street (usually around $100) to medical care for children in Cuba. (enlarge photo) The Guinness world record for the richest person alive is Carlos Slim Helú (Mexico), with an estimated worth of $53.5 billion (£35.23 billion). Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the richest investor, set by Warren Edward Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, estimated to be worth $45 billion (approx. £29 billion). His reasons for posing as a homeless down-and-outer and hassling drivers for change are two-fold: Since his wife of seventy years Fran died in May he said it helps beat the loneliness. Photo: The World's Richest Panhandler lives in this large apartment in an affluent area of Manhattan, believed to be worth $3.5million. (enlarge photo) The 97-year-old also donates all the money he raises - sometimes up to $250 a day - to a charity that buys medical supplies for children in Cuba. Over his eight-decade career, he has worked alongside Jackie Gleason and Woody Allen and appeared on Late Night with David Letterman. In fact he still performs fairly regularly and told the New York Times that he flew to Chicago a week ago to play two nights at a local club. Though the 97-year-old did not give much away about his financial position, his agent of more than 50 years Irvin Arthur, 85, said he does not need to beg on the street for money. He said: 'This is not about money. For Irwin, this is an extension of his performing.' Related world records: Most expensive musical instrument sold: Stradivarius violin (Video) Most Expensive Handbag: The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse Most Expensive Bed: The Baldacchino Supreme Most Expensive Apartment Building: One Hyde Park Most expensive cheese sandwich: Chef Martin Blunos First gold vending machine:"Gold to Go" Most Expensive Coin: 1794 Liberty dollar Most Expensive Stamp: The Treskilling Yellow Most expensive carpet: 17th Century Persian carpet Most Expensive Rough Diamond: The Cullinan Heritage Most expensive medicine: Soliris Most expensive mobile phone: Apple iPhone 3G Supreme Most Expensive Written Manuscript: Giacamo Casanova's autobiography Most Expensive Diamond: 'Vivid Pink' Most expensive barbecue: BeefEater Most expensive cow: Missy Most expensive bottle of beer: Lowebrau Most expensive Christmas bauble: Hallmark Jewellers Most expensive apartment: Hong Kong flat Largest Cut Paraiba Tourmaline: Ethereal Carolina Most expensive sheep - Deveronvale Perfection Longest line of coins - THINK Together Most expensive diamond - The Wittelsbach Diamond Most expensive car - Ferrari 250 GTO Sunday, October 16, 2011 |