Who

A society staple, Calicchio is heir to one of New York's biggest real estate fortunes.

Backstory

Denise is a scion of the LeFrak real estate dynasty, which began in 1901 when her grandfather, Harry LeFrak, launched real estate development firm the LeFrak Organization. The company underwent explosive growth during the tenure of her father, Samuel LeFrak. Today, with her brother Richard LeFrak in charge, the company controls the sprawling LeFrak City complex in Queens, much of the Jersey City waterfront, the commercial building 40 West 57th Street and a handful of other major buildings in town. LeFrak dabbled in the real estate biz herself as a broker at Sotheby's from 1990 to 2004. These days, though, she's a lady of leisure and an occasional author.

In print

With co-authors Eunice David and Kathryn Livingston, Calicchio published High Rise Low Down in 2007, a fawning look at the histories and tenants of some of New York's most prestigious buildings, including the San Remo, the Dakota, and 834 Fifth Avenue. DLC's fellow real estate heiress-cum-socialite Beth Rudin DeWoody blurbed the book, as did real estate developer William Mack.

Family ties

DLC's sister, Francine LeFrak, and her sister-in-law, Karen LeFrak, are also frequently sighted at functions around town.

Personal

LeFrak's first husband was Martin Bandier, the former chief of EMI and now the president of Sony/ATV. (The couple met when Bandier worked at the LeFrak Organization back in the day.) She and Bandier have two daughters, Jennifer Diggins and Allison Koffman. DLC's second husband is the shipping-parts magnate John Calicchio, which makes her stepmom to John's furniture designer daughter, Lisa Jackson.

Habitat

Denise and John live in 820 Park Avenue, a building to which—not surprisingly—she devotes a whole chapter in her book. In 2009, she sold her former apartment, a two-bedroom condo on East 74th Street, for $2.14 million.