The $5 million Park Avenue doorman may soon find himself out the door — his bosses say that winning the lottery turned him into a loser at work.
But Richie Randazzo, 44, who was visiting Atlantic City yesterday sporting a leggy Swedish model on his arm wasn't too upset.
He told The Post that if he's canned by his "jealous" bosses, he'll just do what every regular Joe does — try to collect unemployment insurance.
After hitting it big on May 2, Randazzo said he wanted to keep his job opening the door and hailing taxis for residents at 1021 Park, where he earns $40,000 a year plus tips.
But last week, he got a nastygram from Paul Ciaramella, an assistant vice president at the Brown Harris Stevens real-estate firm, chastising him for spending too much time outside the building and wearing short-sleeve shirts.
"This behavior will not be tolerated," the letter said. "Further incidents of this kind will lead to suspension and or termination of employment."
Randazzo insisted his work was fine — and his bosses ought to lighten up.
"I'm the most beloved doorman in New York," he said, as he praised the tenants in his building.
"It hurts. I've been nothing but dedicated and loyal to my job.
"But the job demands are a little too rigid," Randazzo said, "and someone has to stand up for the little guy.
"You're required to stand all the time," Randazzo, 44, complained. "They want you to look like a soldier."
He was AWOL yesterday
He skipped his 3 p.m. shift after calling in to say he had a pressing matter that required his attention, according to another doorman.
The emergency? A blackjack table at the Taj Mahal.
"Blackjack's my game," Randazzo said.
Randazzo and his 23-year-old gal pal, Sabina Mari Johansson, rolled up to the casino in a restored, candy-apple-red Cadillac El Dorado.
He immediately put his doorman skills to work, opening the door for Johansson.
"I want to kick back, drink and relax," Randazzo said. "I'm hoping to get a nice massage."
Randazzo griped that his bosses have been on his back since he scored big in the state's "Set for Life" scratch-off game.
"They are jealous. They're running [the apartment building] like the Gestapo," he said.
Randazzo said the gambling, and the girl, will take his mind off the pressures of trying to keep a job he has had for six years.
The $5 million man wasn't exactly shaking in his boots, although he said he would apply for unemployment compensation if he is fired. He said he'd use that money to help someone else.
A rep for the management firm declined comment.
Lottery-winning doorman Richard Randazzo parties yesterday in Atlantic City with new girlfriend Sabina Mari Johansson, unconcerned about having received a written warning from his bosses.
please don't tell me this is the same punk man i was all out congratulating and feeling sorry/happy for!! where the hell did he rent meet her!? watch out for chics with greek sandles![unless you're into that]
well, he will soon be selling the payments to him, you think?
"sporting" - as in a possession?
"leggy" as opposed to? ... well, nevermind.
She'll marry him for 3 months and when the money is gone, she'll be gone, too. He better try to keep his day job.
Tough call. I mean if the boss was mad about the win, thats one thing...but if he's slacking on the job...well thats not right. I mean he choose to work after the win so his performance should not of changed. We def don't have doormen here, so I don't know what the rules are in reguards to wearing short sleeve shirts. It could of been something he could of brought up to the boss if there was a problem. Taking the day off for gambeling with hot model? I see a broke man in a year....
Wondering if he has a financial plan for his winnings, or if his plans are to spend spend spend till its gone. Then he won't have a $40,000 year job or the "leggy" girlfriend anymore... what do ya think?
High-priced Hotels like the one he works at usually have Hertz or Avis Rentals nearby! You just have to be careful with the mileage. @ almost$14,000.00 per month, looks like he might blow thru it all very quick. But if he's having fun, I guess that's all that matters. After he gets fired, I hope he doesn't have to go crawling and begging back for his job, cause He's talking trash just a bit. Media is already tailing him! We'll See!
Impressive how fast money can change people.
I hope he has his fun, but gets smart before he burns up all his money.
He's single and have some extra money so he can afford some nice memories at the casinos with a young model on his arm. Maybe he did the same thing before he won the lottery only then it wasn't news worthy.
I see nothing but bad things happening for this guy. It's ONLY $5 million. I don't recall if you can receive a lump sum or not with this type of game/win. At this rate, I hope not. He's sounding a little full of himself and when the money is gone, he's going to want that job back.
He's been there 6 years and now all of a sudden the rules are too rigid and he wants to buck the system. Nah... the money's not going to his head at all. *heavy sarcasm* Not to mention having won $5 mil and wanting to claim unemployment benefits if he's fired? GTFOH!!!
that's what i'm saying! he was just there, last time we talked about him, in his doorman outfit looking humble and pityful and we were like yay! then this shooze comes along! btw, i want to high-five the lucky 'soon to be american citizen' - she played her cards just right .. for him, yeah, the real him showed up FAST!
Haha, that didn't take long at all..... Not to say I'm surprised, isn't this the guy who called himself a "ladies man" or something? I gotta go back and look at that story again.
But a leggy model? That girl isn't what I'd consider "leggy" nor does she actually look like a model from that photo. Makes me wonder what exactly kind of modeling she does. >_>
EDIT: Okay, she has a website and certainly looks a lot better in the photos in her portfolio, heh. That picture just isn't very flattering... But I still wouldn't call her "leggy". Her mother is an accountant apparently, maybe he better give her a buzz. >_> <_<
it really breaks my heart when people like this win and basically piss away their winnings when there are so many people that desperately need the break.
Haha, found it, wasn't too hard to do but oh well... I probably could have just looked at the links to the right in the story. *COUGH*
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/176662
Randazzo's new riches have given him the freedom to concentrate on one of his passions — women.
"I want a good Italian woman — or Swedish or Irish or Chinese," he said. "I'm always looking. It's a hobby of mine."
As creepy as that is, he's certainly "living" up his hobby, one down three to go! He'll be out on his ass soon enough and then we'll get the sad story on either how he regrets it or how he wouldn't change a thing, while he's homeless and out of a job. He certainly looked a lot older in the photo from the original story, I wonder if he had any work done.
I think the name of the company they said she worked for was " ALL THE WAY." or something seemelatr.
FROM a doorman with a job
TO a party animal with the ladies
a man living his dream.
I can see this guy ending up like the antique dealer from the UK.....
When it was first posted that he won I said I see this guy loosing it all if he's not careful. His "bosses are jealous", NOT they have "old" money, lots of it. I think this doorman is an ass_ole! I see him losing his shirt in two years time. Sad situation.
A good idea to pull her websites. Doesn't appear that he's the only sugar daddy either. What a good example of what not to do, when you hit. In the NY Post, he's sporting a giant cigar in the whirlpool, where does he think he's going! I mean besides broke! It's almost embarrassing watching him make a fool of himself in middle age. And he wants lots of coverage. Dummy!!!!
You can bet that when the money runs out, the leggy Swedish model will leg- it out of there too! It is crazy that lottery winners in the US are required to go public. People don't go public about the salaries, at least most don't. So why require people to declare publically a lottery win? Would she have fallen in love with him if he hadn't won?
The New York Lottery could declare that all new lottery winners will be allowed to choose anonymity - they could use that as a point of difference. I know you Yanks are not good at discretion, but I think it is the best way to go in the long run.
Here in Australia, all state lotteries allow winners to remain anonymous and the vast majority do. It is very rare to read about a named winner, and there are several millionaires created each week. The published results list the numbers the number of winners and the area the winning tickets were sold.
It depends on the person, unfortunately (or fortunately for "entertainment purposes") we have a lot of "good ol'boys" and braggarts who enjoy the attention and act out like idiots, at least until everything comes crashing down.
It stinks that for a lot of states they don't give you the chance to claim anonymously, some do and if you don't take it then you're a damned fool. Michigan does, the only exception is on the Mega Millions lottery, which stinks. There must be some arrangement where they can't do it on it, which maybe is why they allow for there to be a loophole with forming a Trust, LLC or a Club. Though, obviously Michigan's Mega Millions winners haven't even attempted it from what I can tell, they might ask but after that they just give up and don't bother trying to find a way around it. State lottery winners though claim that way all the time.
All in all though, I think it'd only take one high profile case or a MM winner being killed or his/her family taken hostage or murdered to change that. Then again, a lot of people would just say "well, they should have had security!" Or something equally silly.
This guy though is setting himself up for a fall with that kind of attitude, apparant arrogance and stupidity. Can't say I'm surprised since he gave that vibe in the original story.
Yay another "moron" wins the lottery. You can tell he is not very competent at all, and will be bankrupt and begging for his job back in a few years or less.
I know in some states you don't qualify for unemployment insurance if you were fired for just cause. If it's that way in NY he can appeal and hope they don't show up for the hearing as many companies don't bother. If I won 5 mill I'd prob go on a short spending spree but would invest most of it. It's too early to say he's gonna blow it all. I wish him the best!
Yes, that was my first reaction. "Was he wearing or driving her?"
(although the dictionary uses "exhibiting" as one definition)
Regarding his job, if he was showing up for work everyday and performing his duties in the same manner as before he won the money, they have no legal right to deny him his benefits IMO. Although I hope he gives it to charity, I think he earned his unemployment compensation, unless there's another reason he was fired. Let's say I won or inherited millions. I wouldn't flaunt it, but if I wanted to keep working for benefits, extra money, or simply because I loved my job, I don't think it's anybody's business. When the store I worked in for years suddenly went out of business, I had to answer a lot of questions about my job, salary and previous employment, but none of the questions asked if I had money in the bank, lived in a nice house, or if I dated young models. That has nothing to do with it.
However, from the looks of things, the building occupants might not like all the publicity and a doorman who is appearing in the news. These are $10M homes where people enjoy their security and privacy, and he has apparently been attracting a lot of attention.
I agree money changes people. Sadly in most cases for the worst.
I bet he is getting his fill with the model too. Hey, she is kinda cute.
If I was him I would try my best to keep my day job and party only on the weekends.
Anyway wtg buddy!
He may get more than 5 mil. From the original story:
"The lucky doorman actually won the prize May 2, when he bought a $10Set for Life instant ticket, which pays $5,000 a week for life and guarantees a minimum of $5 million. Winners get $65,000 every three months, or $41,926 after taxes." (emphasis, mine)
I agree on the anonymity thing.
Just another comment.. RE: The "leggy" woman
Although money helps, he sounds like a man who enjoys having a good time. Although he wouldn't be my choice (rich or poor) I've worked with men who have little to offer but great personalities and some women love them. Don't judge her because she's pretty and having a little fun.
Agree.
The money will never run out until he dies. $5000 a week for life! So if he plays his cards right he will be one happy cookie for the rest of his life.