A ‘Swiss gigolo’, dirty pictures, and BMW heiress Susanne Klatten
The quick end of a sex scandal that forced Germany's richest woman to make a tough decision
Sorry, sex scandal fans, said Owen Thomas in Gawker. Helg Sgarbi, the “Swiss gigolo” who wooed then tried to blackmail billionaire BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, confessed and apologized Monday at the start of what would have been a “riveting trial.” Now Sgarbi, who had someone videotape one lovemaking session with Klatten, faces six years in jail, and the show’s over.
Klatten is usually publicity shy, said Georg Gomolka in Germany’s Bild. And she could have shielded herself from embarrassment by remaining anonymous, as other victims of Sgarbi’s crimes did. But when Sgarbi threatened to release compromising pictures if Klatten didn’t give him millions, Klatten “bravely” faced going public, and confessing to her husband, to bring the gigolo to justice.
Sgarbi’s confession at least “spared Klatten” and several other women he swindled from the added humiliation of testifying in court, said Germany’s Der Spiegel. But don’t expect him to get time off for good behavior, at least not until he reveals where he stashed the $10 million he coaxed out of Klatten—before the blackmail attempt—by telling her the Mafia was coming after him.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cytomegalovirus can cause permanent birth defects
The Explainer The virus can show no symptoms in adults
-
Summer in Seattle: Outdoor dining like nowhere else
Feature Featuring a patio with a waterfront view, a beer garden, and more
-
Ari Aster revisits the pandemic, Adam Sandler tees off again and Lamb Chop gets an origin story in July movies
the week recommends The month's film releases include 'Eddington,' 'Happy Gilmore 2' and 'Shari & Lamb Chop'