Ad big-wigâ€™s manse sale: Skirting his tax duty?

The Issue: Jerry Della Femina's decision to sell his Long Island mansion before fiscal-cliff tax hikes set in.

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What a sad and tragic story: Jerry Della Femina sold his home for only $25 million, as he was so worried he would have to pay more in taxes ("Ad Guru Reveals Why He Sold Hamptons Estate," Dec. 23).

That anyone expects sympathy for a man who has more now than 99 percent of Americans will ever see in their lifetimes is laughable at best, and truly insulting at worst.

This man should remember how lucky he is to live in a place where he can make a fortune doing something as simple as selling a home that he barely needs. The out-of-touch, mega-rich like him would do well to recall how laughably more well-off they are than nearly everyone.

Jerry Della Femina

My family is proud of the modest salary I make through hard work and would never dream of complaining, despite the difficulty we live with daily. It is just another example of why the rest of us feel such disgust with the 1 percent who run this country and believe they are entitled to even more than they already have or could ever need.Adam Intravia

Riverhead

Despite Della Femina's statement that he sold his house now because he wanted to avoid a possible tax increase, he made it quite clear that he had tried to sell the property for $40 million, was unable to do so and dropped the price to $25 million.

At this price, he finally found a buyer.

Rather than risk having to lower the price again, he took the offer.

That is the truth. Save opinions for the editorial page.Edythe Fishbach

Brooklyn

For the past 20 years, Della Femina probably paid a lower tax rate than the people he employed.

Now that it is time to pay up for all the tax relief he has gotten over the years, he wants to cry on the The Post's shoulder.

He needs to blame the do-nothing Congress and his representatives, not just Obama.

George H. Dixon

Reading, Pa.

Della Femina cites President Obama's fiscal policies as his reason for the sale when, in fact, this property has been on the market for years.

He says he's the loser, and had Mitt Romney been elected he could have kept his party house.

At the same time, he made millions of dollars in profit on the sale.

Had Romney been elected, the middle class would have had their taxes raised and benefits cut in order to continue to subsidize Della Femina's parties.

Elections have consequences.

John B. Corcoran

West Pittston, Pa.

Poor, rich, pitiful Della Femina.

When one of his former advertising clients had a product on sale, how did he feel when that product went back to its regular price?

That's what the change in tax rates would be — a return to the former fair rate.

The tax rate for the wealthy has been on sale for eight years, but now the bills for trillion-dollar wars are due.

As for leaving money for his kids and grandchildren, I would think a good portion of the $25 million sale of his summer home would suffice if Della Femina doesn't squander it on silly parties where he tries to influence other obnoxious, rich and powerful people.

As for his accusations about Obama's youthful marijuana smoking, how petty can he get?

Della Femina helped pay the medical bills of an employee who had HIV.

I would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize and Time magazine's person of the year: things Obama has already won. Pietro Allar

Manhattan

Let me get this straight: He put his mansion in the Hamptons on the market in 2010 knowing Obama would be re-elected and the capital gains tax was going to increase?

He says he wants to pay his fair share.

I wonder how many cars were leased and parties, renovations, vacations and other personal items paid for by his business.