22 October 2010 www.TheRealDeal.

com
PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE REAL DEAL BY MICHAEL TOOLAN

At
aphael De Niro, 33, is not easy to pin down, but after many entreaties, the Prudential Douglas Elliman broker set aside time one recent morning to meet at his snug West Village office. Still, a certain amount of press shyness might be expected from the son of such a mega actor. While he chose a different path from his father, Robert De Niro, Hollywood names are on his client list. But make no mistake Raphael has seen serious success in the real estate business on his own. The De Niro Group, which he anchors with his wife, has earned numerous top-producer awards after just six years in the industry. Thats probably because he doesnt stay at his desk all that much. If I spend too much time in my office, De Niro said, Im not out making money. By C. J. HugHes

the

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of:

RAphAel De NiRo

A map of Tribeca, where De Niro grew up after moving to New York from Los Angeles in 1986. He says theres more of a community Downtown than in other Manhattan areas. Of course, his dad is also closely associated with Tribeca, and its film festival, which he started after Sept. 11.

Recognition from the Wall Street Journal for the De Niro Groups finishing 62nd out of 400 brokers in sales in 2009 nationally. Separately, Prudentials national office ranked the group 15th of 100 teams the same year. De Niro represented supermodel Gisele Bundchen in 2009 on the sale of her West Village townhouse, for about $13 million.

Dozens of business cards. De Niro eventually will keep them in individual sleeves in a binder. Having that recognizable a last name is a double-edged sword, he said, declining to elaborate.

A photo from the offices debut in 2009. He relocated his team from West 10th Street because the West Village was underserved. Hes pictured with his wife, Claudine; they were married in March 2008 and live in Hudson Square.

Game Change, about the 2008 presidential election, was a recent read. De Niro reads a book a month, usually historical nonfiction. A recent favorite was Stephen Ambroses Eisenhower: Soldier and President.

Four squeezable gray foam heads with expressions like surprise and anger were a gift from Raphaels aunt Linda De Niro, a daughter of Jack DeNiro, who is formerly of the firm JC DeNiro. Linda, a 37-year real estate veteran and interior designer, works in the office.

A set of oversize dice was a gift from Phil Ivey, a friend and professional poker player, though De Niro is not a gambler himself. I thought they were cool, he says.

A copy of Deltas Sky magazine that features Robert De Niro on the cover. Father and son are partners in Tribecas Greenwich Hotel, which opened in 2008, and the pair is planning to build similar versions globally. If the tiny cactus looks drier than usual, its because Raphael has little time to water it. I need to be out in the field, he said.