Ehud Arye Laniado was born in Tel Aviv,
Israel in 1954, and he worked as a masseuse before seeking his fortune in
Africa and developing a keen eye for priceless gems. He founded Omega Diamonds in Antwerp,
Belgium, where he became a citizen; he became one of the biggest international experts in valuing raw diamonds. He would go on to become a billionaire, buying the most expensive penthouse in
Monaco (worth $39,400,000) and a house in
Bel Air,
California, where he loved to drink Chateau Margaux with celebrities. In 2014, he sold the world's most expensive diamond, the Blue Moon of Josephine, to a
Hong Kong businessman for $48.4 million. However, he was always insecure about his short height and his apperance, being nicknamed "the Argentine" for resembling a tango dancer; the only time he forgot about his height was when he had his accountant read his account statement multiple times a day to reassure him. In 2013, he got in trouble for illegally importing diamonds from the
Congo and
Angola, and he prevented a tax evasion trial by paying a fine. He was later accused of lying about information to the Belgian authorities and was set to be placed on trial on 14 March 2019, but, on 7 March 2019, he died during a penis enlargement surgery at a plastic surgeon's clinic in
Paris,
France at the age of 65.