MEXICAN BILLIONAIRE TO OPEN RODIN MUSEUM

CARLOS SLIM, THE WORLD'S RICHEST MAN, WILL SOON OPEN A NEW MUSEUM IN ONE OF THE POOREST AREAS OF HIS NATIVE MEXICO TO HOUSE HIS COLLECTION OF ARTWORK FY FRENCH SCULPTOR AUGUSTE RODIN, CONSIDERED THE LARGEST OUTSIDE FRANCE. THE NEW BRANCH OF SLIM'S SOUMAYA MUSEUM, NAMED FOR HIS LATE WIFE, IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER. IT WILL BE THE SECOND MUSEUM BY SLIM, WHOSE OVER $50 BILLION EMPIRE INCLUDES LATIN AMERICA'S LEADING CELL PHONE SERVICES PROVIDER, ADDING TO AN INITIAL PUBLIC COLLECTION IN THE MEXICAN CAPITAL FEATURING WORKS BY PAINTERS SALVADOR DALI, PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR AND OTHERS. THE MUSEUM, DESIGNED BY SON IN LAW FERNANDO ROMERO, IS A SIX-STORY, CHIMNEY-SHAPED STRUCTURE COVERED IN SHINY PANELS. IT WILL BE AN ANCHOR OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING OFFICES, APARTMENTS AND RETAIL, THAT SLIM IS BUILDING IN WESTERN MEXICO CITY WITH AN INITIAL INVESTMENT OF $750 MILLION. LEADING A TOUR OF THE NEW MUSEUM RECENTLY FOR REPORTERS, SLIM SAID THE MUSEUM'S LOBBY WOULD FEATURE A PIECE BY RUFINO TAMAVO, ONE OF MEXICO'S BEST KNOWN PAINTERS. ENTRY INTO THE MUSEUM WILL BE FREE.