James Goldstein 'Mr. L.A.'

Dolce travels to the city of angels for an exclusive with the mysterious James Goldstein.

- Sarah Kanbar

In Los Angeles, land of the rich and famous, there is a man who often can be spotted in the front row at fashion shows, court side at NBA games and mingling at exclusive celebrity events, always attired in his distinctive “couture cowboy” style. Even in a room full of celebrities, his individuality makes him stand out.

Referred to as “the mystery man,” the mysterious James Goldstein makes frequent appearances at high-profile events alongside some of the world’s most famous people. He’s not a Hollywood executive or a music man, so Goldstein’s connection to the celebrity world is not known to many outside the L.A. scene. Still, his unique presence garners a ton of attention — on Instagram he has 74,000 followers and counting. In fact, since his 20s, Goldstein has been photographed with influential people, ranging from athletes, actors and musicians to his favourite, supermodels, including Mick Jagger, Cher, Steven Tyler, Scottie Pippen, Sylvester Stallone and the late Hollywood sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, with whom Goldstein had a brief romantic relationship back in the ’60s.

So who exactly is James Goldstein? In short, he’s an American millionaire who has gained notoriety in the areas of fashion, basketball and architecture. The twist is that Goldstein does not work in the fashion industry, has no professional connection to the NBA and is not an architect. He is, however, a style icon, an NBA super fan and a visionary who has worked with designers to make his home an architectural landmark. He may be a mystery to the rest of the world, but here in Los Angeles, he’s “Mr. L.A.”