Cannes Heist Nets $53 Million of Lev Leviev’s Jewels

A masked gunman stole $53 million worth of diamonds and jewels owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev from an exhibition at a luxury resort in Cannes Sunday afternoon after threatening the exhibition staff and visitors at the Carlton Hotel.

He filled a briefcase with the jewels and fled in what could be among the largest jewelry heists in France if the value of the jewels is as reported, according to the BBC.

Leviev, 57, a Soviet-born Israeli Jewish businessman and philanthropist, owns diamond mines in Russia and Africa.