Ben Novack Jr. was a millionaire playboy who had it all - kind of like Bruce Wayne.
The 53-year-old had an eccentric lifestyle, mansions and sordid sex life - and apparently one of the world's largest Batman memorabilia collections, according to court records.
The guy even had his own Batmobile stored at his Fort Lauderdale home, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The expensive collection of toys is now part of a legal battle over his estate between his widow and his step-daughter. Novack's worth after death is estimated to be around $6 million, but that total could jump depending on appraisals of the Batman collection.
The memorabilia fills four of the six warehouses on Novak's Fort Lauderdale property.
Novack, the son of the founder of Miami Beach's original Fontainebleau Hotel, was murdered at a convention in New York on July 12. The renowned convention organizer was found dead in his hotel room by his wife, Narcy, after she returned from breakfast. Police suspect foul play but have not named any suspects.
The Batman angle only adds to the odd back story that has become twisted Novak's personal life.
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He was set up to be robbed by goons hired by his wife in 2002. She admitted to trying to steal $1 million. Novack decided not to press charges.
Oh, and Novack loved sex just as much as he loved the Caped Crusader. According to a 2002 police report, Narcy showed police what she said were Novack Jr.'s personal collection of odd pornographic photos, including naked women with artificial limbs, and threatened to expose Novack Jr.'s intimate secrets.
We wonder if he liked to be called Bruce Wayne or the Dark Knight.
A Broward judge will rule on who wins out on the estate and the Batman stuff in the coming months. Meanwhile, Novack's body is expected to be buried in South Florida sometime next week.
