Jewellery Designer Loree Rodkins Roots

Published on 31/08/09

Having lunch with jewelry designer Loree Rodkin is like devouring a juicy Hollywood novel. First to be discussed are her famous affairs -- with Don Henley, Bernie Taupin and Richard Gere. Then her lifelong friendships with Cher and Elton John, and her extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as being introduced to Paris by Salvador Dali and propositioned by Jimi Hendrix (she turned him down).

It's no wonder that she's had two offers to option her life story.

Not that Rodkin is a party girl. Far from it. Arriving on the L.A. scene in the early 1970s, she's gone from being a rock 'n' roll interior decorator to a talent manager to a fine jeweler. But she says she's never been into drinking or drugs. In fact, she's baby-sat her fair share of addicts, including Robert Downey Jr., when he was a client.