America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

This result was completely in line with media predictions, leaving no room for surprise.

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Leonardo strutted onto the stage with his head held high, spreading his arms to embrace Martin and Nicholson individually.

The latter took over the Oscar statuette from the MC and handed it to Leonardo.

Martin automatically moved aside, the spotlight now on the Oscar Best Actor Leonardo DiCaprio!

The applause was long and sustained.

"I'm so thrilled, I don't know how to describe my feelings at the moment, this may be the happiest moment since I became an actor," Leonardo knew that the Academy had them appear together to attract eyeballs and boost ratings.

He deliberately said, "I used to be tasked with an Oscar math question, asking how many Oscars our trio had in total and who didn't have one. Now I can tell them, our trio has five Oscars in total, and everyone has one!"

Laughter and applause erupted from below.

Leonardo sped up his speech, "Thank you to the Academy, thank you to the judges, thank you Director Scorsese, thanks to my team and everyone from the 'Shutter Island' crew, thank you, Kate, you know, I've always loved you all these years! Thank you Martin and Jack, even in heaven and hell, our friendship will continue, and not even God can separate us!"

They had only 45 seconds to speak, and the drum reminder sounded, prompting Leonardo to leave the microphone and gesture for Martin and Nicholson to join him backstage.

Leonardo glanced at the statuette in his hand and said to Martin, "You really are a genius, the sell-ugly strategy actually worked."

Martin replied, "Because the Oscars needed a few years to adjust to the new era without Harvey Weinstein's PR."

This was not just a success for the sell-ugly strategy at the Oscars but also for the sell-belly strategy.

Natalie Portman, who looked like she was ready to give birth at any moment, rightfully received the Best Actress award.

Tonight's four major awards had thoroughly divided the cake, David Russell won Best Director, and 'Crazy Heart' claimed Best Picture.

As the award ceremony came to an end, most people rushed off to the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel to attend the "Oscar Night" party.

"To the Oscars, cheers!"

Leonardo raised his champagne glass to toast with Martin, Kate, Nicholson, and the others: "Thank you all for your support, let's head to my celebration party after this, no going home until we're drunk."

Martin exclaimed, "Leo's going to bleed money tonight, we'll eat and drink him into poverty!"

"No problem, just bring it on!" Leonardo quipped back at Martin, "I have a question for you though, the trio has three Oscar Best Actors, so tell me, who doesn't have one?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

Martin gave Leonardo the middle finger directly.

Jennifer Lawrence, coming over from congratulating Natalie Portman, hooked arms with Nicholson and said, "The next time I go for an Oscar, will you give me a child?"

That Jewish woman's successful belly-selling had her feeling quite discontented.

Nicholson replied, "That trick only works once, it won't be as effective a second time."

He pointed to Martin, "The founder is here, don't go spreading that around."

Jennifer looked at Martin with eyes full of admiration, suddenly recalling how Martin had given her a tip at Cannes Film Festival last time, which had achieved an excellent effect in drawing attention.

It was a pity that she had forgotten it during this Oscar red carpet, but next time, she'd have to fall spectacularly!

Martin, holding a glass of wine, went to the 'Gone Girl' crew; the film's content and theme were too politically incorrect. The crew had many nominations but ended up with zero awards.

He saw Mene gesturing to him from afar before leaving the banquet hall, arm-in-arm with Celine Dion who had performed at the Oscars tonight.

This was truly the definition of a life winner!

Martin sighed inwardly, the life he had strenuously pursued but could not attain a few years ago had been effortlessly achieved by Uncle Mene.

David Fincher noticed too and commented, "Your little bro there, quite admirable."

Martin nodded, "Indeed, that was my goal once, to find a rich woman and then just coast."

David Fincher added, "It's not too late now." He sighed, "Another failure."

Martin consoled, "Conserve your strength, let's prepare for the next time."

David Fincher said, "'Escape from Tehran' naturally has all the Oscar qualities, if it can't win now, I'm done with the Oscars, saying goodbye to the Academy."

Martin advised him, "David, if you plan to work with Netflix, it's best to wait until after the 85th Oscars."

Currently, Hollywood still has a considerable aversion to streaming services, and if it got out that David Fincher was shooting a film for Netflix during his Oscar campaign, it would greatly affect his standing with the Academy's traditionalists.

As everyone knows, the traditionalists still form the core of the Academy.

David Fincher said, "The film won't start shooting until the second half of the year, I've already started preparations. I'm planning to visit Tehran sometime in the first half of the year to see the situation and the historical sites from back then."

Martin said, "It'd be best if we went over there in the name of film art exchange."

Someone came over, and David Fincher took the initiative to leave: "You guys talk; I'm going to discuss the Tehran thing with someone."

Annie Hathaway always remembered Martin's words, and as soon as she entered the banquet hall, she came to find Martin right away.

The two went to a secluded rest area. Annie's big eyes were misty, as if she might cry at any moment: "I'm an idiot, a fool, a moron, with no vision and no brains. It was all my fault back then, Martin; can you forgive me?"

Martin spoke softly, "The things of the past are over. There was no right or wrong to it. Let's not bring it up anymore."

However, Annie reached out her hand and grasped Martin's firmly, "But I've never forgotten about you; I've always missed the good times we had together."

She decided to up the ante a bit, "I liked the feeling of being filled up, both above and below."

Martin said, "I have a girlfriend now, and I haven't thought about breaking up with her."

"Elizabeth Olsen, I know." Annie didn't believe those two would keep going like this: "I will wait for you, always."

Martin understood what his ex-girlfriend was like: "There's no need for that; talk to me if you're having trouble."

Whether to help would definitely depend on the situation.

Annie said in a low voice, "I owe some loans." Afraid that Martin would misunderstand, she quickly explained, "I don't want money; just that you're accomplished in the field of commercial cinema, you know a lot of people. Could you help recommend a role to me, a commercial type of role?"

Martin understood—actually, he knew a bit about Annie Hathaway's situation: her fame far exceeded her actual income.

Turning his head, he happened to see Nolan. An idea came to him, and he said, "I'll ask about it for you. I'll let you know if there's any news. Has your phone number changed?"

Annie blinked her big eyes: "No, I've been using that number, thinking that one day you would call me."

Then she asked, "Shall we leave early?"

Martin didn't have time tonight: "Jack and I are going to celebrate Leo winning Best Actor."

Annie said, "You can call me anytime."

Martin mumbled something noncommittal and left to find Nolan on his way back.

"Chris, that script for 'The Dark Knight Rises' you had me look at last time, there's an important female supporting role of Catwoman." Martin directly asked: "Have you decided on an actress yet?"

Nolan corrected him first: "It's not a supporting role; it's the female lead!" Then he added, "Auditions haven't started yet."

Martin said, "I'd like to recommend an actress to you. Does she fit the bill? Tonight's hostess, Annie Hathaway."

In Nolan's eyes, Martin was very reliable at work. He agreed right away: "Have her agent contact the production team, get the role's script, and participate in the third audition."

Martin didn't beat around the bush either: "I'll have her call Emma later."

Leonardo won an award, and after a simple celebration here, a large group of people went to his Brentwood mansion; the real celebration had just begun.

The preparations were already in place here; as Leonardo won the award during the live television broadcast, the party company sped up the setup.

Dozens of people arrived one after another, partying all night long.

Unexpectedly, Gisele Bundchen and her husband Tom Brady also came.

It was Leonardo who had invited them.

Martin took a sip of his drink and said to Nicholson beside him: "Leo's probably given all his heart to Gisele and thus became a complete playboy."

Nicholson was a real scoundrel: "Too bad we didn't get to go to Gisele's bachelorette party."

Let's drop it," Martin said. "That's Leo's true love after all."

Nicholson nodded, "Now that Leo, that scoundrel, has won the Oscar Best Actor, he mentioned organizing a grand gathering of Asian actresses."

Martin glanced at Leonardo who was conversing with Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady: "If he can't pull it off, I will organize it."

The past two months, Thomas had been talking about a commercial endorsement deal with Samsung Phones, and the negotiations were nearly complete; they were expected to officially sign the contract early next month.

Leonardo, holding a bottle of wine, found a spot to sit down on a chair, poured himself a big half-glass of wine, and said, "Here's a toast to myself first!"

He drank it down in one go, then said to Martin, "I wouldn't have won Best Actor this year without you."

Nicholson agreed, "According to my estimate, you might have needed another five or six years to win, but Martin took out Harvey Weinstein first and then came up with the strategy for you to 'uglify' yourself for the award..."

"So I have to thank Martin!" Leonardo leaned over, put an arm around Martin's shoulder, and reminded him, "Of the three of us, you're now the only one without a Best Actor. Hurry up and get one yourself; don't drag us down. It doesn't look good on Jack and me when we talk about it!"

Martin wasn't modest at all: "Very well, very well! Since you say so, make sure all the votes you guys can muster and influence for Best Actor next year go to me!"

Leonardo responded: "No problem!"