Ben Aronoff is the reel-life representation of the motor legend Donald Aronow. Don’s epicness was shown through the 2018 crime drama movie “Speed Kills.”
In the movie, Ben builds his motor empire after moving to Miami, fixing his mindset to “win.” He wins several grand motor races, thus, becoming the mogul of motorboats.
However, his success is thoroughly cut short after many years of enjoyment when he is found murdered in his car. The motors tycoon’s tragic ending did not settle well with the crowd as the news of his death became international news.
ESPN reports on Don’s reach as a boat racer relating his life to business from luxury to his murder.
Thus, the cinematic representation of his life and death was managed in the 2009 documentary film “Thunder Man: The Don Aronow Story” and the 2018 movie led by John Travolta “Speed Kills.”
Ben Aronoff Wikipedia: John Travolta Portrayed Don Aronow’s Character
Ben Aronoff is the “Speed Kills” lead character, based on Donald “Don” Aronow, the real motor king from Miami. The movie starts with Don’s life story when he moves to Miami to get all the wins.
Don was a New York native but came to rule the Miami waters with his motor skills and knack for business.
Precisely, the 2018 movie itself is an adaptation of a true-crime book of the same name. Hence, following Don’s business dealings with some of the dangerous names in the industry, his name was modified into Ben Aronoff.
John Travolta’s character Ben moves to Miami and evolves quickly as a racer, motor designer, and entrepreneur. As the accomplished speedboat racing champion and multi-millionaire, his stance in the water city got him in trouble with the law and various drug lords.
Despite being a heavy plot movie, 2018’s “Speed Kills” failed to impress the audience and critics. It has a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 2.5/10. Similarly, IMDb records a lackluster 4.2 stars out of 10.
Moreover, Travolta’s vintage fame also did not help to aid the movie’s success. Not to be missed, he is a 70s and 80s heartthrob, notable for his roles in “Saturday Night Fever,” “Carrie,” “Urban Cowboy,” “Face/Off,” “Grease,” and “A Civil Action,” among many others.
Don’s Wikipedia suggests that he was killed on February 3, 1987, while he was in the car at the end of 188th Street, of North Miami Beach, where his boat companies operated. He had just left a meeting with Bob Saccenti, part-owner of Apache Power Boats when a powder blue Lincoln pulled up next to Aronow’s car from the opposite direction.
Witnesses claim that the other driver opened fire when Aronow rolled down his window. The killers got away by driving over the grass though they were chased.
A career criminal, Bobby Young admitted to the incident in 1995 and provided a full confession in 2009, shortly before his death. The real perpetrator was Ben Kramer, the 1986 winner of the American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship though he pleaded no contest to manslaughter in 1996.
Kramer had a business conflict with Aronow after buying the latter’s USA Racing Team but he was forced to sell it back to Aronow after the Customs Service refused to do business with him. Hence, his frustrations over the motor mogul were the real reason behind his criminal intentions.
However, Kramer was already in prison on a life sentence with no possibility of parole as he had the 1988 and 1989 convictions for drug smuggling and gun charges and a 1990 conviction for a failed escape attempt by helicopter from a federal prison near Miami.
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Who Is Ben Aronoff’s Wife? Meet His Family
Ben Aronoff is married to his wife, Katherine Aronoff, in the movie. The two’s lovely marriage falls apart, citing Ben’s busy schedules and their son Andrew’s car accident in which his legs are injured forever.
His other relationship flourishes with Emily Gowen, portrayed by actress Katheryn Winnick.
In real life, Don Aronow was married twice in his life. He was first married to Shirley Goldin, with whom he fathered three children; Michael, David, and Claudia. Michael was a star athlete at the University of Florida and the one who was severely injured in a car accident in 1970.
Claudia is an artist based in New York. She is the ex-wife of the notable real estate developer Martin Kimmel. The former couple’s son is the menswear designer Adam Kimmel, husband of “The Glass House” actress Leelee Sobieski.
Likewise, Don is also survived by his second wife, Lillian Crawford, and their two sons, Gavin and Wylie. Crawford is a former Wilhelmina model and was 24 years younger than the motor mogul. The couple’s son, Wylie, is a cofounder of Bored Ape Yacht Club, a prominent NFT collection.
Ben Aronoff Net Worth Figures In The Movie
Ben Aronoff was a multi-millionaire in the 2018 reminiscence movie titled “Speed Kills.” During his surge in motor racing and motor business, he developed as an entrepreneur, different from others.
His riches were well-shown in the movie scenes, which were true. In real life, Don was already a millionaire prior to settling down in Miami with his family. He had initially intended to join motor racing as a hobby, citing his millionaire grounds earned from his construction company, the Aronow Corporation.
The company was founded in 1953 and quickly rose as one of the largest construction companies in the state. As of 1959, Donald was cited to be an official millionaire at the age of 32. By the end of 1962, Don had established the Formula Marine boat company as an expert moto boat company that he later sold to Merrick Lewis’ Alliance Machine Corp.
Donald’s next venture was in 1964 when he started Donzi Marine, which he sold to Teleflex Inc. in mid-1965. Donzi Marine was a quick success as it reached international notability within a year of its founding.
Next year, in 1966, the Miami moto king founded Magnum Marine, which won Donald his first World Championship in 1927. His further success continued as his boats won over 350 offshore races, two world championships, and three-time U.S. championships.
However, the complete figuration of his net worth earnings at the time of his death still remains out of public reach. The Captain has fully reported on Don’s luxurious and over-the-top lifestyle.
He was the richest in the field but faced a tragedy-struck death whose conviction did not come until two decades later.