Matt Rich (publicist)

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Matt Rich (born October 13, 1954, in Riverside, California) is an American public relations executive known for representing high-profile clients such as Donald Trump, Halston, Patty Hearst, Judy Collins, Dottie Frank, Jackie Onassis, Victoria Gotti, and the Gotti family.

After graduating from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1977, Rich moved to New York and became a protégé of designer Halston. He joined the fashion crowd and worked as an assistant publicist for Studio 54, where he described the club’s famously wild atmosphere.

Rich later worked with author Dottie Frank and was honored in the dedications of her novels Plantation and Isle of Palms. He served as Jackie Onassis’ press agent for her last public appearance at Grand Central Station for the Municipal Art Society’s 100th anniversary, and Onassis praised his ability to manage the press.

In 1989, Rich founded the boutique firm PlanetPR. By 2005, his clients included Stephen Baldwin and Rachel Hirschfeld. He stopped working as Victoria Gotti’s press agent after she pretended to have breast cancer for publicity, a move he did not endorse. He also worked with art collector Stuart Pivar in 2007.

Since 1997, Rich has been a consultant for Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Organization, coordinating press and appearances for Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA, and often accompanying them to red-carpet events. He was mentioned in a 2013 episode of Celebrity Apprentice when Baldwin told other contestants: “Call Matt Rich.”