As an adult, her closest friends never knew the truth about her past — not even her business partner of 26 years, Joseph Aquino, who grew up just 10 blocks from her childhood home.

Her real family

Ms. Consolo said her father’s name was John. In fact, his name was Frank. She said he died when she was 2.

In fact, he died in 2012, at age 94.

She said her father was a real estate executive. He was, in reality, a gambler who spent periods of time incarcerated. He was arrested on charges of armed robbery and assault and battery and was involved in a major heroin racket in 1954. He served time in Alcatraz and at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan.

Ms. Consolo said her mother was a child psychiatrist. But she was a hairdresser at Martin’s, a department store in Downtown Brooklyn.

Her spending habits

Ms. Consolo’s success in New York real estate, however, was real. William Rudin, one of the city’s largest developers, said, “She really changed the retail marketplace.” In 2005, she joined the real estate firm Douglas Elliman and was the chairwoman of its retail division.

She was known for spending lavishly: meals at Brasserie in the Seagram Building, and overnight stays at a Four Seasons or a Ritz Carlton.

In 2016, Ms. Consolo’s business partner, Mr. Aquino, sued her and Douglas Elliman over commission payments. Though the lawsuit was eventually dismissed, it did lead to revelations about Ms. Consolo’s spending habits. They included $100 daily makeup sessions and a $60,000 annual travel and entertainment budget.