'Billionaire's Hollywood go-to guy' running for U.S. Senate (for world peace)

By Eriq Gardner

Producer Brian Quintana, once called the "Billionaire's Hollywood Go To Guy," is running to be the next California senator. Late last week, Quintana filed his papers and is now a certified candidate for office, running for election as a Democrat.

Who is Quintana, and why do we care?

He touts himself on a personal website as a "producer to the stars," a fixture on the L.A. social scene, a VIP facilitator to billionaires, celebrities and elected officials including Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Last year, the Los Angeles Times ran a long feature that questioned his claimed connections and pretty much labeled him as an opportunist.

We know him best for the scandalous lawsuit he filed in December 2008 against former Hollywood studio chief Jon Peters. At the time, both were involved in a planned "Superman" film, and Quintana sued Peters for failing to make good on promised payments, sticking in claims that Peters wanted to involve him in murder, the cover-up of statutory rape, procurement of drugs, forgery and a lot more.

One would think the lawsuit harmed his social life — but apparently, he was "spotted everywhere Oscar weekend," including on Barry Diller's lawn. The website he has set up in connection to his run for Senate is a pretty hilarious trophy wall of pictures.

His top issues, by the way, include the environment, education and world peace.