NEW ORLEANS — Millionaire Robert Durst went shopping for Panama hats ahead of his foiled escape to Cuba — but was too cheap to shell out $70 for a hot-weather headpiece, The Post has learned.
Durst stopped by the New Era store in the French Quarter late last week and tried on a bunch of Liberty-brand straw hats, a worker there said Tuesday.
Durst checked out black, tan and even two floral-print models, but balked when he learned they each cost between $60 and $70.
“He was complaining about the price. He was looking for something in the $10 to $15 range,” the worker said.
The employee, who didn’t realize it was Durst until Saturday when he saw his face on the news, said he told Durst that he could save 20 percent by enrolling in the “New Era Insider” loyalty program.
But Durst, who was staying at the nearby Marriott under an assumed name, said he didn’t want to sign any documents.
The FBI busted Durst Saturday because authorities feared he was going to flee to Cuba to avoid prosecution, sources said.