The Closely Guarded Secrets Of Manhattan Doormen

From adulterous naughtiness to 6-foot-long iguanas, the cheerful sentries see it all while watching over the snootiest buildings in the world.

'Tis the tipping season. Time to show appreciation for those making our lives better or easier: the hairdresser, the babysitter, the mail carrier.

But in Manhattan's high-end buildings, there's another category of helper to reward: the doormen. The Big Apple version of the British beefeater, proud and loyal standard-bearers guarding some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

In high-rise condos with 800 apartments and dozens of employees, workers generally receive $5 to $100 each. In the snootiest buildings, tips swing from the miserly to the munificent: $50 to $1,500.

Non-New Yorkers might assume our trusty doormen only open doors, hail taxis and accept packages. That's like saying a nanny just wipes up spilled milk.