Ronald Wayne Burkle (born November 12, 1952) is an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is co-founder and managing partner of The Yucaipa Companies, LLC, a private equity and venture capital firm that specializes in underperforming U.S. companies in the distribution, logistics, food, retail, consumer and light industrial sectors. Yucaipa has executed grocery chain mergers and acquisitions involving supermarket chains including Fred Meyer, Ralphs, and Jurgensen's, and owns stakes in about 35 companies including grocery chains A&P and Whole Foods Market.Burkle’s net worth is estimated at $2.9 billion. He was ranked #633 on Forbes' list of “The Richest People On The Planet 2014.” Burkle is a prominent Democratic activist and fundraiser.
Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical
Movies
Rules Don't Apply
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Fact
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Raffaello Follieri plead guilty in September 2008 to misappropriating $50 million of Burkle's and other investors' money in a Ponzi scheme involving properties owned by the Catholic Church. The FBI says that Follieri may have defrauded investors of as much as $100 million.
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Co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, he invested $20 million to help Mario Lemieux save the team from bankruptcy.
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Longtime Democratic Party supporter, his company employs Bill Clinton to help identify investment opportunities.
$2.6 Billion
