A decades-long partnership between two of California’s most powerful figures has exploded into a multimillion-dollar legal battle.
According to the Press Democrat, grocery magnate and billionaire Ron Burkle has filed a lawsuit against his former protégé, Sonoma developer and lobbyist Darius Anderson. Burkle accuses Anderson of a “decade-long campaign of self-dealing,” alleging he funneled more than $20 million into his own pockets from their joint business ventures, including the lobbying firm Platinum Advisors.
The suit claims Anderson—the former owner of The Press Democrat—kept “secret” books and paid himself a seven-figure salary while reporting only modest profits to Burkle. Anderson has fired back with his own lawsuit, calling the claims “baseless” and an attempt to smear his reputation. His attorneys argue Burkle is a “passive investor” who has already seen a 900% return on his initial seed money.
The feud marks a bitter end to a 30-year relationship that saw Burkle serve as the best man at Anderson’s wedding. Both sides are now headed toward mediation to untangle their sprawling real estate and lobbying empire.