Latest news with #Wyss
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Swiss-born liberal megadonor slapped with lawsuit for allegedly groping, sexually harassing winery employee
Swiss billionaire and liberal megadonor Hansjörg Wyss is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit from a now-former female employee in California who claims Wyss groped her, shared unwanted information about his sexual past and then ultimately retaliated against her when she denied his advances. Former Wyss employee Madison Busby, in a suit filed in San Luis Obispo County last month, claims that the 89-year-old Wyss "deliberately placed his hand on Ms. Busby's butt and groped her" the first time she was introduced to him in 2019 by her future husband, Bryce Mullins. "Mr. Wyss proceeded to tell Mr. Mullins in Ms. Busby's presence about how 'good' Ms. Busby's butt looked in the dress she was wearing," the lawsuit states. Mullins was working for the Wyss-owned Halter Ranch winery in Paso Robles, and Busby ultimately began working there in 2021. The lawsuit states that Busby did not speak up at first due to concerns that Mullins would lose his employment or standing. Gop Bill Cracks Down On 'Loophole' Allowing Foreign Donors To Pump Dark Money Into Us Elections Over the next few years, the lawsuit alleges other harassment from Wyss, including "making several sexual propositions" including telling her "how much he enjoyed having a threesome" and suggesting they engage in a "foursome." Read On The Fox News App "Throughout 2021 and 2022, Mr. Wyss frequently shared unwelcome stories about his sexual exploits and various affairs with other women," the lawsuit states. "In 2021, Mr. Wyss told Ms. Busby and Mr. Mullins about his many sexual affairs outside of his marriage and stated there was nothing wrong with affairs. He further said that Americans were 'too uptight' around those having affairs." Other allegations include Wyss telling Busby about going to a movie theater with a woman named "Lori" and meeting a man he did not know and "initiated oral sex with him" before going back to her apartment and having a threesome. Swiss Billionaire Hansjörg Wyss Recently Poured Over $60M Into Propping Up Left-wing Groups And Causes Wyss is also alleged to have "subjected Ms. Busby to a live video of Lori while Mr. Wyss was having phone sex with her" and at one point told Busby "he often had phone sex with Lori and that she could orgasm multiple times just from 'dirty talk.'" "He went on to tell Ms. Busby that he usually had phone sex at Halter Ranch with Lori because his wife was not around," the lawsuit said. "Mr. Wyss mentioned to Ms. Busby that he wanted them to 'Facetime' Lori with him." A spokesperson for Halter Winery dismissed the allegations as "not true," telling Fox News Digital that they "intend to vigorously advance the facts that surround Mr. Mullins' and Ms. Busby's time at the winery and their departure." "For almost five years, starting in 2019, Mr. Mullins and his current wife voluntarily made themselves part of the Halter Winery community and took advantage of its owner's generosity," the spokesperson continued. "This included deciding to become employees of the winery, choosing to live at the winery rent free for years, frequently traveling with the owner to Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere at the owner's expense, asking the owner and his wife to host their wedding party and inviting the owner to serve as Best Man. Through all these years, they never complained about the owner's conduct, or simply declined to spend so much time with him, until after they voluntarily left their employment at the winery in 2024." Wyss, according to the lawsuit, knew his actions could be legally problematic for him, telling Busby at one point in 2022, "If you ever went after me for sexual harassment, you would win." When Busby and Mullins began pulling away and decided to move to a smaller house on the property in order to ensure that Wyss would not be able to stay with them when he visited, the lawsuit alleges that Wyss retaliated against them by forcing her to take a pay cut and insisting the couple pay rent. Busby resigned from her position and sent a letter on the day she left to Wyss outlining her concerns about his "ongoing conduct and her own anxiety and distress as the result of that conduct." The complaint filed in April accuses Wyss of sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and sexual battery. Wyss is also facing a lawsuit from Mullins, who says the billionaire "abruptly terminated" his employment after Busby's complaint, despite bringing him out from the East Coast to work at the ranch and once promising Mullins would "have full control of the Halter Companies upon Mr. Wyss's death." Fox News Digital reached out to Busby's legal team for comment. "The Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund have no involvement with this matter. The organizations' charitable activities are totally separate from those of the Halter Ranch," a Wyss foundation spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Wyss, who is referred to by some as the "new George Soros," is well-known in American politics as one of the most prominent liberal megadonors and has given hundreds of millions to Democratic causes through a network of left-wing article source: Swiss-born liberal megadonor slapped with lawsuit for allegedly groping, sexually harassing winery employee
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Swiss-born liberal megadonor slapped with lawsuit for allegedly groping, sexually harassing winery employee
Print Close By Andrew Miller Published May 19, 2025 Swiss billionaire and liberal megadonor Hansjörg Wyss is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit from a now-former female employee in California who claims Wyss groped her, shared unwanted information about his sexual past and then ultimately retaliated against her when she denied his advances. Former Wyss employee Madison Busby, in a suit filed in San Luis Obispo County last month, claims that the 89-year-old Wyss "deliberately placed his hand on Ms. Busby's butt and groped her" the first time she was introduced to him in 2019 by her future husband, Bryce Mullins. "Mr. Wyss proceeded to tell Mr. Mullins in Ms. Busby's presence about how 'good' Ms. Busby's butt looked in the dress she was wearing," the lawsuit states. Mullins was working for the Wyss-owned Halter Ranch winery in Paso Robles, and Busby ultimately began working there in 2021. The lawsuit states that Busby did not speak up at first due to concerns that Mullins would lose his employment or standing. GOP BILL CRACKS DOWN ON 'LOOPHOLE' ALLOWING FOREIGN DONORS TO PUMP DARK MONEY INTO US ELECTIONS Over the next few years, the lawsuit alleges other harassment from Wyss, including "making several sexual propositions" including telling her "how much he enjoyed having a threesome" and suggesting they engage in a "foursome." "Throughout 2021 and 2022, Mr. Wyss frequently shared unwelcome stories about his sexual exploits and various affairs with other women," the lawsuit states. "In 2021, Mr. Wyss told Ms. Busby and Mr. Mullins about his many sexual affairs outside of his marriage and stated there was nothing wrong with affairs. He further said that Americans were 'too uptight' around those having affairs." Other allegations include Wyss telling Busby about going to a movie theater with a woman named "Lori" and meeting a man he did not know and "initiated oral sex with him" before going back to her apartment and having a threesome. SWISS BILLIONAIRE HANSJÖRG WYSS RECENTLY POURED OVER $60M INTO PROPPING UP LEFT-WING GROUPS AND CAUSES Wyss is also alleged to have "subjected Ms. Busby to a live video of Lori while Mr. Wyss was having phone sex with her" and at one point told Busby "he often had phone sex with Lori and that she could orgasm multiple times just from 'dirty talk.'" "He went on to tell Ms. Busby that he usually had phone sex at Halter Ranch with Lori because his wife was not around," the lawsuit said. "Mr. Wyss mentioned to Ms. Busby that he wanted them to 'Facetime' Lori with him." A spokesperson for Halter Winery dismissed the allegations as "not true," telling Fox News Digital that they "intend to vigorously advance the facts that surround Mr. Mullins' and Ms. Busby's time at the winery and their departure." "For almost five years, starting in 2019, Mr. Mullins and his current wife voluntarily made themselves part of the Halter Winery community and took advantage of its owner's generosity," the spokesperson continued. "This included deciding to become employees of the winery, choosing to live at the winery rent free for years, frequently traveling with the owner to Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere at the owner's expense, asking the owner and his wife to host their wedding party and inviting the owner to serve as Best Man. Through all these years, they never complained about the owner's conduct, or simply declined to spend so much time with him, until after they voluntarily left their employment at the winery in 2024." Wyss, according to the lawsuit, knew his actions could be legally problematic for him, telling Busby at one point in 2022, "If you ever went after me for sexual harassment, you would win." When Busby and Mullins began pulling away and decided to move to a smaller house on the property in order to ensure that Wyss would not be able to stay with them when he visited, the lawsuit alleges that Wyss retaliated against them by forcing her to take a pay cut and insisting the couple pay rent. Busby resigned from her position and sent a letter on the day she left to Wyss outlining her concerns about his "ongoing conduct and her own anxiety and distress as the result of that conduct." The complaint filed in April accuses Wyss of sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and sexual battery. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Wyss is also facing a lawsuit from Mullins, who says the billionaire "abruptly terminated" his employment after Busby's complaint, despite bringing him out from the East Coast to work at the ranch and once promising Mullins would "have full control of the Halter Companies upon Mr. Wyss's death." Fox News Digital reached out to Busby's legal team for comment. "The Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund have no involvement with this matter. The organizations' charitable activities are totally separate from those of the Halter Ranch," a Wyss foundation spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Wyss, who is referred to by some as the "new George Soros," is well-known in American politics as one of the most prominent liberal megadonors and has given hundreds of millions to Democratic causes through a network of left-wing nonprofits. Print Close URL
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Chelsea co-owner Hansjorg Wyss, 89, accused of sexual harassment after ‘groping young employee & suggesting a foursome'
CHELSEA co-owner Hansjorg Wyss has been accused of sexual harassment after allegedly groping a young employee, a lawsuit claimed. It has also been claimed 3 Chelsea co-owner Hansjorg Wyss has been accused of sexual harassment Credit: Getty 3 The lawsuit claimed the harassment unfolded at the Halter Ranch winery in California The alleged harassment took place at a winery he owns in Paso Robles, California, called Halter Ranch. Wyss is accused of making unwanted advances to Madison Busby, who worked at the site. The winery was managed by her now-husband Bryce Mullins. The lawsuit stated: 'While Ms Busby cooked at the stove, Mr Wyss, then in his mid-eighties and married, deliberately placed his hand on Ms Busby's butt and groped her." Read More Wyss also allegedly asked Mr Mullins if he had any sexual photographs of Ms Busby on his phone. A spokesperson from Halter Ranch strongly denied all allegations. 'We intend to vigorously advance the facts that surround their time at the winery and their departure,' a statement said. The lawsuit stated how Ms Busby moved into the winery with her now-husband in 2020 and became a staff member in 2021. Most read in Football During the stay, it is alleged Wyss made "several sexual propositions" towards the 30-year-old employee. He is also accused of sharing explicit sexual stories with the couple and sharing tales of affairs. Once Ms Busby became an official employee, the lawsuit also claims Wyss pushed for threesomes with herself and Mr Mullins - as well as other people. She did not make any complaints at the time over fears they would lose their jobs, it is claimed. The 30-year-old left the winery in 2024 and has since filed the lawsuit. In a statement denying the allegations, Halter Ranch added: 'For almost five years, starting in 2019, Mr Mullins and his current wife voluntarily made themselves part of the Halter Winery community and took advantage of its owner's generosity. 'This included deciding to become employees of the winery, choosing to live at the winery rent free for years, frequently travelling with the owner to Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere at the owner's expense, asking the owner and his wife to host their wedding party and inviting the owner to serve as best man. 'Through all these years, they never complained about the owner's conduct, or simply declined to spend so much time with him, until after they voluntarily left their employment at the winery in 2024.' Wyss has an estimated He is the founder of Synthes USA, the world's largest medical device manufacturer making internal screws and plates for broken bones. They manufactured the company's devices and exported them to the US which led to the billionaire opening up his first manufacturing plant in Colorado. Under Wyss' guidance, the American division sales team expanded and trained surgeons on how to use its products such as plates and internal screws. This helped him to officially became Synthes' worldwide CEO and chairman until HR decided in 2007 that he would only want to represent as the chairman before Johnson & Johnson acquired Synthes in 2012. Wyss sold Synthes for a staggering amount of £14.7bn in cash and stocks where he would go on to purchase stakes in a publicly-traded biotech companies NovoCure and Molecular. In 2022, Wyss was part of the consortium that bought Chelsea after 3 In 2022, Wyss was part of the consortium that bought Chelsea Credit: AP
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Left-wing Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss proposed ‘threesomes' with female worker and future hubby, wild sex harassment suit claims
A top financial backer of left-wing causes in the US has been accused of sexually harassing a female employee, pushing for 'threesomes' with her and her future husband while they worked at his California winery — and then retaliating against them for calling out his 'lewd' conduct. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss exposed himself, 'brazenly groped,' and made other unwanted sexual advances toward Madison Busby before forcing her to resign her job, according to a jaw-dropping lawsuit filed April 25 in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Busby, 30, met her now-husband Bryce Mullins in 2019, when he was helping Wyss manage the 2,700-acre winery, Halter Ranch. The two later began dating and moved in together on the Paso Robles property. 'Through all these years, they never complained about the owner's conduct, or simply declined to spend so much time with him, until after they voluntarily left their employment at the winery in 2024,' a rep for the winery said in a statement. 'The allegations in the complaint are not true and we intend to vigorously advance the facts that surround their time at the winery and their departure.' 4 Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss 'brazenly groped,' exposed himself in the 'nude,' and made other unwanted sexual advances toward a female employee at his California winery, according to a wild lawsuit filed last month. Instagram/@halterranch Mullins filed a separate suit April 1 alleging that Wyss fired him after Busby complained about the sexual misconduct in a private email to the billionaire — and reneged on providing him up to $30 million in equity interest in Halter Ranch after Mullins had operated the winery for six years, starting when he was just 26 years old. Wyss purchased the property in 2000 and later opened other Halter Ranch wineries in Temecula, Calif., and Fredericksburg, Texas, all three of which are currently valued at roughly $100 million, per Mullins' suit. An architect by training, Busby went to work for Wyss as a project manager alongside Mullins, who served as Halter's general manager, from January 2021 to July 2024 — during which time the billionaire 'began trying to insert himself into their sex lives,' the civil suit claims. Early on, Wyss 'shared unwelcome stories about his sexual exploits and various affairs,' said 'how much he enjoyed having a threesome, even with another man,' and suggested once 'if Bryce is not behaving, you can join me in bed,' according to the Busby suit. 4 An architect by training, Busby went on to work for Wyss as a project manager from January 2021 to July 2024 alongside her future husband Bryce Mullins, who served as Halter Winery's general manager. Instagram/@halterranch The 'abusive and predatory behavior' also included asking Mullins for 'sexy' photos of Busby — and even groping her butt before she started working for him in September 2019, the suit alleges. Wyss eventually floated a 'foursome' with the couple and another friend of his named 'Lori' and even subjected Busby to a live phone sex Facetime call between himself and the woman, the suit goes on. He went on to grill Mullins and Busby 'about their sexual preferences and experiences with each other' and 'asked Ms. Busby about her favorite sexual positions,' the filing adds. The couple initially lived rent-free in a house on the property that Wyss would visit — but after they had their first child and Busby went onto maternity leave in 2023, Wyss began asking for $1,650 in monthly fees, according to the complaint. 4 Wyss purchased the Paso Robles property in 2000 and later opened other Halter Ranch wineries in Temecula, Calif., and Fredericksburg, Texas, all three of which are currently valued at roughly $100 million, per Mullins' suit. Instagram/@halterranch When Busby returned from maternity leave, Wyss docked her annual pay to $65,000 from $75,000. In July 2024, Busby denounced the 'unreasonable expectations' and 'inappropriate behavior and misconduct' Wyss had inflicted on her and her husband in an email to her employers, eventually resigning from 'her own anxiety and distress,' according to the complaint. Wyss had admitted two years prior to Busby that 'if you ever went after me for sexual harassment, you would win,' the suit revealed. Busby's complaint alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery and demands she's entitled to compensation for damages 'including lost earnings, back-pay, future-pay, lost employment benefits, and unpaid wages.' 4 'For almost five years, starting in 2019, Mr. Mullins and his current wife voluntarily made themselves part of the Halter Winery community and took advantage of its owner's generosity,' a rep for the property added in the statement. YouTube/Halter Ranch 'For almost five years, starting in 2019, Mr. Mullins and his current wife voluntarily made themselves part of the Halter Winery community and took advantage of its owner's generosity,' a rep for the property added in the statement. 'This included deciding to become employees of the winery, choosing to live at the winery rent free for years, frequently traveling with the owner to Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere at the owner's expense, asking the owner and his wife to host their wedding party and inviting the owner to serve as Best Man.' This isn't the first time the lefty billionaire has been hit with allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2013, Wyss settled out of court for $1.5 million with a Colorado woman who claimed she suffered sexual abuse for years as one of the employees at his foundation, the Daily Caller reported. Wyss amassed a fortune after selling the medical device company Synthes for nearly $20 billion to Johnson & Johnson in 2012. He's funneled millions of dollars to environmental nonprofits and other philanthropic efforts through the Wyss Foundation as well as to the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the New Venture Fund, both of which are part of a dark money network run by Arabella Advisors. As a foreign national, Wyss isn't allowed to donate directly to candidates for US elections but still managed to pump cash into left-wing causes and campaigns from 1990 to 2006, according to the Associated Press. 'The Wyss Foundation and Berger Action Fund have no involvement with this matter,' a spokesperson said. 'The organizations' charitable activities are totally separate from those of the Halter Ranch.'
San Francisco Chronicle
14-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Billionaire California winery owner sued for allegedly sexually harassing former employee
An 89-year-old Swiss billionaire who owns California wineries repeatedly sexually harassed a 30-year-old former employee, according to a lawsuit. Madison Busby claims that Hansjorg Wyss, owner of Halter Ranch winery in Paso Robles, repeatedly propositioned her, exposed himself to her, groped her and told her stories about his sexual exploits, then retaliated against her when she did not return his advances. 'Madison has suffered severe emotional distress from the harassment which took place over the course of many years, and also from lost wages and then future damages,' said her attorney, John Ly. 'She's been harmed immensely.' Busby's husband, Bryce Mullins, has filed a separate complaint against Wyss, claiming that he failed to honor a promise of equity in Halter Ranch that would eventually have been worth at least $30 million. Wyss has not yet responded to either complaint. Case management conferences for both are scheduled for August. Wyss founded the medical device company Synthes and is chairman of the philanthropic Wyss Foundation, which has $1.7 billion in assets, according to ProPublica. He is known for his support of environmental causes and Democratic candidates. He bought the 2,700-acre Halter Ranch property on the west side of Paso Robles in 2000, and has since expanded to open Halter Ranch wineries in Temecula and Fredericksburg, Texas. According to Mullins' lawsuit, the overall company, which includes real estate holdings, has a valuation of over $100 million. Mullins was working at Halter Ranch and living in a house on the property when he brought Busby, then his new girlfriend, to meet Wyss in 2019. During their first meeting Wyss 'deliberately placed his hand on Ms. Busby's butt and groped her,' her complaint alleges. On a subsequent meeting, Wyss 'made several sexual propositions,' according to the complaint, but Busby did not want to speak up because she did not want to jeopardize Mullins' standing with the company. She moved in with him on the property and in 2021 began working for Halter Ranch as a project manager. Wyss would stay in the house with them when he visited the property, according to the lawsuit. After her hiring, the complaint alleges, Wyss continued to make sexual advances to Busby, both alone and with Mullins. 'Mr. Wyss told Ms. Busby how much he enjoyed having a threesome, even with another man,' the complaint reads. 'He even suggested a 'foursome' and stated it would be 'fun' for the three of them and another woman by the name of 'Lori.'' Wyss repeatedly told Busby about his own sexual experiences, including 'his many sexual affairs outside of his marriage,' she alleges, including a story about him and Lori meeting a man in a movie theater in Switzerland, initiating oral sex with him, then having a threesome at Lori's apartment. 'He further said that Americans were 'too uptight' around those having affairs,' the complaint alleges. One day, Wyss 'shoved his iPad in Ms. Busby's face,' according to the lawsuit, to show Lori wearing 'sheer, black lingerie' on FaceTime. On multiple occasions, Wyss undressed in front of Busby and Mullins, the complaint alleges, and invited them to remove their clothing too. Busby remained silent out of concern for her and Mullins' employment, the complaint alleges, even though in 2022 Wyss told her, 'if you ever went after me for sexual harassment, you would win.' After she and Mullins married, had a baby and moved to a smaller house on the property that would not be able to accommodate Wyss, Busby alleges that he began demanding that they pay $1,650 in monthly rent, even though the previous tenant of the smaller house had paid only $300. When Busby returned to work from maternity leave in 2023, the complaint reads, Wyss told both her and Mullins that they were being overpaid. Busby volunteered to reduce her salary from $75,000 to $65,000, she claims, 'fearful of any more retaliation.' She resigned in July, sending a formal complaint email about Wyss' behavior on the last day of her employment. Mullins' complaint describes Wyss coaxing him away from his life and finance career on the East Coast to help run Halter Ranch and turn it profitable. He was reluctant to take the job, according to the lawsuit, and a business school professor warned him 'that Halter Ranch's problems — stemming in large part from Mr. Wyss's emotional decision-making and outsized ego — were not ones Mr. Mullins would be able to remedy.' He eventually became Halter Ranch's vice president and general manager, which he describes in the complaint as a demanding job that continued long past the two-year term that Wyss had originally described. But he was enticed to stay because Wyss said that he wanted Mullins 'to have full control of the Halter Companies upon Mr. Wyss's death,' the lawsuit reads, instead of his own children, clarifying that the interest would be worth at least $30 million. After Busby made the email complaint, Mullins alleges, Wyss 'abruptly terminated' his employment, offering a severance package that required Mullins to release his claim to the equity that Wyss had promised.
