Billionaire Ira Rennert Ordered To Pay $213M Over Hamptons Mansion Scheme
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
A federal appeals court said billionaire Ira Rennert must pay a $213.2 million judgment after a jury found him liable for looting his now-defunct magnesium company to build one of the country’s most expensive homes, a 21-bedroom mansion in New York’s Hamptons.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday let stand a jury verdict against the mining mogul
Rennert, 82, is worth $4.1 billion, Forbes magazine said.
Jurors had in February 2015 found Rennert and Renco liable for $118 million to the bankruptcy estate of MagCorp, which had sought protection from creditors in 2001.
Buchwald had contended that Rennert diverted money from MagCorp to help build his estimated 43,000-square-foot mansion, known as Fair Field, on 65 oceanfront acres in Sagaponack, on New York’s Long Island.
Rennert denied that allegation. The property was valued last March at $248.5 million, according to the Town of Southampton assessment roll.
Last March, Renco agreed to pay in full the pensions of about 1,350 retirees at its bankrupt RG Steel unit. That ended a lawsuit in which the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp accused Renco of trying to evade $70 million of obligations.—Reuters
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
