Investors are suing billionaire Ira Rennert for looting his own company to build a $110 million mansion
Crains' Aaron Elstein reported that Rennert was in federal court on Tuesday to face the defunct Magnesium Corporation of America's creditors, who claim he siphoned off $100 million from the ailing company.
Renco Group, Rennert's holding company, acquired MagCorp back in 1989 and began issuing millions of dollars worth of bonds. But rather than being invested in the magnesium company, that money went directly to Renco Group, and, allegedly, into Rennert's pocket.
The allegations get messier after that: Rennert then built a new company that bought up land - 63 acres, to be exact - for his gargantuan Hamptons home (dubbed Fairfield, it's thought to be one of the largest mansions in America). Shortly afterward, the magnesium market began to crumble and MagCorp filed for bankruptcy.
Creditors are now seeking $118 million, plus interest. Get ready for an entertaining trial.