DOLLY PARTON RETURNS TO PUBLIC EYE TO CELEBRATE OPENING DAY AT DOLLYWOOD . (PHOTO).
Former supermodel turned business mogul Kathy Ireland has filed a lawsuit in California accusing her longtime financial managers of defrauding her of millions.
Ireland and her husband, Greg Olsen, allege that Jason Winters and Erik Sterling who oversaw their finances for more than three decades took out loans against her assets and used the funds for themselves.
The complaint also names executives connected to her company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, and claims damages could reach as high as $100 million.
According to the filing, Ireland trusted Winters and Sterling with power of attorney and relied on them to manage her investments, while she focused on building her brand.
She reportedly became suspicious when trying to help her son with a home purchase and was told it would take months to access her funds.
The couple later discovered staggering debt, secret loans, and missing money, leaving them without the retirement savings and home equity they believed they had.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of exploiting Ireland’s loyalty while she worked to grow her business empire.
Ireland, who rose to fame on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 1989 Swimsuit Issue before launching a licensing empire valued at hundreds of millions, has long been seen as a model of entrepreneurial success.
The lawsuit paints a stark contrast, alleging that her managers treated her as a “piggy bank” while funding their own lifestyles.
The case underscores the risks of misplaced trust in financial advisors, even for high-profile figures, and marks a dramatic turn in the career of one of fashion’s most successful businesswomen.
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