In 1986, he co-founded The Yucaipa Companies, a private investment firm. Thanks in part to Michael Milken's junk bonds, he was able to start buying supermarket chains such as Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer and Ralph's. He converted Ralph's into one of the most popular grocery stores in Southern California. In 1998, he sold his holdings to the Kroger Company, making billions in the deal. In 2000, according to The New York Times, he attempted to repay Mr. Milken for his early help by lobbying President Clinton to grant Mr. Milken a pardon. His efforts were unsuccessful.
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http://tinyurl.com/pxfqw
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Burkle and Steve Rattner helped finance Al Gore's cable TV network.
Invested $100 million in Sean Combs' (P. Diddy) Sean John clothing line
$10,500 Republican
$1,416,400* Democrat
$18,000 special interest
total: $1,444,900
http://tinyurl.com/fuv8e
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A Democratic stalwart, Burkle loaned two of his six houses to Sen. John Kerry last spring for star-packed fund-raisers, and Bill Clinton sits on the board of Burkle's Yucaipa Co. Among his other buddies are Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson and Bono.
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The Burkles' adult daughter, Carrie Anne, says in an affidavit that her father has security video of Janet and Allen having sex.
http://tinyurl.com/zhlnj
"He converted Ralph's into one of the most popular grocery stores in Southern California."
Guess again. The store has always been over-priced and not the most popular. Even the story about how Ron met Bubba is a lie. See Kaus for the real story.