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Chelsea Football Club co-owner Hansjorg Wyss is facing accusations of sexual harassment, according to a recently filed lawsuit. The complaint alleges that the 89-year-old billionaire groped a young female employee and suggested engaging in a foursome.
The alleged incidents took place at Halter Ranch, a winery owned by Wyss located in Paso Robles, California. The lawsuit claims the target of the harassment was Madison Busby, who worked at the property.
According to the lawsuit, Wyss, who was married at the time and in his mid-eighties, “deliberately placed his hand on Ms Busby’s butt and groped her” while she was cooking. He also allegedly asked her then-boyfriend, Bryce Mullins (who managed the winery and is now her husband), if he possessed any sexual photographs of Ms. Busby.
The complaint details further alleged misconduct during Busby`s time at the winery, stating Wyss made “several sexual propositions” and shared explicit sexual stories and tales of his affairs with the couple. After Ms. Busby became an official employee, the lawsuit claims Wyss repeatedly advocated for threesomes involving herself and Mr. Mullins, and potentially other individuals.
The lawsuit asserts that Ms. Busby did not file complaints at the time due to fear of losing their employment. Ms. Busby and Mr. Mullins had moved into the winery in 2020, with Ms. Busby joining the staff in 2021. She left the winery in 2024 before filing the lawsuit.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Halter Ranch issued a strong denial. Their statement highlighted that for nearly five years, starting in 2019, Mr. Mullins and Ms. Busby voluntarily engaged with the Halter Winery community and benefited from the owner`s generosity. This included becoming employees, living rent-free for years, frequent international travel at Wyss`s expense, and even asking Wyss and his wife to host their wedding party and inviting Wyss to be the best man. The statement emphasized that no complaints were raised during this period, or refusal to spend time with him occurred, until after they voluntarily resigned in 2024. They stated their intention to “vigorously advance the facts” surrounding their time and departure from the winery.
Hansjorg Wyss, with an estimated net worth of £4.2 billion (according to Forbes), is the founder of Synthes USA, a major manufacturer of medical devices like screws and plates for broken bones. He oversaw the company`s expansion and sales growth before Johnson & Johnson acquired Synthes in 2012 for approximately £14.7bn in cash and stock.
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In 2022, Wyss was part of the consortium that purchased Chelsea FC following the sanctions imposed on former owner Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea FC was contacted for comment regarding these allegations.
