Haute 100 Los Angeles Update: Ron Burkle

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Today, Ron Burkle digs into American Apparel and hopes books are in his future.

Category: Billionaires

Industry: Investments/Supermarkets

Company: Yucaipa Cos.

What Made Him Haute: Ron Burkle made his fortune buying and selling supermarket chains, including Wild Oats, which was recently bought by Whole Foods for a hefty half-billion-dollar sum. His private equity firm, Yucaipa Cos., invests in retail, manufacturing, and distribution.

What Makes Him Haute Now: Burkle has recently invested in the colorful retail brand American Apparel, with a 6 percent stake in the company. The business mogul is also trying to power through with a bid for Barnes & Noble, which has recently put itself up for sale because of its financial downturn due to digital market competitors, such as Amazon and Apple.