The Ledger / John Catsimatidis
John Catsimatidis
◼ Origin
Born in Nisyros, Greece in 1948; immigrated to New York as an infant. After working in a supermarket to pay for college, he opened his first grocery store in 1969 using personal savings and built Red Apple Group into a conglomerate spanning Gristede's and D'Agostino's supermarkets in New York City, United Refining Company (a petroleum refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania), and commercial real estate.
◼ Self-Made Verdict — YES
Catsimatidis arrived in the US as an infant from Greece with no business inheritance; his first grocery store was opened with personal savings from working in supermarkets during college. His wealth derives from decades of self-generated acquisitions and business development. Self-made.
◼ Documented marks
01
Sole owner and chairman of Red Apple Group, controlling Gristede's and D'Agostino's supermarket chains in New York City and United Refining Company, a petroleum refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania, with annual revenues of approximately $3 billion
02
Sole owner and chairman of Red Apple Group, controlling Gristede's and D'Agostino's supermarket chains in New York City and United Refining Company, a petroleum refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania, with annual revenues of approximately $3 billion
03
United Refining Company was fined $1 million and its security contractor pleaded no contest to 100 misdemeanor wiretapping charges after recording approximately 100 employees without consent following Catsimatidis's 1986 acquisition
04
United Refining Company was fined $1 million and its security contractor pleaded no contest to 100 misdemeanor wiretapping charges after recording approximately 100 employees without consent following Catsimatidis's 1986 acquisition
05
A federal judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled in April 2013 that United Refining had illegally cut pension benefits owed to retirees, ordering reinstatement
06
A federal judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled in April 2013 that United Refining had illegally cut pension benefits owed to retirees, ordering reinstatement
07
Ran for New York City mayor in the 2013 and 2021 Republican primaries; elected chairman of the New York Republican Party in 2018 and re-elected in 2022
08
Ran for New York City mayor in the 2013 and 2021 Republican primaries; elected chairman of the New York Republican Party in 2018 and re-elected in 2022
09
Major owner of New York-area radio stations, including WABC (AM) which was acquired from ABC/Disney in 2013
10
Major owner of New York-area radio stations, including WABC (AM) which was acquired from ABC/Disney in 2013
No inheritance, or primary accounts documented for this billionaire yet.
◼ List of charges
Total sentence
0–0 years
That is
0.0–0.0 life sentences
(using 78 years as one life)
At $1 million per day
John Catsimatidis's fortune would last 12 years
0.2 lifetimes of luxury — before running out.
These are moral charges, not legal ones. The actual legal system has not — and will not — bring them.
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