A Chelsea co-owner has been accused of sexually harassing one of his employees at a winery he owns in California.

Hansjorg Wyss was part of the consortium that purchased the Premier League giants back in 2022 along with Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital after Roman Abramovich was subjected to sanctions. 

In addition to the west London club, Wyss owns a winery, Halter Ranch, in Paso Robles, and regularly donates to left-wing causes after making his fortune by selling a medical device manufacturer in 2012. 

The 89-year-old has had a sexual harassment suit filed against him, alleging that he subjected the complainant to unwanted advances. 

One such advance includes allegedly attempting to initiate a threesome with the complainant, Madison Busby, and her husband, Bryce Mullins. 

Hansjorg Wyss (left) has been accused of sexual harassment an employee at his winery

The Swiss billionaire was part of the consortium that purchased Chelsea back in 2022

However, it further adds that Wyss admitted a potential lawsuit against him would be successful, allegedly saying: ‘If you ever went after me for sexual harassment, you would win.’

The lawsuit contains a number of alleged instances of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ from the Chelsea co-owner while Busby was working at the Halter Ranch winery. 

The winery has claimed that the allegations are false, stating: ‘We intend to vigorously advance the facts that surround their time at the winery and their departure.’

Busby claimed she was left ‘appalled and disgusted’ by the Swiss billionaires alleged actions, but felt unable to complain due to the risk of her later-husband Mullins losing her job. 

‘While Ms Busby cooked at the stove, Mr Wyss, then in his mid-eighties and married, deliberately placed his hand on Ms Busby’s butt and groped her,’ the lawsuit contends, after the billionaire made a visit in 2019.

‘Mr. Wyss proceeded to tell Mr. Mullins, in Ms. Busby’s presence, about how “good” Ms. Busby’s butt looked in the dress she was wearing,’ the lawsuit alleges. ‘A few nights later, Mr. Wyss suggested to Ms. Busby that she wear the same dress again because it looked “sexy” on her.’ 

Busby later relocated to the winery in 2020, and later that year was subjected to another alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour during another visit from Wyss, accompanied by late wife Roz Stone Zander.

‘During their stay, Mr Wyss made several sexual propositions of Ms Busby,’ the lawsuit says.

The 89-year-old Billionaire owns the Halter Ranch winery in Paso Robles, California

Wyss (left) allegedly expressed the sentiment that Americas are ‘too uptight’ about affairs

‘In addition, Mr Wyss told stories of his sexual exploits in graphic detail to Ms Busby and Mr Mullins. These included tales of his past and ongoing sexual affairs with women.’ 

In 2021 the complainant became an employee at the ranch, after which Wyss ‘began to proposition Ms Busby and Mr Mullins to have sex with him, either as a group or with Ms Busby alone, and Mr Wyss began trying to insert himself into their sex lives.’

The lawsuit also notes the 89-year-old expressed the sentiment that Americans were ‘too uptight’ about the topic of affairs, which he allegedly felt there was little wrong with.

According to the complaint, the billionaire is also alleged to have enquired what Busby’s favourite sex positions were. 

On several occasions, Wyss would even undress in front of Busby and Mullins – and invite them to remove their clothing as well, she claims. Busby said Wyss would continue to make sexual advances at her – both alone and in front of Mullins.

‘Mr Wyss told Ms Busby how much he enjoyed having a threesome, even with another man,’ the lawsuit states.

‘He even suggested a “foursome” and stated that it would be “fun” for the three of them and another woman by the name of “Lori.”‘

Wyss is alleged to have told Busby in 2021 about a sexual experience he had with ‘Lori’, and a trip to the cinema they took where they ‘met a man they did not know, initiated oral sex with him, and then all returned to her apartment to have a threesome.’

He is also alleged to have asked the complainant what her favourite sex positions were

She now claims she deserves compensation for damages, including ‘lost earnings, back-pay, future-pay, lost employment benefits and unpaid wages.’

Describing the impact the alleged incidents had on Busby, the suit continued: ‘They made her profoundly uncomfortable not only due to their nature but also due to the fact that she was married and Mr Wyss was her employer. 

‘Ms Busby attempted to ignore the comments, change the subject or deflect them. At the time, she did not raise complaints with Mr Wyss out of concern for their employment.’

It also alleges that on her return from maternity leave in 2023 her salary was decreased by $10,000 (£7,500), and she was later forced to resign in summer 2024 as a result of the alleged ongoing inappropriate behaviour. Busby is suing for unspecified damages. 

However, this is not the first time Wyss has been accused of sexual harassment.

In 2013, he settled out of court for $1.5 million with a Colorado woman who claimed she suffered sexual abuse for years as an employee at the Wyss Foundation, according to the Daily Caller.

She had claimed she had to have sex with Wyss in order to get him to fund grants to nonprofits that focused on at-risk youth and sex trafficking.

Years before, another former employee filed a federal suit against him, claiming he created a hostile work environment at Synthes – a medical device manufacturer he founded to make implants to mend bone fractures.

She wound up losing the case claiming employment discrimination, but the judge noted that the sexually offensive incidents she cited were ‘undisputed by the defendants’ including Wyss, the Daily Caller reports.

Chelsea FC have been approached for comment by Mail Sport.