The controversial wife of a Minnesota billionaire who snapped up dozens of properties in a sleepy coastal town has threatened to sue relatives and neighbors who talk about her in the media.
Kathy Cargill, 66, became a target of suspicion when she began buying homes on Park Point, a sandbar between Lake Superior and Duluth Harbor, in December 2022.
Fury escalated when he badmouthed the community and its mayor in a Wall Street Journal article, referring to them as “small-minded” and claiming the mayor had “urinated on his Cheerios” by asking him to reveal his vision for the properties. .
When the Minneapolis journalists star tribune tried to delve into Cargill’s private life, sources close to her remained tight-lipped.
Dozens of family members, neighbors, former co-workers and business associates refused to speak. Some told the publication they feared being sued, while others claimed to have signed confidentiality agreements.
When a Star-Tribune reporter managed to reach her for comment, Cargill “sweared at him before hanging up.”
Kathy Cargill, 66, has reportedly threatened to sue her former partners for speaking about her to members of the media.
The wife of billionaire heir James R. Cargill II began purchasing property in Park Point, Minnesota, last year and declined to reveal her plans.
Amid the housing shortage in the city of Duluth, the move was not well received. Nine of the houses have already been demolished, while three others are scheduled for demolition.
The Wisconsin native is married to James R. Cargill II, one of 12 heirs to agricultural giant Cargill. At the time of writing, Forbes estimated her net worth at around $4.6 billion.
Before marrying into the fabulously wealthy family in 2012, Cargill worked as a real estate agent and trail manager for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
While the couple leads a private life, Cargill appeared in a 2019 video showing off its expensive collection of McLaren supercars.
About four years ago, he made a splash when a company called North Shore LS, LLC., began purchasing properties in his name for far more than their appraised value. Several of the houses, described by Cargill as “pieces of garbage,” were torn down.
Amid the housing shortage in the city of Duluth, the move was not well received. Mayor Roger Reinert wrote to the billionaire asking him to share his plans for the 13 houses and 22 parcels of land he had acquired.
Nine of the houses have been demolished and three have been allowed to be demolished.
“Any loss of residential housing is not helpful,” Reinert wrote in her appeal, requesting that she or her representatives meet with city staff and members of the Park Point Community Club.
Instead of shining a light on him, Cargill unleashed harsh criticism against the mayor and the community at large in a Wall Street Journal piece last month.
Among the purchases is a strip of land at 1314 Minnesota Avenue. The house on that lot was purchased in February 2023 and later demolished.
1239 Minnesota Avenue was purchased for $500,000 although it was appraised at only $239,500. Up the street, 1221 Minnesota Avenue was purchased for $300,000
Cargill became enraged when he referred to the community as “mean” and claimed that Mayor Roger Reinert had “urinated on their Cheerios” by questioning their motives.
In response to his comments, locals donated hundreds of boxes of cereal to a city food drive. Reinert (far left, back) was photographed with a box of Cheerios at the drop-off location.
Other locals have been more forthcoming, including those who hung a banner reading “It’s good to be important, but it’s more important to be kind” along Minnesota Avenue.
The 66-year-old said her original plans were to improve the neighborhood with pickleball courts and a coffee shop, but she changed her mind.
“Forget about the good plans I have there to beautify, update and spruce up Park Point Park or build that sports field,” he said. “There is another community with more welcoming people than that narrow-minded community.”
As for the mayor, Cargill professed that she “peed her Cheerios” by questioning her motives, “and I’m definitely not going to do anything to benefit that community.”
In the days that followed, locals donated hundreds of boxes of breakfast cereal to a city food drive. Reinert himself was photographed posing with a box at the delivery location.
The campaign, called the ‘Cheerio Challenge,’ also raised approximately $50,000 and contributions from distant states like Florida and California.
Other community members were more outspoken about their distaste for Cargill and its comments.
Along a fence in the 2900 block of Minnesota Avenue, where Cargill owns several properties, was a banner that read: “It’s good to be important, but it’s more important to be kind.” The protest piece was quickly removed.
Reinert declined to respond directly to Cargill. But in a statement he said: “We need to take housing into account.” “We talk every day about how we can increase inventory and we’re going to stay focused on that.”
Cargill has refused to communicate with the city, according to officials, who have been advised to avoid further stoking its anger.