Revlon Mogul Ronald Perelman Sues Ex-Wife Ellen Barkin Over Production Company

NEW YORK – Revlon cosmetics mogul Ronald Perelman has sued his most recent former wife, Ellen Barkin, and her brother, claiming they drained money from a movie production company they formed together and he financed.

Perelman, 63, alleges that Barkin and her brother, George Barkin, formed Applehead II to compete with Applehead I, the firm the siblings had started with Perelman. He contends they siphoned money from Applehead I to pay for Applehead II.

A spokeswoman for Barkin didn't immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Perelman also claims in his lawsuit that the misappropriated money was used to pay at least $7,000 to Barkin Industries, a company owned by the "Sea of Love" actress; to finance a lawsuit against Perelman, and to pay George Barkin a salary of $250,000 a year.

Perelman, the Revlon chairman who once estimated his net worth at $5 billion, says he contributed $465,000 to the Applehead I venture in 2005. The lawsuit does not say how much he has contributed in total.

Perelman and Barkin, 54, divorced in 2006. She sued him in August, saying he failed to keep an agreement made before their divorce to fund Applehead I with $3.4 million.

"We were initially disappointed at Ms. Barkin's attempts to further enrich herself after the divorce," Perelman spokeswoman Chris Taylor said. "We are further disappointed to learn of her additional actions to further enrich herself, her family and friends. We intend to pursue our remedy in the courts."

Perelman's lawsuit, which also names an employee and a lawyer associated with Applehead I, asks for unspecified compensatory damages, punitive damages and an order requiring the return any misappropriated assets.