August Busch IV

He is a great-great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch, and a great-great-great-grandson of Eberhard Anheuser who originally purchased the brewery in 1860. He is the son of Susan (Hornibrook) and August Busch III, the former chairman, president and CEO of the company.

Busch's parents divorced when he was five, and he lived with his mother. His time with his father was mostly spent at the brewery and their relationship was, for the most part, professional.{{cite news |title=Anheuser CEO Fight for His Legacy |work=The Wall Street Journal |author=David Kosmodel |date=May 27, 2008 }}

Busch received a bachelor's degree in finance and later a master's degree in business administration from Saint Louis University. He later served on the university's board of trustees.{{cite book |last1=Oliver |first1=Garrett |title=The Oxford Companion to Beer |date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=197 |isbn=9780195367133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ga4MYyZq-RMC&pg=PA197 |access-date=14 September 2019}} [https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/Cd92zGLNQp Alt URL]

In his early twenties, Busch earned a brewmaster's degree from Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei, a brewing institute in Berlin.{{cite news |last1=Ludington |first1=Callaway |title=Bud Man |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-06-14-9102220836-story.html |access-date=14 September 2019 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 14, 1991}}

After graduation he followed the family tradition of starting at the bottom of Anheuser-Busch. He worked as a brewing apprentice in the Old Malt House as a union member of Brewers & Maltsters Local 6 in St. Louis, Missouri, as an intern in the culture yeast center, and later as a foreman in packaging and shipping operations.

In 1989, he moved into marketing, working on the Bud Dry brand launch. Although the launch was considered a success, the product ultimately proved to be unsuccessful.

Busch's father initially opposed the campaign; he later admitted "I've lost the ability to understand the 21- to 30-year-olds the way I used to."

In 1994, Busch was named vice president of brand management. In 1996, he became vice president of marketing. Busch was promoted in 2000 to group vice president of marketing and wholesale operations. Under his leadership, the company emphasized more creative and often humorous advertising. In an interview with Fortune magazine, he recounted a conversation with his father August Busch III, then the company's president and CEO, that Budweiser sales would grow only if the iconic brand's identity was reinvented. "There was a culture weaved into the Budweiser brand... No one wanted to change it," Busch IV told the magazine.{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/01/13/220882/index.htm|title=Bud-Weis-Heir August Busch IV Is Rebellious, Risk-Taking--and (Nearly) Ready to Rule the World's Largest Brewer|last=Sellers|first=Patricia|date=January 13, 1997|work=Fortune}} The new advertising campaigns launched by Busch IV cemented his reputation for marketing instincts. The Budweiser and Bud Light commercials won the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter every year from 1999 to 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://admeter.usatoday.com/2019/01/23/all-time-greatest-super-bowl-commercials/|title=All 31 Super Bowl Ad Meter-winning commercials from 1989 to 2018|last=Siegel|first=Alan|date=January 23, 2019|website=USA Today's Ad Meter website}}

Busch IV focused the marketing department on humor, youth, animals, and tradition. He insisted to his father that his department could make splashy—yet risky—ads targeted at a younger demographic. That led to the creation of the Budweiser Frogs advertising campaign featuring puppet frogs chirping "Bud", "Weis", and "Er". Other campaigns overseen by Busch IV featured a friendly alligator, a sinister penguin with the catchphrase "doobie doobie do", partying ants, and a self-absorbed lizard named Louie. The ads, according to Fortune Magazine, helped Anheuser-Busch stock rise by 27% in 1996. By 1998, the company achieved its best sales year ever.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/21/business/media-business-advertising-anheuser-busch-after-its-best-sales-year-ever.html|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Anheuser-Busch, after its best sales year ever, is spending a record sum on this year's Super Bowl.|last=Elliott|first=Stuart|date=1999-01-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-27|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

File:AugustWarren.png

In 2002, Busch (and other family members) were passed over when the company named Patrick Stokes as its first non-family president and CEO.{{cite news|url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/patrick-t-stokes/4237 |title=Patrick T. Stokes Profile |publisher=People.forbes.com |access-date=December 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510085619/http://people.forbes.com/profile/patrick-t-stokes/4237 |archive-date=2011-05-10 |url-status=dead}} Busch's father had said that he owns 1% of the stock and that the "board of directors calls the shots" at the company.

In 2004, as president of the company, Busch IV announced the brewer had purchased the 20-year naming rights to a new Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Team owner William Dewitt Jr. said: "From the day we began planning for the new ballpark, we wanted to keep the name 'Busch Stadium'. August Busch IV and Anheuser-Busch share our vision for continuing that tradition for our great fans and the entire St. Louis community."{{cite press release |author= |title=The Tradition Continues: St. Louis Cardinals to Play in Third 'Busch Stadium' |url=http://www.anheuser-busch.com/news/BuschStadium_080404.htm |location=St. Louis |publisher=Anheuser-Busch |date=2004-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040805220653/http://www.anheuser-busch.com/news/BuschStadium_080404.htm|archive-date=August 5, 2004|url-status=dead}} Dewitt, as part of an ownership group, had purchased the team from the brewery in 1996.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/23/sports/busch-to-sell-cardinals.html|title=Busch to Sell Cardinals|date=1995-12-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Busch became president and CEO effective December 2006. Busch's father had been criticized for not expanding globally and leaving the company open for acquisition. In 2007, August and the directors began discussions to acquire Diageo but the deal never advanced.{{cite news|last=Kesmodel |first=David |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/09/29/new-book-says-busch-family-lost-budweiser-amid-infighting-missed-deals/ |title=New Book Says Busch Family Lost Budweiser Amid Infighting, Missed Deals - Deal Journal - WSJ |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=September 29, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2010}}

Less than 18 months into Busch's tenure, rumors circulated that InBev was attempting to buy the company. In April 2008, Busch told beer distributors that Anheuser-Busch would never be bought "on my watch". A-B stock had closed at $49.20 on April 30, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63607&p=irol-stocklookup |title=Anheuser-Busch Companies - Historical Price Lookup |publisher=Phx.corporate-ir.net |date=March 26, 1996 |access-date=December 27, 2010}}{{dead link|date=May 2020}} InBev offered $65 per share in June, and Busch refused. Prior to InBev's offer, A-B's stock had never been higher than $51.97. In hopes of keeping its independence, Busch proposed acquiring the remaining 50% it did not own of Grupo Modelo. InBev then said it would not include Busch in the new company board, but would include his uncle Adolphus Busch IV, who had favored the deal.{{cite web |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=149574 |title=Adolphus Busch IV Responds as InBev Courts A-B Stockholders |location=St. Louis, MO |publisher=ksdk.com |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=December 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903172255/http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=149574 |archive-date=September 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |author=Kristen Gosling }} Eventually InBev sweetened its bid to $70 per share and kept Busch on the board.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/07/11/inbev-anheuser-talks-update-markets-equity-cx_je_0711markets11.html |title=InBev Seen Sweetening On Anheuser |work=Forbes.com |date= July 11, 2008|access-date=December 27, 2010 |first=Javier |last=Espinoza}}

On July 13, 2008, he signed off on the sale of A-B to InBev, ending 156 years of family control.{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121608697120353241?mod=todays_us_marketplace | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=Anheuser Deal Recognizes Its Tough Spot | date=July 15, 2008 | first1=David | last1=Kesmodel | first2=Dana | last2=Cimilluca | first3=Dennis | last3=Berman}}

Press reports indicated that the Busch family ownership of the company had greatly dwindled over the years, with Busch's father owning 1.2 percent at the time of the takeover. In total, the Busch family owned 4 percent of the company{{cite web |last=Arndorfer |first=James B. |url=http://adage.com/article?article_id=103802 |title=IS HE BUSCH LEAGUE? |publisher=Advertising Age |date=June 27, 2005 |access-date=December 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116053913/http://adage.com/abstract?article_id=103802 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead }} and were not the company's biggest shareholders. Barclays owned 6 percent and Berkshire Hathaway owned 5 percent.{{cite web |url=http://todaysadvisor.com/InBev_Bud.aspx |title=InBev Bud |publisher=Todaysadvisor.com |author=Cotten Timberlake |date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=December 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101009002925/http://todaysadvisor.com/InBev_Bud.aspx |archive-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead }} The family did not own supervoting stock, as do many publicly traded companies with family affiliations. The board did not employ the common takeover defense tactic of staggering its board of directors terms (the A-B board was re-elected each year).{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

According to reports, Busch and his father were estranged. His father was said to have engineered the A-B takeover blindsiding the son. The public conflict between father and son led to the higher price. A-B gave Busch a title of non-executive director and a contract as a consultant that ran until December 2013.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} He was also given a security detail through 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_2efd8b6d-b179-53dc-a6b9-dc9ae1c4e929.html |author=Todd C. Frankel |title=For Busch family, woman's death is latest in tragic history |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 27, 2010 |access-date=December 26, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110204141940/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_2efd8b6d-b179-53dc-a6b9-dc9ae1c4e929.html| archive-date= February 4, 2011 | url-status= live}}

The deal was worth $100 million to Busch.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_44d6e75c-a2ea-5bb7-94da-ea131ca86d46.html |title=Busch IV talks about death of girlfriend, his depression |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=January 4, 2011 |author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |access-date=January 4, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110204141927/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_44d6e75c-a2ea-5bb7-94da-ea131ca86d46.html| archive-date= February 4, 2011 | url-status= live}} He also received a seat on InBev's board for a three-year term, $10.35 million in advance, and the promise of $120,000 a month in consultancy fees, as well as a personal security team.{{cite web |url=http://www.wydaily.com/business/2651-where-did-august-busch-iv-go.html |title=Where Did August Busch IV Go? |publisher=Wydaily.com |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=December 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110120061138/http://www.wydaily.com/business/2651-where-did-august-busch-iv-go.html |archive-date=January 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }} The same month the InBev takeover was completed, Busch resigned as a director of FedEx, a position he had held since 2003.

File:August Busch IV in pilot suit.jpg

Busch holds advanced black belt degrees in the martial arts disciplines of Judo, Tae-Kwon-Do, and Hapkido. He studied under Korean Grand Master Bong Yul Shin, who served as Busch's bodyguard.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2011/03/04/st-louis-works-out-shin-builds.html|title=St. Louis Works Out: Shin builds strong mind, body through martial arts|last=Solomont|first=E.B.|date=March 4, 2011|work=St. Louis Business Journal|access-date=December 16, 2019}} Busch, reported as a lean 5-foot-10-inch man in 2005, was described as having a striking resemblance to his father.

Busch IV and his family have a long history in aviation. Busch is trained to fly both helicopters and jets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2006/november/pilot/aopa-action-(11)|title=AOPA Action|date=2006-05-11|website=www.aopa.org|access-date=2019-12-16}}

Busch married Kathryn "Kate" Thatcher, sixteen years his junior, in August 2006 in Bradford, Vermont{{cite web |last=Garrison |first=Chad |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/01/august_busch_iv_divorce_filings.php |title=She Was His Wife, But She Wasn't his "Bud" ... The August Busch IV Divorce Files – St. Louis News – Daily RFT |publisher=Blogs.riverfronttimes.com |date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=December 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228014148/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/01/august_busch_iv_divorce_filings.php |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }} shortly before becoming CEO. He filed for divorce on November 26, 2008; the same month the InBev takeover was completed. The couple had a prenuptial agreement, and the divorce moved quickly through the courts, becoming official at the end of January 2009.{{cite book|page=366|title=Dethroning the King, The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch, an American Icon|author=Julie MacIntosh|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|date=2011|isbn=978-1118202821}}{{cite news | author=Deb Peterson | title=After marriage of A-B and InBev, Busch IV filed for divorce | url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/after-marriage-of-a-b-and-inbev-busch-iv-filed/article_6e5e9863-313a-509a-8e75-16388212af3b.html | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=May 7, 2020 }} The couple had no children.

Busch IV currently serves or has served on numerous charitable boards, including:

• Backstoppers, current director.{{Cite web|url=https://backstoppers.org/board-of-directors-2/|title=Board of Directors|website=The BackStoppers, Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-08}}

• August Busch IV Foundation, which supports grant funding for Barnes Jewish Hospital study of treatment-resistant depression.{{Cite journal|last1=Conway|first1=Charles R.|last2=George|first2=Mark S.|last3=Sackeim|first3=Harold A.|date=2017-01-01|title=Toward an Evidence-Based, Operational Definition of Treatment-Resistant Depression: When Enough Is Enough|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2569455|journal=JAMA Psychiatry|language=en|volume=74|issue=1|pages=9–10|doi=10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2586|pmid=27784055|issn=2168-622X|url-access=subscription}}

• Former board member of Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis.

• Former board member of National Urban League.

• Honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for contributions to sports television.

• Lifetime achievement award from Larry King Cardiac Foundation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/02/20/no-late-winters-nap-here-its-party-time/b400dd5f-3bce-4a12-86db-e87d51d62c2c/|title=No Late Winter's Nap Here: It's Party Time|last=Groom|first=Robin|date=February 20, 2005|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 8, 2020}}

At age 19, while attending the University of Arizona, Busch was in an auto accident that resulted in the death of his passenger, 21-year-old Michele Frederick, a local model and waitress.{{cite news|last=CBS News|author-link=CBS News|title=August Busch IV in Headlines After Model Death|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/august-busch-iv-in-headlines-after-model-death/|access-date=October 24, 2012|date=December 24, 2010}} According to witnesses, Busch had left a bar early one morning with Frederick.{{cite book |title=Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer |author=William Knoedelseder |author-link=William Knoedelseder |chapter=Ch 14: Warning Sign |year=2012 |publisher=HarperBusiness |isbn=978-0062009265}} The vehicle wrecked at a 25 mph curve known for accidents. The car flipped and Frederick flew through the sunroof and was probably killed instantly when the car rolled over her. Busch left the scene of the accident without informing anyone. When police arrived on the scene hours later, they found several empty Bud Light cans lying near the car, and inside the car a wallet with two driver's licenses registered to Busch, and a handgun. Deputies found Busch at his Tucson townhouse 4 miles (6 km) away, with blood on his body, a sawed-off shotgun, and in a dazed condition exhibiting signs of amnesia. Busch was found to have suffered a skull fracture in the accident. After a lengthy investigation by the Pima County Sheriff's Department in July 1984, the Pima County District Attorney announced he was not charging Busch with any wrongdoing.{{cite press release |last=Neely |first=Stephen D. |date=July 6, 1984 |title=Pima County District Attorney News Release |url=http://www.stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/1e/61ec15fe-0758-11e2-aa75-001a4bcf6878/5062231d46b46.pdf.pdf |location=Arizona |publisher=Office of the Pima County Attorney |access-date=2020-05-07}} He said that while Busch appeared to have been speeding at 45 mph, that was not sufficient for charges, and witnesses from the bar did not report that he appeared to be drinking excessively. As part of regular procedure, police took blood and urine samples to assess whether and how much he had been drinking at the time of the accident. However, the hospital lost the urine sample, and the blood sample had been run through a centrifuge, rendering it useless.

Busch was arrested at the age of 20 in St. Louis after leading undercover police in an unmarked car on a chase with speeds reaching between 85 and 90 mph on Kingshighway Boulevard in the Central West End of the city.{{cite web |last=Garrison |first=Chad |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/12/the_women_of_august_busch_iv.php |title=The Women of August Busch IV (NSFW) – St. Louis News – Daily RFT |publisher=Blogs.riverfronttimes.com |date=September 30, 2010 |access-date=December 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228230634/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/12/the_women_of_august_busch_iv.php |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }} He was returning from visiting PT's Sports Cabaret, a strip bar in Sauget, Illinois. The officers ended the chase by shooting out the rear tire of Busch's car. Busch claimed he thought they were attempting to kidnap him. The police accused him of trying to run over two officers with his Mercedes. Busch was acquitted of assault by a St. Louis jury.{{cite web |last=Garrison |first=Chad |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/01/st_louis_has_its_playboy_back_august_busch_iv_divorced.php |title=St. Louis Has Its Playboy Back! – St. Louis News – Daily RFT |publisher=Blogs.riverfronttimes.com |date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=December 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228005954/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/01/st_louis_has_its_playboy_back_august_busch_iv_divorced.php |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

On Sunday December 19, 2010, Adrienne Nicole Martin, a 27-year-old divorcee and part-time waitress who had been dating Busch for about two years, was found dead at Busch's home in Huntleigh, Missouri. Busch was in the house at the time and a household employee called 9-1-1 at 1:15 p.m.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_01749250-1137-11e0-b13c-00127992bc8b.html |author=Blythe Bernhard |title=It's "dark back there:" 911 call from Busch home |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 27, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2010}} Her mother said her daughter was happy with Busch,{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_8eaa7e69-6fc2-5b32-8480-d01a1da34fdd.html|title=Busch girlfriend's mother doesn't blame him for death, she says |author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |date=January 5, 2011 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch }} and Adrienne Martin's obituary would describe Busch as "the love of her life."{{cite news|author=Jesse Bogan|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_3ca05be8-c62b-543f-a06c-8cfd6fe5c512.html |title=In memorial, Adrienne Martin is remembered as talented, devoted |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 31, 2010 |access-date=January 4, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110204141931/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_3ca05be8-c62b-543f-a06c-8cfd6fe5c512.html| archive-date= February 4, 2011 | url-status= live}}

The initial autopsy revealed no signs of trauma and was inconclusive as to cause of death. Martin's ex-husband Kevin J. Martin, a Cape Girardeau, Missouri osteopathic physician, said Martin suffered from Long QT syndrome, a heart condition that could cause an unexpected sudden death, but he had not discussed this with authorities. Martin's mother said that Martin was taking trazodone for sleep issues. Kevin Martin noted such use needs to be monitored by a physician.

The matter was investigated by Frontenac, Missouri police, who ordered toxicology tests.{{cite web|author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/3920399e-0ec0-11e0-b6d8-0017a4a78c22.html |title=Woman found dead in home of August Busch IV |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 23, 2010 |access-date=December 24, 2010}}{{cite news|last=Kesmodel |first=David |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704278404576037970995344208 |title=Woman Found Dead at Home of Former Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch IV |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date= December 24, 2010|access-date=December 24, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101228225820/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704278404576037970995344208.html| archive-date= December 28, 2010 | url-status= live}} A toxicology report in February 2011 indicated Martin had cocaine and oxycodone in her system; pill bottles with her name were found containing each of these. She had no prescription for either. The St. Louis County Prosecutor confirmed that Martin had lethal levels of both oxycodone and cocaine in her system, and ruled she died of an accidental overdose.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_17b8cd8d-d2a7-533b-a437-ff7698daaf31.html |title=Busch girlfriend died with cocaine, oxycodone in system, sources say |author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=February 6, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011}} The report noted that Martin's physical condition showed she had been using cocaine for several months to a year.

On March 31, 2011, Adrienne's ex-husband Kevin Martin filed a wrongful death suit against Busch for negligence and on behalf of their son Blake Alexander Martin (born 2002). The case was to be handled in Cape Girardeau.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_627f696c-5bba-11e0-8947-00127992bc8b.html |title=Wrongful-death suit filed against August Busch IV in overdose death |author=Valerie Hahn |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=March 31, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011}} Adrienne's mother announced she was hiring New York attorney John Q. Kelly (who previously represented Beth Holloway and the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson) to pursue the case, and also said she would seek custody of her grandson. She was concerned that a friendship between Adrienne's ex-husband and Busch would taint the civil case. On April 6, 2011, Adrienne's father George "Larry" Eby joined the suit, saying he had been deprived of the "companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel and training of Adrienne Martin."{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/article_0d8915c6-621c-11e0-ae49-001a4bcf6878.html |title=Busch wrongful death suit challenged by overdosed woman's father |author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=April 8, 2011 |access-date=April 20, 2011}} Friends of the family noted Eby and Martin had been estranged during her adult years.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_290f370e-6a29-53db-913e-472b1de6fce3.html |title=Woman's family squabbles in suit against Busch |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |date=April 1, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2011}}

On April 20, 2011, the press reported that Busch had agreed to a $1.5 million settlement with Kevin Martin on behalf of his son. The court would decide how much could be allocated to Adrienne's parents.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_99a90917-e577-5b4e-953c-215363f59893.html |title=Busch OKs $1.5 million payment to settle suit |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |author=Nicholas J. C. Pistor |date=April 20, 2011 |access-date=April 20, 2011}}

On July 10, 2017 Busch was arrested in Swansea, Illinois after he allegedly tried to fly while intoxicated a helicopter containing 4 guns and 8 dogs.Chicago Tribune, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-august-busch-arrested-20170712-story.html Ex-Anheuser-Busch CEO had loaded guns, 8 dogs and prescription pills in chopper, police say] (2017) According to Swansea police, officers were called around 8:15pm when Busch IV appeared to be trying to take off in his helicopter. He was twice administered a breathalyzer and twice blew a 0.000.{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/07/11/Former-Anheuser-Busch-CEO-arrested-for-trying-to-fly-helicopter-while-intoxicated/7471499826870/ |title=Former Anheuser Busch CEO arrested for trying to fly helicopter while intoxicated |work=UPI |author=Ray Downs |date=July 11, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2020}} He was taken to a local hospital for blood and urine samples.{{cite web|url=http://www.kmov.com/story/35859844/helicopter-pilot-arrested-for-attempting-to-fly-while-intoxicated|title=August Busch IV taken into custody after helicopter lands in parking lot|author=Rachel Sudduth|date=July 11, 2017|website=KMOV}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/14223262/1/ex-anheuser-busch-ceo-august-busch-iv-arrested-for-flying-helicopter-intoxicated.html |title=Former Anheuser Busch CEO August Busch IV Arrested For Flying Helicopter Intoxicated |publisher=thestreet.com |access-date=July 11, 2017}} Officers believed he may have been under the influence of prescription drugs. Blood tests later came back clean, according to the St. Clair County State's Attorney.{{cite web |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/august-busch-ivs-blood-test-comes-back-clean-after-july-arrest/480849754 |title=August Busch IV's blood test comes back clean after July arrest |work=ksdk.com |author=Sam Clancy |date=October 5, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2020}}

• Peter Hernon & Terry Ganey, Under the Influence: The Unauthorized Story of the Anheuser-Busch Dynasty, Avon Books, 1992 {{ISBN?}}
• {{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1997/01/13/220882/index.htm|title=Bud-Weis-Heir August Busch IV Is Rebellious, Risk-Taking – and (Nearly) Ready to Rule the World's Largest Brewer|last=Sellers|first=Patricia|date=January 13, 1997|work=Fortune}}
• Business Week; November 11, 2002
• Forbes; March 3, 2006
• Julie MacIntosh, Dethroning the King: The Hostile Takeover of Anheuser-Busch, An American Icon, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2010 {{isbn|1118202821}}
• William Knoedelseder, Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer, HarperBusiness, 2012 {{ISBN?}}

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