Robert Ehrlich (businessman)

Ehrlich started his company after seeing a bag of cheese puffs that contained no cheese, which inspired the Pirate's Booty line of snacks, eventually growing to a $50 million business.{{cite news|url=http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-11-14/kim-organicjunkfood|title=Just because it says "organic," is junk food any better for us?|date=November 14, 2006|author=Liz Kim|publisher=Columbia University News Service|accessdate=2007-01-27 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070702180141/http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-11-14/kim-organicjunkfood |archivedate = 2007-07-02}} He later founded Vegan Rob's, which produces vegan and gluten free snacks such as vegan cheese puffs and popcorn.{{cite web |title=Vegan Rob's |url=https://veganrobs.com/ |accessdate=18 April 2019}} Ehrlich earned over $70 million from Pirates Booty's $195 million acquisition by B&G Foods.

In 2004, Ehrlich lost a lawsuit over a zoning dispute with his home village of Sea Cliff, New York, claiming discrimination against his Jewish identity. Ehrlich was ordered to pay $900,000 in legal fees.

In 2015 he sued former partners, alleging fraud, coercion, and exclusion from negotiations. His claims—including harassment and threats—were widely dismissed as frivolous. Arbitration and countersuits followed, reinforcing a pattern of legal disputes that have marked his career. Former associates viewed the lawsuit as vindictive, while Ehrlich insisted he was wronged.{{cite web |last=Vardi|first=Nathan|title=The Man Who Made $70 Million From Pirate's Booty Sues His Former Partners For More Loot |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2015/07/20/the-man-who-made-70-million-from-pirates-booty-sues-his-former-partners-for-more-loot/ |work=Forbes |date=20 July 2015 |accessdate=19 March 2025}}

In 2025, Ehrlich launched an unsuccessful and highly controversial write-in campaign for mayor of Sea Cliff, New York. Just days before the election, he declared himself the town’s rightful leader and claimed to have gathered enough signatures to dissolve the local government. Ehrlich referenced a New York state law which permits residents "to dissolve their town or reformulate it" with signatures from 10% of the town's voters. He claimed—without evidence—that he had gathered 1,800 signatures, and dismissed the incumbent administration as illegitimate.{{cite news|last=Bekiempis|first=Victoria|title=Pirate booted out: popcorn mogul’s coup in New York village falls flat|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/21/robert-ehrlich-mayor-sea-cliff-long-island|work=The Guardian|date=21 March 2025}}

During the election, Ehrlich received 62 votes against the winning candidate’s 1,064. Following this, he refused to concede and insisted the election was “rigged”, vowing to continue his efforts through legal action and public protest. His campaign, marked by secrecy, unverified claims, and threats of retaliation against town officials, drew widespread criticism and reinforced his reputation as a polarizing figure in the community.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/14/magazines/fsb/pirates.fsb/index.htm?postversion=2006091810 CNN]: "Ay, matey, Pirate's Booty hopes mascot sells snacks."
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/394676.stm Happy crisps fight depression], BBC News
• [http://www.metrotimes.com/news/columns/19/back/09.html The Better Binge], Detroit Metro Times
• [https://archive.today/20250319212145/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/nyregion/sea-cliff-mayor-pirates-booty-election.html Hold My Snacks: Pirate’s Booty Founder Attempts a Seaside Coup], New York Times

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Category:1950s births

Category:Living people

Category:American food company founders

Category:American commodities traders

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Category:American Jews