• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
oxycontin

Family Behind Purdue Pharma and OxyContin Faces Multiple Lawsuits

By
Renae Reints
Renae Reints
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Renae Reints
Renae Reints
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 19, 2018, 4:07 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The Sackler family—members of which own Purdue Pharma, maker of the legal but highly addictive prescription painkiller OxyContin—is facing several lawsuits and a possible criminal investigation for its role in the opioid crisis, The Guardian reports.

Last month, New York’s Suffolk County filed a lawsuit that names eight Sackler family members across three generations who serve or have served on Purdue’s board. The lawsuit said the Sacklers “actively participated in conspiracy and fraud to portray the prescription painkiller as non-addictive, even though they knew it was dangerously addictive.”

The family has a net worth of $13 billion, according to Forbes.

“This is essentially a crime family … drug dealers in nice suits and dresses,” Paul Hanly, a New York City lawyer representing Suffolk County, told The Guardian. “What Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family have done to society through their aggressive peddling of opioids is unconscionable.”

In a statement to Fortune, Purdue Pharma said The Guardian‘s article “presents an inaccurate view of this complex legal matter,” adding that the “disinformation and ad hominem personal attacks” being put forth by the plaintiffs’ counsel only undermines real efforts to combat the opioid crisis, a “serious and complex public health problem.”

“The article relies heavily on comments from two contingency fee lawyers who are suing the Company for their own gain and who are willing to recklessly smear the reputations of companies and individuals in order to extract money in litigation,” the Purdue Pharma statement said of The Guardian‘s article. “Plaintiffs’ effort to name individual members of the Sackler family as defendants in the ongoing civil litigation is misguided and contradicts well established principles of law. These suits will be vigorously contested.”

Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers are entangled in lawsuits across the country, with Purdue alone facing litigation from 30 states, according to The Guardian. In a 2007 case, Purdue executives unrelated to the Sacklers pleaded guilty to misleading doctors about OxyContin’s potential for abuse, resulting in Purdue paying out $600 million in fines.

Since then, the opioid crisis has only grown, with a record of nearly 72,000 people dying of drug overdose in 2017 alone.

Now, the family itself is facing a series of court battles. Along with the Suffolk County case, the Sacklers were sued by Massachusetts in June.

“For them it’s greed, it was all about profits over people,” Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healey told The Guardian. “I feel very confident naming the family members.”

The family members are also expected to be named in federal multi-district litigation in Ohio, and a source told The Guardian the family is also named in ongoing criminal investigations at the federal level. The Sacklers could not immediately be reached for comment.

Update: A statement from Purdue Pharma was added to this article after its initial publication.

About the Author
By Renae Reints
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Trump says he is nominating former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director
PoliticsICE
Trump says he is nominating former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director
By Ali Swenson and The Associated PressJune 27, 2026
5 hours ago
Forget the ceasefire — The U.S. and Iran are still locked in combat over the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran tries to shut down a competing route
Middle EastIran
Forget the ceasefire — The U.S. and Iran are still locked in combat over the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran tries to shut down a competing route
By Jason MaJune 27, 2026
5 hours ago
The contrarian view for Fed rate cuts: Payrolls will weaken, inflation will plunge, and Kevin Warsh was ‘largely performative’ in his hawkishness
EconomyFederal Reserve
The contrarian view for Fed rate cuts: Payrolls will weaken, inflation will plunge, and Kevin Warsh was ‘largely performative’ in his hawkishness
By Jason MaJune 27, 2026
5 hours ago
3 million Americans have dropped Obamacare health coverage over past year, after Republicans let federal subsidies expire
HealthHealth Insurance
3 million Americans have dropped Obamacare health coverage over past year, after Republicans let federal subsidies expire
By Ali Swenson and The Associated PressJune 27, 2026
7 hours ago
Amazon Prime Day total online spending surpasses Adobe estimate
Retailecommerce
Amazon Prime Day total online spending surpasses Adobe estimate
By Spencer Soper and BloombergJune 27, 2026
8 hours ago
The end of Putin’s regime will spring from war spending chaos, former central bank advisor says, amid military mutiny threat and fuel-shortage brawls
EuropeRussia
The end of Putin’s regime will spring from war spending chaos, former central bank advisor says, amid military mutiny threat and fuel-shortage brawls
By Jason MaJune 27, 2026
9 hours ago

Most Popular

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
17 hours ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
3 days ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
4 days ago
The 33-year-old executive Satya Nadella is trusting to fix Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant
AI
The 33-year-old executive Satya Nadella is trusting to fix Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant
By Sebastian HerreraJune 27, 2026
18 hours ago
The end of Putin’s regime will spring from war spending chaos, former central bank advisor says, amid military mutiny threat and fuel-shortage brawls
Europe
The end of Putin’s regime will spring from war spending chaos, former central bank advisor says, amid military mutiny threat and fuel-shortage brawls
By Jason MaJune 27, 2026
9 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.