An astounding 85% of all pizza cheese is supplied by the Denver-based company Leprino Foods, which is controlled by one man, the reclusive billionaire James “Jim” Leprino. But that’s pretty much all we knew about Leprino until recently, when his nieces took him to court and forced the family’s billion-dollar succession drama into the public record. Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with reporter Helen Xu (also known as Helen X), who was in the courtroom for Westword, to share previously unknown details about how Leprino cornered the mozzarella market, his humble origins in his father’s Northside Italian market, and the inner workings of one of Denver’s most fascinating and secretive companies.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

How to Buy a Home Podcast

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Secretive Mozzarella Dynasty Unravels in Court