What started as a successful family-run restaurant empire has now turned into a legal and personal war, with deep-seated betrayals and family rifts exposed in court.
William and Renee Brinkerhoff, once partners in both marriage and business, are now locked in a battle over millions, with their two sons taking opposing sides in the bitter dispute.
Allegations of Control and Deception
Renee claims that throughout their marriage, William exerted excessive control over her, rooted in the rigid gender beliefs of the Christian sect where they first met as students.
Court records reveal that William allegedly monitored all of Renee’s communications and referred to himself as a ‘benevolent dictator.’
Despite spending years as a stay-at-home mother, Renee later found a passion for charity racing.
At 56, she became the first person to race a Porsche on all seven continents, even completing a 356-mile journey across Antarctica in 2021 to raise funds for anti-child trafficking efforts.
Her newfound independence led her to therapy, where a professional assessment uncovered William’s alleged pattern of infidelity.
According to the therapist’s report, William would threaten further affairs to manipulate and control Renee, further straining their already fragile marriage.
The Business Betrayal: A Broken Promise
To prevent an early divorce, William and Renee reportedly struck a deal in 2008 granting Renee a 50% stake in their Mexican restaurant business.
However, court rulings later determined that William secretly maneuvered to erase Renee’s ownership.
When their divorce was finalized in December, the judge ruled that William had sold the real estate tied to one of their flagship restaurants for $18 million—without sharing the profits with Renee—and used the money to launch new restaurant ventures under his sole ownership.
Despite being awarded a hefty $29.5 million divorce settlement, Renee is now suing William over what she believes was a calculated scheme to cut her out of the business entirely.
Their eldest son, Will Jr., supports her claim, stating in legal documents that his father had assured him multiple times that Renee was supposed to be an equal owner.
He even recalled his father openly pondering how he could alter the agreement to exclude her from ownership.
Family Loyalties Divided
While Will Jr. stands by his mother, his younger brother Mark has sided with their father.
Renee alleges that William’s rigid beliefs about male authority influenced his decisions, pointing to an email she found in which he shared an e-book with one of their sons about Adam’s failure to control Eve, linking it to the concept of original sin.
Mark, however, disputes his mother’s claims, arguing that she was fully aware of the ownership arrangements.
He provided emails showing her congratulating him on being listed as the owner in newspaper articles.
Renee counters that she would have never approved of Mark taking over, citing his alleged history of immaturity and excessive drinking.
A Costly Divorce Settlement
As part of the divorce, Renee walked away with $8.5 million worth of Hawaiian real estate, two properties in Denver, two Porsches, half of their collection of 21 vehicles, and ownership of three of the family’s six Mexican restaurants—though notably, not the most profitable ones.
The judge rejected her request to share ownership of the better-performing establishments with Mark, stating that it would only fuel further litigation.
Additionally, William must pay Renee $5.5 million over the next five years, along with $50,000 per month until she either remarries or passes away.
The Legal Battle Continues
Despite the divorce settlement, the fight isn’t over.
Renee continues to pursue legal action against William, with a trial set for June unless a settlement is reached beforehand.
If the case proceeds, it could further fracture the family and expose even more damaging secrets.
William’s legal team argues that his business decisions have funded Renee’s lifestyle, including her international racing ventures, which they claim lost millions.
They firmly deny allegations that he psychologically abused or isolated her during her years of competitive racing.
What’s Next?
Both sides have issued a public statement emphasizing their desire for a resolution that benefits the entire family.
However, the battle over their once-thriving restaurant empire is far from over.
If Renee wins her lawsuit, it could force a further division of the business and shift power dynamics within the family.
If William prevails, it may solidify his control over their financial empire.
Regardless of the outcome, the Brinkerhoff family’s private turmoil has now become a very public saga—one that continues to unfold with high stakes and no clear end in sight.