Billionaire Media Mogul Byron Allen just scored what many are calling the largest racial discrimination settlement ever.
Back in 2021, Allen filed a $10 billion lawsuit against McDonald’s for excluding Black-owned media from its major ad buys—placing them in a separate, unequal tier. The same day the suit was filed, McDonald’s had just promised to increase ad spending with Black media from 2% to 5% by 2024.
Allen said they didn’t follow through—so he took them to court.
Now, just weeks before trial, McDonald’s has agreed to settle not only the $10 billion federal lawsuit but also a $100 million state case.
As part of the deal, McDonald’s will begin buying ads at market value from Allen’s companies, including Entertainment Studios and The Weather Group. While they admit no wrongdoing, this is a major win for Black-owned media—and corporate accountability.
