You’ve probably seen the name carved into the marble of the world's most prestigious museums. The Met. The Louvre. The British Museum. For decades, the Sackler name wasn't synonymous with a public health crisis; it was the ultimate mark of high-society prestige.
But things changed. Fast.
To understand who is the sackler family, you have to look past the gala photos and the ivy-league donations. You have to look at a small company called Purdue Pharma and a little pill called OxyContin. It is a story of three brothers from Brooklyn, a revolutionary (and controversial) marketing engine, and a legal battle that basically rewrote American bankruptcy law in 2024 and 2025.
The Three Brothers and the Birth of a Fortune
It all started with Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler. They were the sons of Jewish immigrants, grew up in Brooklyn, and all three became psychiatrists. Honestly, in the beginning, they seemed like your typical overachieving American success story.
In 1952, they bought a tiny pharmaceutical company called Purdue Frederick. Back then, the company wasn't making blockbusters. They were selling earwax removers and laxatives. Not exactly the stuff of billionaire dreams.
Arthur Sackler was the visionary. He’s the guy who basically invented modern medical advertising. Before him, drug companies didn't really "sell" to doctors the way they do now. Arthur figured out that if you win over the doctors with "educational" seminars, fancy dinners, and slickly produced journals, you win the market. He was so good at it that he was eventually inducted into the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame.
Ironically, Arthur died in 1987. That’s nearly a decade before OxyContin even hit the shelves. His heirs often argue that his branch of the family shouldn't be lumped in with the "OxySacklers," but critics like Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Empire of Pain, point out that it was Arthur’s aggressive marketing blueprints that the rest of the family used to flood the country with opioids.
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Why the Sackler Family Name Became Toxic
In 1995, the FDA approved OxyContin. This was the turning point. Under the leadership of Richard Sackler (Raymond’s son), Purdue Pharma launched a campaign that was unlike anything the medical world had ever seen.
They told doctors the drug was safe. They claimed the "time-release" formula made it less addictive than other painkillers. They even pushed the idea of "pseudo-addiction"—a term used to suggest that if a patient showed signs of addiction, the solution was actually to give them more opioids because they were supposedly just in "untreated pain."
It worked. Purdue made roughly $35 billion in revenue from OxyContin.
But while the money rolled in, the bodies piled up. By the early 2010s, it was clear that OxyContin was fueling a massive wave of addiction and overdose deaths across the United States. The family wasn't just sitting back, though. Documents released during later lawsuits showed that between 2008 and 2016, the family withdrew over $10 billion from Purdue Pharma.
State attorneys general, like New York’s Letitia James, argued this was a "milking program." Basically, they allegedly drained the company of cash because they knew the lawsuits were coming and wanted to shield their personal wealth in offshore trusts.
The 2024 Supreme Court Shock and the New Reality
For a long time, it looked like the Sacklers were going to pull off a "get out of jail free" card using a loophole in the bankruptcy system.
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Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in 2019. As part of the deal, the Sacklers offered to pay about $6 billion of their own money to help victims and states. In exchange, they wanted "third-party releases." This is legal jargon for: "We pay the money, and in return, no one can ever sue any member of the Sackler family personally ever again."
A lot of victims were furious. They wanted their day in court.
In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in and blew the whole deal up. In a 5-4 ruling (Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P.), the court said the bankruptcy system doesn't have the power to protect people who haven't actually filed for bankruptcy themselves. Since the Sacklers didn't personally file, they couldn't hide behind Purdue's bankruptcy.
Where do they stand in 2026?
Things moved quickly after that ruling. By late 2025, a new settlement was hammered out. Here is the current reality for the family:
- The $7.4 Billion Payout: The family is now on the hook for up to $7.4 billion to be paid over 15 years.
- Knoa Pharma: Purdue Pharma is dead. It’s being transitioned into a new company called Knoa Pharma, which is supposed to operate for the "public good," making overdose-reversal drugs like Narcan at low cost.
- The Name is Gone: As part of the settlements, the Sackler name is being stripped from museums and universities. They are also barred from putting their name on any future philanthropic projects.
- Personal Liability: Unlike the 2024 deal, this new framework allows individuals who don't opt into the settlement to still try and sue the family members personally, though it's legally very difficult to "pierce the corporate veil."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Sacklers
One common misconception is that the family is broke. Hardly. Even after paying out billions, the various branches of the Sackler family remain among the wealthiest people on the planet.
While their U.S. operations were decimated, their international arm—Mundipharma—continues to operate in over 120 countries. Investigation reports from late 2024 and 2025 revealed that Mundipharma was still generating hundreds of millions in profit from opioid sales in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
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Another weird detail? The family is deeply divided. The descendants of Arthur (the oldest brother) have spent years trying to distance themselves from the descendants of Raymond and Mortimer. They’ve even gone so far as to issue public statements clarifying that their branch didn't profit from OxyContin. It's a full-blown dynasty feud played out in the shadows of the legal system.
Actionable Insights: How This Affects You
Understanding who is the sackler family isn't just about reading a tragedy; it’s about understanding how the "system" works—and how it's being fixed.
If you or a loved one were affected by the opioid crisis, there are specific steps you can take now that the bankruptcy plan is finally moving forward in 2026:
- Check Claim Deadlines: The new settlement includes a fund of up to $850 million specifically for individual victims and their families. If you filed a claim during the Purdue bankruptcy, keep your contact info updated with the settlement trust.
- Verify Payout Eligibility: Payouts for individual victims are expected to range from roughly $3,500 to $48,000. It’s not "justice" in the eyes of many, but it is tangible compensation that was previously blocked.
- Monitor State Spending: Billions are being sent to state governments (like Texas and New York). Citizens can—and should—pressure local officials to ensure this money goes to treatment and harm reduction, not just filling budget holes in police departments.
- Watch the International Market: If you live outside the U.S., be aware that the "Sackler playbook" is still being used by Mundipharma. Always ask your doctor about the addiction risks of any prescribed "long-acting" painkiller.
The story of the Sacklers is a reminder that even the most prestigious names can be built on a foundation of pain. While the marble plaques are coming down, the impact of their "marketing genius" will be felt for generations.
To stay updated on the payout schedules for 2026, you should monitor the official Purdue Pharma Reorganization website or your state Attorney General's office for the "Opioid Abatement Fund" distribution details.