Billionaire Salinas Briefly Threatened With Arrest in AT&T Suit

Core Points - Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas has posted a $25 million bond to avoid arrest in the US over an alleged debt owed to AT&T Inc [1][4] - Salinas, with a net worth of $7.5 billion, owns several businesses including Elektra, TV Azteca, and Banco Azteca, and is known for his opposition to the Mexican government [2][6] - The legal dispute with AT&T stems from an alleged debt related to unpaid taxes from Salinas's previous telecom business, which AT&T acquired in 2014 [3][4] Legal Proceedings - A New York State Supreme Court Judge found Salinas and his companies in contempt of court for failing to pay the alleged debt, leading to a personal contempt ruling against Salinas [4][5] - The judge ordered Salinas to pay AT&T $20 million within two weeks or face incarceration, highlighting the severity of the situation [4][5] Financial Pressures - In addition to the legal issues with AT&T, Salinas's companies are facing pressure from bondholders of TV Azteca, who have not received repayments on their investments [6] - Grupo Salinas has expressed willingness to engage in discussions with bondholders regarding debt restructuring [6]