In October of 2024, Fortune published an article about “rich people” who use secret trusts and LLCs to conceal assets from their spouses. The article states that although these methods were once reserved for the ultra-wealthy, they are now accessible to virtually anyone with enough cash and the right accountants. Many of the most popular celebrities in America are aware of these strategies, and they often face accusations of concealing assets during their high-profile divorces. A recent case illustrates this point with clarity:
Talk Show Host Accused of Misrepresenting Her Net Worth During Divorce
In October of 2024, one of the most famous talk show hosts in the United States was accused of misrepresenting her true net worth. Back in 2019, she told her ex-husband that her worth was $7.3 million. After that divorce was resolved, the host’s close friend told courts that her real net worth was closer to $55 million in 2022. Based on these discrepancies, the ex-husband is now asking the court to revisit the entire divorce – claiming that he should have received more of the marital estate. Specifically, he accuses his ex-wife of misrepresenting her wealth by $48 million.
Guardianship Makes This Divorce Even More Complex
To make this matter even more complicated, the talk show host has been under guardianship since 2022. She is no longer in control of her own financial or legal decisions. Observers suspect that this also extends to her healthcare decisions, giving her almost zero rights as a “ward.” When she made her initial disclosure of assets in the 2019 divorce, it was her guardian who revealed the sum of $7.3 million. The host’s guardian is also her professional manager.
According to various reports, a combination of financial disasters and mental incapacity led to this TV host pursuing guardianship. The host openly stated that she had lost all of her wealth on numerous occasions, and her publicist allegedly overheard conversations of “no money” in the bank accounts. Combined with the guardianship, these varying reports make it very difficult to determine the star’s net worth with any clarity.
Ex-Husband Faces Various Financial Challenges
At the same time, the ex-husband is facing various financial challenges of his own. In 2023, he was sued for a $20,000 credit card bill – despite receiving an undisclosed lump-sum payment from the TV host during the divorce. He also sold two of his luxury vehicles to pay off debts, plus a $1.2 million home in Florida. Finally, he was asked to give back $112,000 in alimony “overpayments” he received from his ex-wife.
Even if the ex-wife understated her true net worth, it seems unthinkable that this ex-husband would walk away from the marriage in such dire economic straits.
If nothing else, this story illustrates just how complex high-net-worth celebrity divorces can become in the United States. Although Fortune correctly points out that LLCs and secret trusts have become increasingly popular, guardianships can complicate divorces to an even greater extent.
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