March 13, 2004

Diane Richie Written Declaration Diane Richie is seeking a $400.000. a month divorse settlement from pop star Lionel Ritchie. She goes through the Ritchies family's (very expensive) expenses. It seems plastic surgery, nine staff members, laser hair removal, and $150,000. on oriental rugs adds up. If you're wondering about Lionel has been up to, check out his latest video.
posted by Sullivan 20 years ago
  • Three things: 1. What's with her divorce counsel? In her declaration she comes across like a selfish bitch whiny brat. There has to be a way to present the facts to make her look more sympathetic. 2. There's a boarding school that costs $125,000 per year? Whoah. 3. What, no prenup? Otherwise, yeah, welcome to a glimpse into the lives of people who have way too much money and are completely out of touch with reality.
  • I don't get this. If you break up with someone, why, precisely, are they entitled to keep getting your money? Child support, obviously, I understand. But other than that, what gives?
  • Once, twice, three times the alimony....
  • Well, you're supposed to ask for a lot more than you expect, aren't you? I mean, you need some bargaining space...in this case a LOT of bargaining space. I wonder how much he has.
  • rodgerd- Under California law, (assuming there's no prenup) everything that each spouse earns by their personal efforts (as opposed to gifts or inheritance) is a community asset. So presumably she would be entitled to 50% of what he made from performances, songs he wrote during the marriage, albums he recorded during the marriage, and so forth, but I am guessing that they have been living large off the royalties from his big hits in the 1980's, which isn't a community asset, and her 50% of the community wouldn't last her very long. Given that California courts traditionally seek an equitable outcome, the fact that he has been supporting her since she was 18 (and there's no mention of her having any university level education) might lead the court to award some alimony, although it's not necessarily a given.
  • Oh my giddy heck!
  • "In general, about the only time a judge will award alimony in most states is where one spouse has been economically dependent on the other spouse for most of a lengthy marriage." (In other words, rogerd, she gave up a career and assets to raise his kids and take care of the domestic stuff, so he should make up for that sacrifice. With more money per month than I'll make in YEARS.) From this page on divorces.
  • I'm sorry, but there is *no way* Lionel Richie is making $400,000 per month. I am in complete disbelief if he's making more than a mil a year at this stage in his career! Sha.
  • I think it depends on how well he invested. Let's not forget, he was (I believe) the main songwriter for the Commodores. Then from the late-mid 70s to the early-mid 80s he was just about everywhere. He had to have made at least $100 million and probably more. If his investnemts are returning 10%, that's $10 million a year right there.
  • I wonder if he might be in the market for a boyfriend ♥ (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)