Legendary actor Robert De Niro finds himself in a legal tussle as his divorce lawyer unveils the challenges he faces in meeting his estranged wife’s luxurious lifestyle demands, including her penchant for high-end designer Stella McCartney creations and extravagant diamond rings worth over $1 million.
The seasoned acting icon, known for his roles in “Raging Bull” and “The Irishman,” is reportedly grappling with financial burdens, with his lawyer revealing that he is once again behind on tax payments.
To offset his looming multimillion-dollar debt to the government, De Niro is banking on the earnings from his upcoming movie projects, as disclosed during a recent virtual divorce hearing in Manhattan.
Caroline Krauss, De Niro’s legal representative, emphasized the toll that maintaining such an exhaustive work schedule is taking on the 77-year-old star.
She stressed that he should not be compelled to continue accepting every project that comes his way, working grueling six-day weeks and enduring 12-hour days solely to cater to his ex-wife Grace Hightower’s lavish lifestyle preferences, notably her affinity for Stella McCartney items.
During the virtual court session, De Niro joined remotely, while Hightower appeared via video link, marking another chapter in their ongoing dispute over the financial terms of their separation.
The crux of the disagreement revolves around the amount De Niro should provide for Hightower until the stipulations of their 2004 prenuptial agreement are activated post their official divorce.
Hightower’s legal counsel, Kevin McDonough, argued that since initiating divorce proceedings in 2018, De Niro has been reducing the financial support allocated to his estranged spouse, slashing her monthly allowance from $375,000 to a mere $100,000 earlier this year.
In contrast, Krauss contended that leading up to their split, Hightower’s expenses were escalating rapidly, citing a hefty $1.67 million expenditure in 2019 alone, which included a substantial $1.2 million diamond purchase from jeweler Kwiat.
De Niro’s financial struggles are further exacerbated by his outstanding tax obligations amounting to millions of dollars, with the earnings from his forthcoming cinematic ventures earmarked to settle these dues.
Despite facing financial setbacks aggravated by the pandemic, De Niro is determined to prevent Hightower and their two children from vacating their Manhattan residence, as outlined in their prenuptial agreement.
Krauss underscored De Niro’s reluctance to adhere to Hightower’s extravagant demands, which conflict with the agreement’s provisions calling for the sale of their $20 million property, profit division, and subsequent acquisition of a new $6 million abode.
On the other hand, McDonough contended that until the prenup regulations take effect, De Niro is obligated to sustain Hightower’s former affluent lifestyle standards, casting doubt on claims of the actor’s financial distress.
Seeking resolution, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Matthew Cooper expressed his desire for the former couple to finalize their divorce swiftly, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of their financial entanglements and opulent expenditures amidst the legal wrangling.
Despite the acrimony surrounding their separation, both parties stand to emerge financially secure from this contentious divorce saga that has spanned over two decades, drawing to a close the prolonged chapter in De Niro and Hightower’s tumultuous marital history.
