An appellate judge has ruled that actor Robert De Niro’s wife of 20 years, Grace Hightower, will not be getting half of his money in their divorce. According to Page Six, the ruling was made on Oct. 21.
De Niro, 78, filed for a divorce in 2018. The couple broke up once before in 1999 after De Niro filed for divorce, but the couple got back together in 2003 and renewed their vows in 2004.
Hightower signed a prenuptial agreement the same year, but her lawyer argued that she was entitled to half of her husband’s earnings while they were married. The couple first married in 1997 after dating for almost ten years.
A Supreme Court judge in Manhattan ruled against Hightower back in February. The 66-year-old appealed the ruling, but her appeal was rejected by the appellate court. Both courts ruled that De Niro’s income during the marriage was his separate property.
“The husband’s income earned during the marriage and other business assets acquired during that time are his separate property,” said the ruling.
EXCLUSIVE: Robert De Niro and wife Grace Hightower split after over 20 years https://t.co/gNDCp5iy7Z pic.twitter.com/uGVui3MjaA
— Page Six (@PageSix) November 21, 2018
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Both parties accused the other of spending too much money. De Niro was allegedly spending on helicopters and private planes while his wife opted for expensive clothes from Stella McCartney. She reportedly spent $375,000 on clothing in a month and $1.6 million on jewelry.
The prenup terms pay Hightower alimony in the amount of $1 million per year until she gets remarried or until she or De Niro passes away. She would also get $6 million for a new home. De Niro’s attorney Caroline Krauss told reporters they were pleased with the ruling.
Hightower and De Niro have two children together: a nine-year-old daughter, Helen Grace, and Elliot’s 23-year-old son.
