Could you live on $53,000 (a week)?
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams, Wealth
It's hard for to feel sorry for a woman who is receiving a $43 million divorce settlement, and is still claiming that she can't possibly survive on such a small sum of money. Marie Douglas-David and former investment banker George David are getting a divorce, and of course, fighting over the money. His net worth is estimated at $329 million.
They were married in 2002, and for doing less than 7 years of hard time, Marie wants a lump sum of $100 million and $130,000 a month alimony. That's $1.56 million a year in alimony, plus that nice chunk of change up front. The problem is that in 2005, in the middle of the marriage (after they had a number of break-ups and reconciliations), Marie signed an agreement saying she'd get $43 million when they divorced.
Of course, George is a heartless bastard who clearly wants her to starve, because she can't possibly live on only $43 million! The 36 year-old says her weekly expenses are over $53,000, and those must be paid! The weekly expenses include maintaining four homes (one on Park Avenue, one in Sweden), $4,500 of clothing, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $8,000 for travel, and more.
How can one person spend that much money in a week? I'm not sure. But let's be honest: The agreement she signed is giving her more than $6 million for each year she's been married. That seems like more than fair, even if her 67 year-old soon-to-be ex is worth several hundred million. She clearly didn't help him earn that money. She only helped him spend it and shouldn't be rewarded for that.
Marie doesn't deserve to live in the lap of luxury for the rest of her life simply for being a successful gold-digger. Although one might suggest that $43 million is more than enough to live a very comfortable life from here on out. I'd be willing to giving it a try. Anyone have $43 million they'd like to give me?
Forensic accountant Tracy Coenen investigates corporate fraud and consumer scams, and is the author of Expert Fraud Investigation and Essentials of Corporate Fraud.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 20)
3-19-2009 @ 4:30PM
Thomas said...
This woman is truely nuts. Try living on 30 thousand a year and maintaining one house. Also theres nothing wrong with doing laundry and wearing the same outfit twice in one week. Thats how most Americans live and with unemployment its far worse. Give us average people a break and quit moaning bitch.
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3-21-2009 @ 9:42AM
CKIMBRAL said...
I agree get in the real world.
3-21-2009 @ 5:00PM
Cristina said...
If she is used to spending that kind of money on clothes, you may rest assured that she has enough outfits to not wear the same one in a month or more, not a week.
3-22-2009 @ 5:47PM
schad1411 said...
a...men
3-23-2009 @ 1:54PM
DON said...
Could not say it better!!
3-23-2009 @ 1:54PM
Tony said...
Well said! Truly a slap in the face to you and I.
3-19-2009 @ 4:30PM
Bill said...
If he is willing to pay it, it is because it is worth every dime to be rid of her. However, there is an unfair bias in most states against men in divorce cases. My rule: hire the best and most expensive attorney you can find. It is cheaper in the long run; I learned the hard way.
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3-21-2009 @ 3:25PM
MARY said...
That's true but why would a smart man choose to marry a woman like this, and all those reconcillations? It would have been cheaper to hire a good expensive prostitute. My mama told me that women who took money for sleeping with a man, was a prostitute. Married women who bribed men by withholding sex are legal prostitutes.
3-21-2009 @ 4:20PM
Sally said...
It's not just women who marry for money. My ex admitted outright that he married me for my father's money - after I found out about his male lover. Fifteen years and I never had a clue....
Many of my female classmates (from High School) have found themselves in the same boat. Men check and see how much money their families have before even thinking about asking them to marry them.
3-21-2009 @ 9:27PM
Carol said...
My friend is in the middle of a divorce and her husband is an attorney. He is 'playing' the system, and she's not going to have money to continue paying her 'expensive' lawyer, at this rate! It's all so crazy and I don't understand HOW he's able to play the system the way he is!!
3-21-2009 @ 6:33AM
jbjg24m said...
JUST $53,000 A WEEK ?
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3-21-2009 @ 2:56PM
flobrooks said...
Without looking up statistics, I can say I do believe well over half the population of the entire nation can make it a year on her weekly salary and would be glad for the increase.
3-21-2009 @ 7:48PM
RON said...
wander how she would like to live on $1025.00 a month?
i do it every month, it's not easy but i giter done!!
she could send me some of her pocket change!!
poor girl!!!!!!
3-21-2009 @ 6:50AM
Mental said...
With the kind of money he has, she's lucky he doesn't hire a hit man to bump her off and keep all his money.
How much you wanna' bet she'll be in the news again someday for tax evasion because of her greed?
Then she'll be messing with the wrong people.
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3-21-2009 @ 7:20AM
Wendy said...
The ungrateful bitch should try working for a living like most of us honest people do. She didn't help that man make any of that money, But all she did was lay on her back and help spend it. Try making $20,000 a year, raising 2 kids, and taking care of a house and being a single parent, then she can talk. I did it and didn't complain. I JUST THANKED GOD THAT I HAD THAT.
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3-21-2009 @ 4:01PM
jim said...
Way to go!! ;-)
3-21-2009 @ 7:23AM
Kay said...
My first reaction was "try living my life you stupid twit." Then I tried a different perspective. Compared to what she was living on $43M is a drop in the bucket. I would need help spendning $53k a week, but she drops this without even thinking because she doesn't know how NOT to spend that kind of money. To her $43M is only one-tenth or so of her husband's estimated wealth. If your normal household salary is $100k figure one-tenth and try to live on it. She has been living in a surreal world and has no idea how to adjust. Anyone of us could show her how to live quite easily on $53k a week and none of the expenses include $8000 for travel. She's just clueless.
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3-21-2009 @ 8:51AM
So then... said...
"I" want to "help" her to spend LESS! If Mr. GEORGE DAVID is reading this, pay me a measily $5,000 a week for two months and I will GLADLY show your ex how to spend MUCH less and still have fun (w/o booze or drugs). I'm an adult woman who makes too LITTLE (earning a measily $20k in two months would help me pay off ALL my bills), so I could sure use the $$ and get your ex off yours! I really need the money like everyone else now in this recession...please respond, Mr. David!!
3-21-2009 @ 2:46PM
Mike said...
"My first reaction was "try living my life you stupid twit." Then I tried a different perspective. Compared to what she was living on $43M is a drop in the bucket. I would need help spendning $53k a week, but she drops this without even thinking because she doesn't know how NOT to spend that kind of money. To her $43M is only one-tenth or so of her husband's estimated wealth."
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Kay? I'm sorry, but you're looking at this too simplistically. You cannot go by his "estimated worth" because only a percentage of that is liquid assets (real money). My father-in-law was "worth" $1.7 million a year ago and within 6 months, his "worth" was only $600,000 because his investment fund tanked.
She received $43 million per the agreement SHE signed. Do you think she was spending all this money BEFORE? I HIGHLY doubt he was allowing her to drop $53,000 a WEEK of his money when they were married.
Bottom line is that FORTY-THREE MILLION seemed fine to her when she signed the agreement. I remember a day when you signed something, that was the end of it....you stood by it.
3-21-2009 @ 7:26PM
Laura said...
I'm in complete agreement with "So then". Let Mr. David pay BOTH of us $5000 a week to teach his bitchy ex-wife how WE manage to live on less than $53,000 a week, and he's STILL ahead money! I make only $450 a week when I work a full forty hours. My husband makes twice what I do, but only gets paid twice a month. Between the core obligations of mortgage, utilities, vehicle payments and gas, and groceries, we are barely keeping our heads above water. If an emergency comes along, we're toast. My paycheck is supposed to carry us over from one week to the next, but sometimes it doesn't manage to do that. Clueless women like her make me ill.