Robert De Niro divorce judge Grace Hightower alimony
Source: YouTube, The Late Show

The long and bitter divorce of Robert De Niro from wife Grace Hightower involving a highly contested alimony battle finally came to an end with an appeals court ruling that De Niro’s ex is not entitled to half of his income from acting and business ventures. The Academy Award winning and outspoken liberal actor is estimated to be worth $500 million, and Hightower believed herself to be entitled to half.

Robert De Niro’s Bitter Divorce From Grace Hightower

De Niro filed for divorce in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. They were previously married for 20 years before a brief separation from 1999-2003.

Related: Mickey Rourke Reignites Old Feud, Calls Robert De Niro A ‘Crybaby’

During the proceedings, De Niro’s lawyers claimed Hightower’s extravagant lifestyle was putting a strain on his life. So much so that he had to work more to maintain the lifestyle to which Hightower had become accustomed. 

De Niro also argued that the pandemic had severely curtailed his ability to make money

For those of you crying foul that his ex-wife will go away with nothing, worry not, she will be fine:

Still, Hightower will walk away with millions under the prenup, which says the pair should sell the $20 million home they lived in together and put $6 million toward buying a home of her choice that she can live in with their two kids.

And, under the terms of the prenup, De Niro agreed to pay her $1 million a year in alimony until she remarries or one of them dies.

A million a year is still a lot of money.

The two-time Academy Award winner is a high-paid actor and savvy investor who owns several properties and restaurants. And as he gets older, his earning potential as an actor may decrease. 

His ex-wife’s alleged spending may explain some of the questionable movies choices undertaken by De Niro in more recent years.

We Want Pre-Nup. 

Robert De Niro was saved by perhaps the greatest weapon for rich people, a pre-nuptial agreement.

Under the 2004 agreement, all of De Niro’s movie and business earnings are considered “separate property.” As such, the Hollywood star is allowed to keep them and not share them. 

Does Robert De Niro’s Wife Deserve That Much Alimony?

My answer: No.

The fact is that De Niro is one of the best actors of his generation, if not of all time. He earned his money and fame. As such, the 78-year-old shouldn’t have to split it all with someone who is not in his life anymore.

The 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient worked his butt off to get where he is. So I don’t think an ex-wife should be able to take all that away from him.

And, let’s face it, Grace Hightower isn’t walking away empty-handed between the splitting of shared assets and her $1 million a year in alimony.

If reports are to be believed, Robert De Niro’s wife burned a hole in his pocket and the guy had to make some real garbage movies like The War with Grandpa. 

Anyway, let’s cleanse the palate with this incredible scene with De Niro and Al Pacino from the greatest heist movie of all time, Heat.

What do you think? Does Grace Hightower deserve more? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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