Giada De Laurentiis Divorce: Todd Thompson Granted $9,000 Monthly Child Support
Apparently, after some wrangling between Giada De Laurentiis and Todd Thompson, their divorce is finalized. However, there’s a big twist in the last chapter of their marriage of 11 years: Giada agreed to pay Todd a whopping $9,000 per month in child support payments.
On September 5, Fox News wrote that the divorce of the Italian-born American celebrity chef of the Food Network is “going to cost her.” The petite culinary guru and her fashion designer ex-husband ended their marriage that some say tipped the scales in his favor.
According to divorce documents, Giada De Laurentiis, 45, and Todd Thompson, 52, are sharing custody of their 7-year-old daughter, Jade. Along with the joint custody agreement, the Giada at Home TV personality has to pony up a large sum of money, which leaves many confused.
Reportedly, Todd has a net worth of some $15 million, while Giada is worth about $20 million. With their relative values being comparatively close, it’s odd De Laurentiis has to pay such a large sum or anything at all. More on that later.
It gets better — or worse — depending on how you look at the couple’s divorce settlement. People magazine says when the two exchanged vows, there was no prenuptial agreement filed with their marital documents. As such, Todd gets a fair share of the Giada’s earnings on hand — and in the future.
Not only does Thompson receive $9,000 in monthly child support; Giada De Laurentiis’ divorce settlement says her ex gets half of any earnings from her published cookbooks, as well as others that have been written but not released for sale yet. Additionally, Todd gets the family home in Los Angeles, worth some $3 million, and a share of their artwork and other valuables. Finally, the couple is splitting any money on deposit in bank accounts.
On why Giada is paying Todd big bucks in the divorce, one source claims it has a theory. According to Celeb Dirty Laundry, De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay allegedly had an affair. The story goes that the pair was seen on a dinner date together (without their significant others). Shortly afterwards, both celebrity chefs were thrust in the midst of divorce filings.
While Giada quietly separated from her husband last July — and a lid was kept shut on their marriage, for the most part — Bobby and his wife’s split got downright nasty. Recall months ago when a “cheater banner” flew over Flay’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony? Unsubstantiated reports claim Bobby’s wife was behind the stunt.
After the affair bombshell, more rumors surfaced that Giada was romantically linked to Matt Lauer and John Mayer. It’s CDL’s belief that the huge child support payment is Giada De Laurentiis’ way of offering an olive branch — and some hush money.
[Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Food Network SoBe Wine & Food Festival]
