Robert De Niro‘s estranged wife Grace Hightower won’t get half of the actor’s earnings, a court ruled.
The Raging Bull star filed for divorce from Hightower, his wife of 21 years, in December 2018. She demanded half of the actor’s $300 million fortune, despite signing an ironclad prenuptial agreement in 2004.
Hightower claimed the wording of the contract also grants her 50 per cent of De Niro’s earnings since they exchanged vows in 2004, which she believes to be around $300 million.
However, the Appellate Division rejected Hightower’s arguments, and upheld the Manhattan Supreme Court ruling from February.
“The husband’s income earned during the marriage and other business assets acquired during that time are his separate property,” the court ruled.
De Niro’s lawyer Caroline Krauss told Page Six after the ruling: “The decision speaks for itself. We obviously agree with the conclusion.”
Hightower will still walk away with millions from the divorce. She and De Niro will sell their $20 million former marital home, and $6 million from the sale proceeds will go towards a house for Grace and their two children.
De Niro will also pay his ex $1 million a year in alimony, until she remarries or one of them dies, as per the terms of their prenup.
Hightower and De Niro first headed to divorce court in 1999 after just two years as husband and wife. They subsequently reconciled and remarried in 2004.
