Billionaire's 2 children each seek $400,000 a month [Updated]

She can't talk about his other children. He can't talk about the other men in her life.

That's what a judge reaffirmed Wednesday in the child support battle between billionaire Orange County land developer Donald L. Bren and two children he fathered with a former girlfriend.

In a years-long legal feud set to start trial next week, Bren's now-adult children are seeking retroactive child support in the amount of $400,000 a month each for the years between 1988 and 2002.

According to their attorney, Bren was giving children Christie and David Bren a fraction of that sum -- about $10,000 a month -- for several years. Attorney Hillel Chodos is arguing that's not nearly enough, compared to estimates that Bren himself was spending roughly $3 million to $5 million a month during the years he would have been paying child support.

In a pretrial conference Wednesday, the two sides debated what could be presented at next week's jury trial.

Attorneys for the children were hoping to share with a jury the amount in child support Bren has paid to other children. Bren's attorneys wanted to discuss other men they say former girlfriend Jennifer McKay Gold was engaged to during the time she was involved with Bren. Judge Rex Heeseman said a jury won't hear about either.

"They're tying our hands," Gold said. "The judge is not giving us a chance to present evidence vital to our case."

The impending trial has been anticipated for years because it promises to detail much of Bren's wealth. The 78-year-old has an estimated net worth of $12 billion and is ranked by Forbes magazine to be the 16th richest American. Still, he is considered intensely private.

"If you can spend $3-to-$5 million a month, you can give $400,000 to your kids," Chodos said.

Chodos is arguing that Bren reneged on promises he made to the children, including agreements for financial support, and an ongoing relationship with their father.

Attorneys for Bren could not be reached for comment.

[Updated at 4:53 p.m.: Jonathan Freund, who is Bren’s personal attorney but is not defending Bren in this case, called the children's request unfair. He said Bren has fully complied with past child support agreements.

“He’s paid millions of dollars, and now 15 years later she’s coming out with an oral promise that she told no one about,” Freund said. “She’s just trying to get more money out of him.”]

-- Robert Faturechi

Comments

[Jeff Fleiss]

Ridiculous asking for $400,000 a month. What a farce. Really now what are you going to spend all that money on? Shame on being so greedy and that goes for your attorney too. Good luck now in getting anything substantial from your father's will. Just because he's mega rich doesn't mean you're entitled to his money.

[Winfield J. Abbe]

A judge in his courtroom has entirely too much power. He is a virtual dictator just like Nazi, Germany. Where did this power come from? Did our good for nothing legislators grant judges these outrageous powers to arbitrarily jail anyone who disagrees with their arbitrary and capricous edicts? Citizens must demand an end to this arbitrary abuse of authority by corrupt judges.
In Georgia for example, a Superior Court Judge was recently observed by a Sheriff Deputy having sex in a car in an abandoned subdivision with a female public defender! Can you imagine that? Subsequent to this event a few years ago, they had over 200 cases between them. Sick is too polite a word to describe this gang rape of justice. Do you know what happened to them?
Nothing. They were quietly allowed to resign and that is the end of it. Sick sick sick stuff. He was a former UGA graduate and even an Air Force Officer!
She was a graduate of New York Law SChool. Sick sick sick. The legal non profession is the sickest in the world. Don't donate a dime to any law school anywhere and seek to have laws passed preventing lawyers from holding any offices. Haven't they destroyed our country enough as it is?

[phillr3]

Come on Dad......?

Pay for your deed.

Phill

[Steve]

Bet that one dollar condom seems like pretty good investment right about now.

[Tigerloose]

So does the moderator go home at noon?

[Joel]

OK, let's see. They are asking for retro child support for roughly 15 years, meaning they are both now 25 or 26, maybe a little older. At 400K a month (doesn't say whether they each want that amount, or in total), they're asking for $72 million. No soup for you!!!!!!

[RealityBites]

A contract to wipe out all parasites would be much cheaper.

It is truly amazing how out of touch with reality pure psychopathic greed makes you.

[M Silver]

Retro Child Support???

WHy was this issue not brought up eailer??

120 K per year to raise two children is not resonable and enough to raise 2 children?

I am sure the Father would give these kids, new cars, vacations, education or anything else for the asking...Why is this even being entertained?

Maybe if these individules made something of themselves he would be happy to assist in any way.

As far as Family court , they have no business even hearing such a case, however , because corruption prevails in family court they will rape this man for as much as they can for their own profit and reward.

[Jill]

From what I've read, these "kids" now respectively 22 and 18, are asking for 10% of their Bren's income as retroactive child support. BUT, they have already received over $9 million at $10,000/month plus housing, supplemental expenses, private schools, nannies, maids, private tutors/lessons, luxury vacations, and a new car when each got his/her license. Plus, Bren currently pays all of their college tuition/living expenses even though both are now adults.

They have been very well-taken care of, and Gold has not had to work a single day since the birth of their daughter. Bren supported her and her lifestyle 100%. Now that their youngest child has turned 18, Gold sees her cash flow diminishing ans is using her children. The birth of these two children has been a windfall for Gold. How about we go after the "REAL" deadbeat dads?

[Karen]

Regardless of how much he spent, the girlfriend agreed upon a certain amount and he paid it. There shouldn't be a case for these greedy "children". Go out and earn your money the way he did.

[4 rich]

.....If a man loses his job and has not income, HE IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS until the day he changes the order.

.....A payment is final. You are responsible for bringing any change of circumstances to the courts. Only then is it changed.

The mother failed to do this. Why should she be different?

.....They had an agreement and if he was not sticking to it she needed to go to court at that time but you can't come back 14 YEARS LATER and bring family court into civil court, now claiming you deserved more.

.....The children may have deserved more but they should be sueing the mother or her attorneys because they failed miserably.

.....If you sell a car to a dealer and he sells it for twice as much you can't then ask him for more money.

[swimom97]

This man ignored and humiliated his children while living the lifestyle he wanted to live. They may be asking for money but it really isn't about the child support. The (kids) were terribly mistreated and ignored by this so-called man. Mom doesn't deserve another dime but the kids deserve something. Since money is the only thing this man understands...let him pay for the many years of freedom from parental responsibility he enjoyed . He's reportedly a terrible shrew...if one believes rumors.

[Big D]

No matter how much money he makes, why do those kids need 400,000 a month.

[shroggle]

When my parents divorced back in the 70's, my mom was awarded $75/child as child support.

Now, I realize that the cost of living has gone up, but $400K/month? Give me a break

[Karen]

Child support is all BS. I know wommen out there that pop out kids just so they don't have to get a job! The system of laws aren't for the man at all. It's a free ride for the women. I'm sure that people will claim that you pay you pay, and I agree, but the system needs to be cleared up where that money goes and that the women MUST pay the same amount as the man. If you get child support you MUST have receipts to show where every single penny is spent you got in support,and the women MUST work a REAL job to get any form of payment of child support. I'm sure if the laws were changed you wouldn't see all these women pop kids out they can't afford and expecting a free hand out.

[Jennifer]

First off...If anyone knows anything about child support. It is not an equal amount for both parents. It is to go by the INCOME of BOTH parents. It is determined what portion should be paid by determining the percentage of income. If one makes more than the other then that parent pays a higher percentage than the other parent. I personally have been screwed for SEVERAL years by the court system because my ex was self employed and able to fudge what he was making as well as he is an absentee parent. On the other hand I have many guy friends who are getting the raw end of the deal. I think $400,00 is a little excessive, however, being a BILLIONAIRE...He can surely afford more than $10,000 a month. Now if he paid for new cars, education, lavish vacations,.. etc, giving them the lifesyle he himself has been living, then he has paid enough. If not give the kids something to make up for it. Especially the time he was an absentee parent.

[Tim Holstein]

Are other parents with enormous wealth who's children are in their immediate custody and care required or obligated to spend $400,000 per month on each of their children? No. And if there were a law compelling parents to do so and they didn't comply there would be an avalanche of lawsuits against rich parents filed by their children and lawyers lined up for blocks ready to represent them. This just smells of some resentful people trying to squeeze more money from a rich individual. These kids certainly didn't grow up poor. $10,000 a month for their childhood provided more than enough security and advantages for them as children and it's time for them to grow up!

[Mark Sumners]

This is ridiculous. I am worth about $3 million dollars and my monthly child support for my one child was $11,750. This guy is worth billions and he only pays $10,000 for each child. Give me a break!

[Linda Borden]

This for Karen do you have any kids? Well then if you do you understand it is not easy taking care of kids, especially setting in emergency rooms for hours, staying up all night when they are sick, then after staying up you have to work your ownself. what about child care it is not cheap. My opinion about child support is the father is paying the mother for what he is not doing and 99% do not want to do. So make them pay they are responsible for having kids just like the mother. the men ought to put a condom on their mess if they do not want kids!!!!!! Men do what they want to do women do what we have to do take care of our kids.

[Cindy]

Are you all aware this has been going on for much longer, almost 10 years? It's about what they are entitled to. How can you think that it's okay for this man to not pay for his children. He has the money. And honestly, how can you call these kids brats? Do you know them? No, probably not.