Britney’s toxic milliondollar battle
The embattled pop singer is in a bitter war with her ex, who’s demanding more cash
Britney Spears is fighting for her $275 million fortune after her ex Kevin Federline made a play to double his monthly allowance from the pop star, who ended a successful four-year residency in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve.
Several sources confirm to Woman’s Day that Kevin, 40, who was married to Britney between 2004 and 2007, has asked for $50,000 a month instead of the $25,000 he currently receives in child support for their two sons Sean, 12, and Jayden, 11.
“Kevin doesn’t want the boys to think he’s not able to provide for them like their mummy does,” explains a source. “He says he wants to appear equal in their eyes.” But Britney’s dad Jamie Spears, 64 – who’s had control
over the
36-year-old’s finances since her public mental breakdown in 2008 – is so far refusing to budge on Kevin’s demands.
“Jamie responded with the most insulting offer of all – offering to write a budget for Kevin,” says a source. “As far as Jamie is concerned, if the boys need anything at all outside of Kevin’s child support money, Britney will be the one to provide it, and Kevin isn’t getting his hands on an extra dime.”
LAWYERS CALLED IN
Now the war over the singer’s millions is turning nasty, with Britney’s legal team threatening to audit Kevin to see how he spends his monthly stipend.
But his lawyers have fought back, with Kevin’s top LA attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan warning Britney her huge income could mean she owes her former backup dancer millions in back payments.
Kevin’s team have reportedly asked Britney to submit an income and expense declaration along with her most recent tax return to prove how much money she really rakes in.
“Kevin is not backing down here,” a source says. “As far as he’s concerned, he only wants what is fair, and he’s sick of dealing with Jamie’s arrogance over Britney’s money and her life.
“He never asked for all of this, but he wants to be seen as being on an even playing field with her when the boys are at his house. His argument is that it’s unsettling for them to be going from her opulent lifestyle to his modest one every week.”
The pair’s relationship was messy from the beginning – Kevin left his pregnant girlfriend for Britney in 2004, then she filed for divorce in late 2006, just two months after giving birth to their youngest son, Jayden.
In the following two years, Britney infamously went on a downward spiral, partying hard, shaving her head and eventually landing in rehab. Jamie was given conservatorship over her estate when it was decided Britney was unable to care for herself – an arrangement that continues to this day.
“The emotional effect of her split from Kevin was so deep, she’s still recovering from it,” says a source. “So the last thing she wants is him dragging up all this bad blood in a blatant grab for cash.
“Britney is furious and will do anything she can to stop Kevin getting any more money out of her. He already took away her sanity from some of the best years of her life, and now he’s pulling this! It’s so unfair on her.”
KEVIN’S REVENGE
The insider says Britney is convinced the father-of-six is “just jealous” she finally has her life back on track.
“She’s dating a wonderful man [25-year-old personal trainer Sam Asghari], who treats her like a princess. She’s never been happier. Not to mention that she’s in the best shape of her life and her career is booming.”
Adds the source, “Britney thinks Kevin can’t stand seeing her so happy and this is his way of getting under her skin.”