Mel B: I’ve blown €44M
Spice Girls fortune funded extravagant lifestyle with husband, court hears
MEL B blew her €44million Spice Girls fortune on an “extravagant” life with husband Stephen Belafonte, a court heard.
The divorcing couple have considerable tax debts “sustained through improvident lifestyle choices”, a US judge was told.
Mel, 42, looked strained as she faced Stephen for the first time since their bitter split amid claims he physically and mentally abused her, which he denies. Stephen, also 42, insists he has no income and wants Mel to pay €100,000 spousal support plus €178,000 in legal fees. He claims they lived a comfortable life with money no object. Grace Jamra, representing him, told Los Angeles Superior Court: “Their lifestyle was extravagant. She wiped out all her Spice Girls money, approximately $50million if not more.”
But Larry Bakman, representing Mel, said it would be “offensive” for her to have to pay for her alleged abuser to fight her claims.
Jacalyn Davis, also representing the America’s Got Talent judge, said their tax problems were “sustained through improvident lifestyle choices”.
She added: “They never had money at the end of the year to pay their taxes. All their community income was being spent and then some.
“In this marriage that would be Miss Brown’s income from the Spice Girls.”
Stephen claimed in court documents that Mel makes hundreds of thousands a month from America’s Got Talent and her contract with diet firm Jenny Craig.
A decision on spousal support is expected on Wednesday ahead of the full divorce hearing in September.