What with all of the hoopla going on surrounding AIG and the recession and unemployment, we almost forgot that there are some people in New York with real problems. By which we mean really awesome problems. Such as Marie Douglas-David, a 36-year-old former investment banker and alleged Swedish countess who got carried away by her love for sexagenarian George David, the former United Technologies CEO, and accidentally signed a post-nuptial agreement in which she would get a mere $43 million dollars in the event of divorce.
Which, now that the marriage is over, she has come to realize is not nearly enough.
At the trial, which started yesterday, Douglas-David explained that what she actually needs is $100 million, plus $130,000 per month in alimony. This is really the bare minimum, because she has expenses, you see.
Douglas-David has filed court papers showing she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including for maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden. Her weekly expenses also include $700 for limousine service, $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and $8,000 for travel.
Plus, she needs money for firewood, flowers, horse care, and dry cleaning.
True: No one needs three residence in Sweden. But that aside, we’d say she has a pretty solid case here. At this rate, she’d burn through $43 million in less than sixteen years! And that’s not even accounting for inflation, and the more important fact that if she’s spending $1,000 on facials at 36, imagine the kind of treatments she’ll need at 52. We rest our case.
Wife divorcing ex-CEO: $43 million not enough [AP]
Earlier: Marie Douglas-David Spends $8,000 a Week on Travel
Related: The Great Divorces of New York
