Almost a year on from his split with wife Cassandra Thorburn, Today show host Karl Stefanovic has finalised his divorce, with his former wife receiving a settlement worth a reported $6 million in assets and cash.
By contrast, News Corp report that Stefanovic himself is walking away from their 21-year marriage with approximately $500,000 in cash an assets, including a beloved white Mercedes.
A family friend said that the morning show host – who is one of the highest-paid people on Australian television, earning a reported $3 million per year – put up “very little resistance” during the negotiations, knowing he would “take a hit” financially.
The friend continued:
“There was always the sense that it would be a big settlement and obviously not in his favour. He was quite prepared to walk away with nothing, hand everything over with the one condition that he be able to see his children whenever he wanted, and I think they have managed to agree on that.”
The couple will share custody of their three children.
It is understood that the settlement was reached shortly before Stefanovic embarked on a U.S. holiday with designer Yarbrough. He has not commented on the terms, but has previously spoke about the personal toll of his split, saying:
“For me personally I would definitely have failures in a husband sense and hope that I can rectify my failures as a dad … I hope I can try and rebuild whatever has happened in the past and try and make the most of what I can do with them in the future.”
Stevanovic’s relationship with Yarbrough became public when the two were photographed together on a yacht, and he has spoken about the burden of being followed by paps, saying:
“For me the only issue was the burden of paparazzi around my family in the initial months. That is regrettable, that is hard to explain to a kid and I think it is awful for kids … Having 20 paps on your ass for three months is not good for your health. Or anyone you are associated with. They are dangerous on the roads as well. Goes with the territory I know but it makes living hard.”
Source: News Corp.
Photo: Scott Barbour / Getty.
