The actress reportedly expressed concern after a Los Angeles court ordered her to cover significant financial obligations to her former spouse.
Courtesy | The actress is required to pay a substantial sum to her ex-husband.
A judge in Los Angeles has ordered Denise Richards to pay her ex-husband, Aaron Phypers, $5,000 per month in temporary spousal support amid their ongoing and contentious divorce proceedings, which began in 2025. The ruling similarly requires the actress to cover $30,000 in additional expenses, including legal fees and forensic accounting costs, according to documents cited by the New York Post.
The order was issued following a hearing on February 26 and stipulates that Richards must pay $5,000 on the fifth day of each month, starting in March, “until further order of the court.”
In addition to the monthly support, Richards is responsible for $25,000 in Phypers’ attorney fees and $5,000 for a forensic accountant, to be paid in three installments of $10,000 between March and May, as detailed in a resolution obtained by Us Weekly.
The court granted the temporary support requested by Phypers, who argued he is facing financial hardship and lacks stable income following disruptions to his business operations. In previous court filings, the former husband maintained he needed financial assistance to maintain the “status quo” during the divorce process and that his pending criminal case related to alleged domestic violence should not prevent him from receiving support, stating that “there has been no criminal conviction.”
According to the New York Post, Judge Nicole Bershon even outlined a suggested allocation for the $5,000 monthly payments: $2,000 for rent, $1,000 for a vehicle, $1,000 for food, and the remainder for miscellaneous expenses. The judge clarified that none of the $30,000 in legal fees should be used for Phypers’ criminal defense, as he was arrested in October 2025 and released on bail following accusations of abuse made by Richards.
The New York Post reported that Richards appeared surprised by the ruling, murmuring, “I can’t pay that.”
She then explained to the court that during their marriage, “I was spending everything I earned” and that she “barely could afford the retainer for my lawyer.”
No Investments
When questioned about her assets, Richards stated she has no investments. She mentioned having funds in IRA accounts “when I was in my 20s,” but that former administrators “didn’t tell me where they were.” Her attorney, Mark Gross, also emphasized that the actress faces extraordinary expenses due to having a child with special needs, a point the court considered when debating the payment schedule that she ultimately accepted.
Another point of contention in the litigation was Richards’ OnlyFans platform. Phypers’ attorney, Michael Finley, had suggested that his client should “receive half of the funds from the OnlyFans page,” arguing that “he took the photos, it’s his intellectual property.”
As of now, there has been no order specifically directing the division of those earnings.
Seeks OnlyFans Earnings
Phypers also claimed a portion of the earnings from Denise Richards’ OnlyFans account (MJ Photos/Shutterstock)
Richards and Phypers married in 2018, and he filed for divorce in July 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. Both filed cross-petitions for support. Simultaneously, Richards sought a restraining order and accused her ex of domestic abuse, charges Phypers denies. He was arrested in October 2025 and released on bail; his defense maintains his innocence and that the accusations are false.
The conflict also spilled into the public sphere through GoFundMe campaigns launched by Phypers’ family members. On the MisSpelling podcast, Richards strongly criticized the mention of her minor daughter in one of those fundraising efforts: “Say what you will about me… but when you cross a line and involve my minor daughter to attempt to get money from strangers, it’s outrageous. That’s wrong,” she said. She added, “To seize it to that level… it’s shocking.”
