The years-long rift between Chilean television personality Tonka Tomicic and businessman Leonardo Farkas has been a source of ongoing speculation in local media. Initially attributed to financial disputes stemming from a failed mining investment and related to Tomicic’s then-husband’s legal issues in the “Caso Relojes VIP,” the story took a surprising turn with new claims emerging in May 2025. Details suggest a previously unreported incident involving a perceived slight towards Farkas’ wife may have been the catalyst for the highly public falling out between the two prominent figures.
A falling out between Chilean television personality Tonka Tomicic and businessman Leonardo Farkas has been a hot topic in entertainment circles for some time. Once close friends, the pair abruptly ended their relationship, leaving many to wonder what caused the rift. Celebrity friendships often captivate the public, and this particular split sparked considerable speculation.
The duo’s bond was once incredibly strong. Farkas famously covered the costs of Tomicic’s lavish wedding to Parived, her then-husband, well before Parived became embroiled in the “Caso Relojes VIP” (VIP Watches Case).
The billionaire not only attended the wedding in Jerusalem, Israel, but also served as a witness to the couple’s vows and appeared in photos from the ceremony. This deep connection made news of a falling out all the more surprising.
Journalist Cecilia Gutiérrez was among the first to shed light on the conflict, suggesting it stemmed from a reported loan request. According to Gutiérrez, Parived allegedly asked Farkas for 500 million pesos to fund a mining venture.
Farkas reportedly agreed to loan 150 million pesos, with the remainder contingent on the success of the business. When the project ultimately failed, Farkas allegedly requested repayment from Tomicic, who responded that the matter should be handled directly with her husband. This response, Gutiérrez claims, angered Farkas and led him to sever ties with the couple.
In 2023, Farkas publicly denied any conflict with Tomicic and Parived, acknowledging a distance had grown but attributing it to private reasons unrelated to public rumors.
Was it over a dinner plate?
However, in May 2025, Claudia Schmidt offered a different account of the split during an appearance on the podcast Juzgamos y nos Funamos, hosted by Danilo 21. Schmidt claimed the falling out wasn’t about money at all.
“It wasn’t about money. The distance came about due to a lack of respect from Tonka Tomicic and Parived towards Leonardo Farkas’ wife,” the commentator stated. “I’ll tell you the details in another program.”
Schmidt went on to explain that the issue arose when Betina Friedman Parker, Farkas’ wife, arrived late to a gathering because she was shopping for gifts. When Farkas requested a dish be shared with his wife, Tomicic and Parived allegedly refused.
“Let no one deny this, because I know it from the mouths of everyone on Leonardo Farkas’ side, to whom I send greetings,” Schmidt revealed. She continued, “If I invite you, because I am a woman with a lot of money and I have many things and I have plenty to give to the people I love, and you are buying gifts for your loved ones and guests, while you are buying a Louis Vuitton scarf…”
Schmidt provided further details. “Tonka and Parived sit down shamelessly at a table and order a bottle of Dom Perignon and a plate of pasta, and when I arrive, as the person organizing everything for my guests… they are asked, ‘Please, can you give this plate to the lady?’ and they say, ‘No!’ Because they ordered it first.”
Schmidt also noted that Parker had been feeling unwell while shopping and needed to eat something quickly to feel better.
“The problem wasn’t about a plate of pasta in itself… it was about the attitude of realizing that there is a person who is inviting you with everything paid for, with absolutely everything, and at the moment the person arrives to sit at the table and someone says, ‘Can you pass this to her?’ and they say ‘No’ – what do you do? You wouldn’t want to.”
To conclude, the former reality TV contestant emphasized that “the problem was ultimately: ‘Who am I with? What people do I have around me?’ It was a small gesture… In life, it’s not all about money.”
Schmidt’s insight is particularly noteworthy as she is married to Jhon Bogdan, a close friend of the Chilean billionaire.
