Marie Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than US$53,000 a week - more than most US households make in a year - to cover her expenses. --PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
HARTFORD (Connecticut) - A 36-YEAR-OLD Swedish countess divorcing a former CEO amid accusations of extramarital affairs is arguing she has too many expenses and cannot live on a mere US$43 million (S$65 million).
Marie Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than US$53,000 a week - more than most US households make in a year - to cover her expenses.
LAVISH LIFESTYLE
Mrs Douglas-David has filed court papers showing she has more than US$53,800 in weekly expenses, which include maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden.
Her weekly expenses also include US$700 for limousine service, US$4,500 for clothes, US$1,000 for hair and skin treatments, US$1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and US$8,000 for travel.
Mr David stepped down last year as chief executive at Hartford-based United Technologies Corp but is still chairman of the board and has an estimated net worth of US$329 million. He and his wife accuse each other of extramarital affairs, and their divorce trial started on Wednesday.
Mr David and Mrs Douglas-David married in 2002, but the couple was in trouble by 2004, court papers show. Amid a series of reconciliations, the duo signed a postnuptial agreement in October 2005 that would give her US$43 million when they divorced.
Mrs Douglas-David wants the agreement invalidated. She accused her husband of coercing her to sign it by preying upon her fears of being divorced and childless.
Mr David is asking a judge to uphold the agreement. His attorneys asked for a separate hearing on Wednesday on the document's validity, but the judge declined.
In court papers, Mrs Douglas-David said she quit her job as an investment banker for Lazard Asset Management to travel and entertain with Mr David, who still earns US$1 million a year from United Technologies. While chief executive in 2007, Mr David made nearly US$27 million in salary and bonuses.
Mrs Douglas-David's legal team includes prominent New York divorce attorney William Beslow, who represented Mia Farrow in her child-custody suit against actor-director Woody Allen and Marla Maples in her divorce from Donald Trump.
United Technologies is the parent company of Carrier, which makes air conditioning units, and Otis Elevators.
Mr David is expected to return to the stand on Thursday for several days of testimony. -- AP
