Denise Richards ordered to temporarily bankroll her ex

$5K a month, $30K in legal fees – and now the OnlyFans money fight begins

If divorce is expensive, celebrity divorce is a whole different tax bracket. Hollywood divorces are rarely tidy. This one is actively combustible.

On 26 February 2026, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Denise Richards to pay her estranged husband Aaron Phypers $5,000 per month in temporary spousal support as their messy split continues to unravel in public.

And that’s just the opening act.

The $30,000 add-on nobody saw coming

The judge also ordered Richards not only to pay Phypers $5K a monthly support, but also another $30,000. This extra amount covers $25,000 in attorney fees and $5,000 for a forensic accountant. That’s significant, because forensic accountants are typically brought in when one party wants to deeply examine income streams. And that would be Phypers. It seems very much that he is trying to get as much as he can from Richards.

The payment structure? Three neat instalments of $10,000 per month, beginning in March and ending in May this year.

The judge made it clear this sum is strictly tied to the divorce proceedings.

So while Denise is busy running businesses, filming projects and allegedly pulling in serious money from her OnlyFans, she’ll also be cutting cheques to her ex. She’s still connected to the man she’s trying to disentangle herself from.

And that’s only part of the story.

What went wrong?

When Richards married Phypers in 2018, the relationship was presented as passionate, protective and deeply bonded. He appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, often positioned as Denise’s fiercely loyal defender.

But viewers also saw something else.

There were on-camera moments where Phypers appeared visibly agitated, defensive and quick-tempered. There were scenes where he muttered threatening remarks under his breath during cast confrontations. In one widely discussed episode, he was heard making an ominous comment implying he could “crush” someone’s hand. It was a moment that sparked intense viewer backlash and raised eyebrows about his temper.

At the time, it was brushed off as protective energy.

In hindsight, those clips are being replayed in a very different light.

Allegations of anger and control

Since the split, Richards has made serious allegations in court filings, describing behaviour she characterised as volatile and intimidating. She has accused Phypers of explosive anger and controlling conduct during their marriage. And accused him of physical abuse.

Phypers has denied wrongdoing.

But the contrast between the polished red-carpet appearances and the alleged behind-closed-doors tension has only amplified public scrutiny. What once looked like intense devotion now reads, to some observers, as possessiveness.

Richards was granted a restraining order in late 2025. A move that signalled the breakdown was not merely about irreconcilable differences but about safety and boundaries.

And yet, despite those allegations, she now legally must continue to financially support Phypers. At least temporarily.

And then there’s the OnlyFans issue…

Here’s where things get spicy. This is the real battleground of this divorce.

Richards reportedly earns around $200,000 per month from OnlyFans. This figure that has now become a central battleground in the split. Phypers is said to be seeking half of that income, claiming involvement in content creation during their marriage. He alleges that because the account was active during their marriage and he contributed somewhat, he’s entitled to half.

Richards, however, is actively trying to stop that. And she is pushing back. Hard.

She has asked the court to prevent him from receiving 50% of her OnlyFans earnings. She’s arguing that the OnlyFans account and the income it generates shouldn’t be treated as a divisible marital asset in the way Phyper is proposing.

Translation: she’s fighting hard to keep control of what may be her most lucrative revenue stream.

She is actively asking the court to prevent him from receiving 50% of her OnlyFans income. She is arguing it is part of her personal brand and should not automatically be split as a marital asset.

This isn’t just about pride, it’s about serious money. If those earnings were divided 50/50, the monthly figure would dwarf the current $5,000 support order.

The temporary spousal support will continue “until further order of the court”. The OnlyFans decision could change the financial landscape entirely.

The optics aren’t great: love story or lifestyle upgrade?

Phypers filed for divorce in July 2025, listing their separation date as July 4. Since then, the case has snowballed into restraining orders, competing allegations and now financial warfare.

Public reaction has been… pointed.

No court has ruled on motives. Critics online are openly questioning whether Phypers’ financial claims reinforce a narrative that he was more interested in Richards’ wealth and status than in building a long-term partnership. The optics – a high-earning actress ordered to support a husband with comparatively limited visible income. Well, they have certainly fuelled that commentary.

Again, that’s public perception – not a legal finding.

Still, the public narrative is shifting. When a high-earning actress is ordered to bankroll a husband who had far less visible income, questions inevitably surface.

Was this a real romance? Was Phypers ever really in love with Richards? Or was this marriage a long-term financial strategy?

But perception matters in celebrity divorce.

What happens next?

The $5,000 monthly support will continue “until further order of the court.” That means it’s temporary, but temporary can last quite a while in Hollywood litigation.

For now:

• Denise pays Phypers $5,000 per month.
• Denise also pays Phpers $30,000 in legal costs over three months.
• Denise fights to keep control of her OnlyFans revenue.

The restraining order remains in place. The divorce is ongoing. And the largest financial question – whether digital subscription income is divisible in this way, remains unresolved.

Meanwhile, the battle over the OnlyFans income could set a fascinating precedent about how modern digital earnings are treated in divorce proceedings.

Is subscriber content a joint marital enterprise? Or personal brand income that belongs solely to the creator?

That question may ultimately be worth far more than $5,000 a month.

One thing’s certain: this divorce is far from over. It’s a battle over power, image, control and a revenue stream worth millions a year.

And the real money fight might just be getting started.