Valerie Bertinelli, the beloved actress and TV personality, has faced her share of public struggles, and her highly publicized divorce from Tom Vitale is no exception.
After over a decade of marriage, the couple’s split left fans shocked, and the ensuing divorce proceedings revealed surprising details about their financial arrangements and the reasons behind their breakup.
Valerie Bertinelli, who rose to fame in the 1970s with One Day at a Time, married Tom Vitale, a financial planner, in 2011. The couple had been together for several years before tying the knot in a private ceremony at their Malibu home.
Their relationship seemed solid, with Valerie often speaking warmly of Tom in interviews. She praised him for being supportive and described how he helped her through difficult times, including her journey with weight loss and personal transformation.
However, behind the scenes, their relationship had begun to falter. By November 2021, Bertinelli filed for legal separation, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
The divorce was finalized in 2022, and while it appeared amicable on the surface, the settlement included significant financial revelations.
One of the most surprising aspects of Valerie Bertinelli’s divorce from Tom Vitale was the financial settlement.
Despite their decade-long marriage, there was a lot at stake in terms of assets.
According to court documents, Vitale sought spousal support, which sparked considerable attention among fans. Given Valerie’s successful career as a TV host, actress, and food network star, Vitale’s request for support was unexpected to many.
The settlement involved Bertinelli agreeing to pay Vitale a substantial amount in the form of spousal support, reported to be around $2.2 million in a lump sum
. Although this figure might have seemed steep, it allowed both parties to move forward without further financial entanglements. Additionally, the couple had prenuptial agreements in place, which simplified the division of assets during the divorce.
While financial aspects were certainly a big part of the divorce, many were curious about why the couple decided to part ways. Although Bertinelli didn’t initially provide many details, she later opened up about the emotional and personal reasons for their split.
In interviews and social media posts, she hinted at emotional pain and personal growth being factors that led to the decision. In one emotional Instagram post, Valerie expressed relief at the divorce being finalized, stating, “I am officially f—ing divorced. Happily divorced.”
Bertinelli has been candid about her journey through grief and self-reflection, especially after the passing of her ex-husband Eddie Van Halen in 2020.
It was during this period of loss and introspection that she likely realized changes needed to be made in her life, which may have contributed to her decision to end the marriage with Vitale