Boris Becker & Barbara Becker: The Divorce That Started a Spiral to Prison
A broom closet encounter, a blown-up prenup, and a financial collapse that ended with a prison sentence.
Key Facts
What Happened
Boris Becker was the youngest-ever Wimbledon champion, winning the title at just 17 in 1985. He married German model Barbara Feltus in 1993, and the couple had two sons, Noah and Elias. Their prenuptial agreement entitled Barbara to a single $2.5 million payout in the event of divorce. But a chance encounter in a London restaurant broom closet in 1999 would unravel everything.
While still married to Barbara, Becker had a sexual encounter with Russian waitress Angela Ermakova at the Nobu restaurant in London. Ermakova became pregnant, and when DNA confirmed Becker was the father of her daughter Anna, the scandal exploded across European tabloids. Barbara filed for divorce in December 2000, moving to Miami with their sons and filing the petition in Miami-Dade County Court rather than Germany, a strategic move that would prove enormously consequential.
By filing in Florida, Barbara's attorneys sidestepped the relatively modest German prenuptial agreement. The final settlement, approved by Judge Elizabeth Metzger in Munich on January 15, 2001, awarded Barbara $14.4 million, their $3 million Fisher Island condominium, and custody of both sons. This was nearly six times the prenup's original $2.5 million provision. The child maintenance payments to both Barbara and Ermakova totaled nearly 20 million pounds over the following years.
The financial drain from his divorce, child support obligations to two families, bad investments, and lavish lifestyle consumed Becker's estimated $50 million in career earnings. He was declared bankrupt in June 2017 over an unpaid loan of more than 3 million pounds. In 2022, Becker was convicted of four charges under the Insolvency Act for hiding assets during his bankruptcy and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He served eight months before being released and deported to Germany. The trajectory from Wimbledon champion to prison inmate is directly traceable to the financial cascade that began with his divorce.
Legal Breakdown: Prenuptial Agreement Renegotiation
Jurisdiction Shopping in International Divorce
Barbara's decision to file in Miami rather than Germany was a masterstroke. Florida's equitable distribution laws and the American court's broader authority to modify prenuptial agreements allowed her to negotiate a settlement nearly six times larger than the German prenup specified. This case is a classic example of how jurisdiction choice can dramatically affect divorce outcomes.
Prenuptial Agreements Are Not Bulletproof
Becker's prenup was drafted when he was at the height of his career and specified a fixed $2.5 million payout. But prenuptial agreements can be challenged and renegotiated, especially when circumstances change dramatically. Barbara's attorneys argued that the prenup was unconscionably low given the length of the marriage and Becker's subsequent wealth accumulation.
The Cascade Effect of Divorce on Finances
Becker's bankruptcy and prison sentence can be traced back to the financial obligations created by his divorce and multiple child support payments. The case illustrates how divorce-related financial obligations, when combined with poor financial management, can create a cascade that leads to total financial ruin.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →The jurisdiction where a divorce is filed can dramatically affect the outcome, especially in international marriages.
- →Prenuptial agreements with fixed dollar amounts become increasingly unfair over time and can be challenged in court.
- →Infidelity that produces children creates permanent financial obligations that compound the cost of divorce.
- →Post-divorce financial planning is critical to avoid a cascade of debt that can lead to bankruptcy or worse.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.