Kirk Kerkorian & Lisa Bonder: The 28-Day Marriage, Paternity Fraud, and Wiretapping Scandal
A 28-day marriage, a faked DNA test using saliva from his adult daughter, and a wiretapping conviction made this the most bizarre billionaire divorce in history.
Key Facts
What Happened
Kirk Kerkorian was a legendary Las Vegas mogul who built and owned the MGM Grand, the largest hotel in the world. At various points he controlled MGM Studios, Chrysler stock, and vast real estate holdings. His net worth exceeded $4 billion. In 1999, at age 82, he married Lisa Bonder, a former professional tennis player 48 years his junior. The marriage lasted exactly 28 days before they separated.
The real drama began when Bonder claimed that Kerkorian was the father of her daughter, Kira, born during the brief marriage. She sought child support commensurate with Kerkorian's billionaire lifestyle. Kerkorian's legal team demanded a paternity test. Bonder's attorneys initially presented results showing Kerkorian was the father. But in a twist worthy of a thriller novel, it was later revealed that Bonder had faked the DNA test by obtaining saliva from Kerkorian's adult daughter from a previous relationship.
The biological father was ultimately identified as movie producer Steve Bing. However, because Kerkorian and Bonder were married at the time of Kira's conception, Kerkorian was the child's legal father under California's presumption of paternity. Despite not being the biological father, Kerkorian agreed to pay $100,000 per month in child support until Kira turned 19, later reduced to $50,000 per month. The total child support obligation exceeded $10 million.
The case took another dark turn when it emerged that Kerkorian's entertainment attorney, Terry Christensen, had hired a private investigator to wiretap Bonder's phones during the paternity dispute. Both Christensen and the PI were convicted of conspiracy to conduct illegal wiretapping. Kerkorian himself was not charged but the scandal tarnished his reputation. The case remains one of the most extraordinary intersections of paternity fraud, celebrity, wiretapping, and family law in American legal history.
Legal Breakdown: Paternity Fraud and Legal Fatherhood
Presumption of Paternity
Under California law, a man is presumed to be the legal father of a child born during a marriage, regardless of biological paternity. This presumption can be rebutted, but in the Kerkorian case, the timing and circumstances made it difficult to overcome. Even after the paternity fraud was exposed and Steve Bing was identified as the biological father, Kerkorian remained the legal father because of the marital presumption.
Child Support Based on Lifestyle
California family courts set child support based on the parents' income and the lifestyle the child would have enjoyed if the family remained intact. With Kerkorian's $4 billion fortune, the court determined that $100,000 per month was appropriate to maintain the child's standard of living. This amount covered private schools, security, housing, and other expenses deemed consistent with a billionaire's household.
Criminal Liability in Divorce Investigations
Kerkorian's attorney's conviction for wiretapping demonstrates that the zeal to win a divorce case can cross criminal lines. Private investigations during divorce must stay within legal bounds. Wiretapping, hacking emails, tracking devices, and other surveillance methods that violate privacy laws can result in criminal prosecution, not just evidence suppression.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →The legal presumption of paternity during marriage can obligate a husband to pay child support even if he is not the biological father.
- →Billionaire child support obligations can reach six figures monthly, based on the lifestyle the child would have enjoyed in the intact family.
- →Never allow a divorce investigation to cross legal boundaries; attorneys and investigators face criminal liability for wiretapping and illegal surveillance.
- →Even brief marriages can create lasting financial obligations, particularly when children are involved.
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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.