Billionaire’s ex-wife wants $320,000 a month in support

Monday, Jan. 14, 2002 | 10:51 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- The ex-wife of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is asking a court for the biggest child support award ever in California -- $320,000 a month -- to care for their 3-year-old daughter.

In court documents, Lisa Bonder Kerkorian lists monthly expenses for daughter Kira including: $144,000 for travel; $14,000 for parties; $7,000 for charity; $4,300 for food, plus $5,900 to eat out; $2,500 for movies, theaters and outings; $1,400 for laundry and cleaning; $1,000 for toys, videos and books; and $436 for care of Kira's bunny and other pets.

Lisa Kerkorian, a 36-year-old former tennis pro, said her 84-year-old ex-husband promised to take care of Kira's every need, according to a 33-page court declaration obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

Kerkorian, ranked by Forbes magazine as the world's 46th richest person with an estimated $6.4 billion fortune, is the majority shareholder of hotel-casino giant MGM MIRAGE of Las Vegas. He also controls the MGM movie studio and is one of the largest individual shareholders of DaimlerChrysler.

Kerkorian has remained silent on the case. He had previously agreed to pay $50,000 per month as part of a divorce settlement.