It’s final. Spanish Hollywood star Antonio Banderas is officially divorced from his wife of many years, Melanie Griffith. Luckily, the pair have managed to stay friendly during the proceedings, and Griffith will be receiving a tasty $65,000 alimony every month, along with a fair share of their joint property.
It’s always good to split on good terms if you can, and it seems that now the Banderas/Griffith divorce is final, that friendship will stay intact.
Antonio Banderas was heard to say recently that he has always loved Melanie Griffith and always will, even though they can no longer be together after almost 20 years of marriage — a rare thing indeed among Hollywood stars.
Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas’ divorce has been finalized & it got pretty expensive. https://t.co/40P0cYqUW2 pic.twitter.com/aKOUlaeF9K
— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) December 9, 2015
Around 18 months ago, the couple went public with the news of their intention to split. At the time, a statement from the couple published by People said, “We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost twenty years marriage in a loving and friendly manner, honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together.”
As reported by the Belfast Telegraph , the breakup after so many years of marriage didn’t come easy to the Hollywood star, and he is still coming to terms with the split. The Telegraph quoted an interview Antonio Banderas had with Britain’s Hello! magazine, where he said, “The end of our marriage meant I had to start opening my eyes to new ways of seeing my world and moving forward with my life, my work — with everything.”
“We all pass through different turning points and obviously this was a major one. But I don’t dwell on sadness. I’m enjoying the feeling of starting from zero and seeing what’s next in store for me.”
The couple still shares time with their daughter, Stella, and Banderas is relocating to New York City to be closer to her.
“I want to do everything I can to remain a good father to her, even though she’s over 18 and basically an adult.
“I want to be there for her whenever she needs me and, of course, I miss the fact that we’re not all living in the same house anymore.”
He said he hopes he and Griffith will always be friends. Banderas says they speak to each other every few days, and he’s happy they are not like so many couples who become bitter and angry when their marriages end.
“I don’t see any reason for that. It’s much better to try and remember and honor all the beautiful and happy moments you’ve enjoyed.”
According to the L.A. Times , the official dissolution of the marriage of Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and his American wife, Melanie Griffith , was filed Friday at the Los Angeles Superior Court, and the split of their finances appears very fair and equitable. Properties are being split between them, or sold and the proceeds shared.
Griffiths, 58, gets to keep their Aspen, Colorado, house, while Banderas, 55, keeps hold of the co-op on Central Park West in Manhattan. Another property in Hancock Park was sold back in June for almost $16 million, and the proceeds evenly shared between the couple.
Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are officially divorced: https://t.co/GI8XFiWgSm pic.twitter.com/uRcGJZtbPf
— E! Online (@eonline) December 8, 2015
Besides Melanie getting alimony in the tidy sum of $65,000 a month, Antonio will pay their daughter Stella’s expenses and fees for college or grad school through September, 2021.
Melanie Griffiths will get to hang on to her jewelry and clothing, along with some of the furniture, while Antonio Banderas gets to keep his motorcycles and some of their music equipment and electronics. Both parties get to keep a Picasso painting and a Porsche — not too shabby — but Melanie reportedly actually ends up with six vehicles while Banderas ends up with only two. Almost a different vehicle to drive every day of the week.
The pair also split all money from any entertainment projects they participated in between January, 2004, and May 31, 2014. Anything earned before that is community property, but they should both be able to cope quite nicely.
However, should Melanie Griffith decide to remarry, Antonio Banderas will be off the hook for the monthly alimony, and will then save around $780,000 a year.
[Photo by Daniel Perez/Getty Images Entertainment]
