Nikki Garcia, formerly known as Nikki Bella, is officially on the hook for $3,500 a month in child support to her ex-husband Artem Chigvintsev, following the finalization of their messy divorce.
The now-public agreement not only includes the monthly support for their four-year-old son Matteo but also reveals that Nikki will pay two separate lump sums of $100,000 to Artem, one now and another before the end of the year.
The divorce between the 41-year-old former WWE superstar and the Dancing With the Stars pro became official in November, just a few months after their August split. Court documents obtained by TMZ show that the financial and custodial terms were settled, signed off by a judge, and are now fully enforceable.
But there’s more to this split than just the money. As part of the deal, Nikki Garcia will also be covering the cost of Matteo’s speech therapy sessions, while the exes have agreed to split any expenses related to their son’s extracurricular activities evenly. When it comes to who gets what, Nikki is keeping control of all the trusts in her name, including her entertainment company, Stephanie Nicole Garcia Entertainment, and her brand, Bonita Bonita.
Custody-wise, it looks like the former couple will be taking turns with Matteo during major holidays, swapping schedules each year. It’s a classic shared custody setup, aiming to keep things balanced for the sake of their child.
What makes this story even messier is the background drama leading up to the divorce. The couple’s marriage reportedly ended after a heated argument that escalated to the point where the police were called. Artem Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested following the incident on allegations of domestic violence, although he was never charged.
Speaking out recently on the Glamorous Grind podcast, Artem opened up about how the incident and the resulting mugshot impacted his life in a major way. “It completely ruined everything for me. From every angle, it ruined my life completely,” he said. Artem expressed frustration that even though the district attorney dropped the case with no charges filed, the damage was already done.
He added, “When people see that mugshot, for them, in their mind, you are immediately guilty. There is nothing you can say or try to justify yourself to change their minds.”
Artem didn’t mince words when describing the final days of their marriage either. He said he felt no hesitation about ending things. “I wanted it to be over. I needed to go back to live my life, and I needed to move on-emotionally, financially-and I just wanted my life to be normal again.”
It’s clear that both Nikki and Artem were ready to move on, even if their versions of events didn’t completely line up. During the fallout from their breakup, they both sought restraining orders against each other, but those have since been dropped.
While the exact details of the argument remain murky, especially with each side having their own version of what happened, it’s obvious this was not your average celebrity split. The arrest, the public back-and-forth, the financial support, and the custody details all add up to a pretty intense situation.
The $3,500 monthly payment is fairly standard in high-profile custody cases involving celebs, but the two $100K lump sums definitely raise eyebrows. That’s a total of $200,000 in addition to the monthly support, suggesting that Artem and his legal team pushed hard for financial security in the deal.
Despite all the drama, the couple seems to be trying to keep things civil for Matteo’s sake. The shared custody and split expenses show an effort to co-parent, even if they’re doing it from very separate corners.
Nikki hasn’t publicly commented on the finalized divorce terms, and Artem’s statements so far have been focused more on his personal struggles after the arrest than on the child support deal. Still, given how public this divorce has been, it’s likely we’ll hear more from both sides sooner rather than later.
For now, though, the paperwork is signed, the checks are (presumably) being cut, and both parties are attempting to rebuild their lives. Whether or not more details come to light about the events that led to the split, the legal chapter of their marriage is now closed.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
