Court documents in Charlotte, North Carolina were recently unsealed in the divorce of NASCAR chief executive Brian France and his former wife, Megan. The couples’ second divorce was finalized in 2008, but the documents had been sealed before several news organizations brought suit to have them released.
They argued that the filings were a matter of public record and available to the public, and an appeals court agreed. Some 3,000 documents revealed what was a contentious and bitter proceeding that included dozens of motions regarding parenting time, alimony payments and property division disputes.
The documents also revealed prominent details of their separation agreement, which called for Megan France to receive $32,000 per month in spousal maintenance for 10 years, $10,000 per month in child support, along with a lump sum of $9 million.
The documents also showed that Brian France had more than $500 million in real estate and stock, and stood to inherit “substantial wealth from his parents.” It should be noted that France’s grandfather founded what is known as the modern-day NASCAR, and France could be worth more than $1 billion once he receives the purported inheritence.
Other documents reveal that the Frances had a continued, tumultuous relationship with Megan claiming that Brian “punished” her by withholding money if he did not get his way. Meanwhile, Brian complained that Megan spent “staggering” amounts of money on her family members, and would keep the children away to “punish” him.
The story exemplifies the notion that salacious details about a troubled may come out during a divorce.
Source: ABC News.com, Court docs unsealed in NASCAR chief’s divorce, May 8, 2013