New York Billionaire Brings Unique Evidence to Divorce Court

A current divorce battle in New York has brought up new questions about what types of evidence should be permitted for use in divorce court and how to determine a spouse’s contribution to assets.

Henry Silverman, a New York billionaire businessman, has been going through a bitter divorce with his wife Nancy since 2008. After thirty years of marriage and raising one daughter, Casey, Silverman met a yoga instructor in Starbucks. Now he is engaged to the instructor.

Silverman has a fortune of about $450 million, earning about $50 million per year, and is one of Forbes’ highest-paid men. He has been working hard to protect that money from his soon-to-be-ex.

According to the Daily Mail, Silverman tried to use evidence proving that he is ‘innate genius’ in court. If used, the evidence could reveal that his wife had no role in the accumulation of his massive fortune and would prevent her from getting a hefty settlement. Silverman submitted affidavits from three psychologists to support his claim. The judge noted that no related legal precedent had been submitted and that Silverman’s argument was “unique.”

His wife, however, asked the court for an equitable distribution of their assets. While State Supreme Court judge Laura Drager did not argue that Silverman’s business success was assisted by his ‘innate abilities and acumen,’ she also acknowledged Nancy’s contributions. The judge determined that his wife did in fact play an important role by raising their only daughter and assisting him with ‘social introductions’ and supporting a ‘social life’ that helped his business prosper.