Monday 23 May 2022 06:07 PM Billionaire John Paulson, divorce gets uglier as his wife Jenny trends now

John Paulson's soon-to-be ex-wife has reportedly turned down a multi-billion-dollar settlement from the hedge fund magnate and decided to take the divorce battle to court. 

The 66-year-old, who is estimated to be worth $4.8 billion, is said to have no prenuptial agreement with his 50-year-old Romanian secretary-turned-wife, Jenny. 

Reports that Paulson is dating 34-year-old dietician Alina de Almeida have further infuriated Jenny, who only found out Paulson filed for divorce and 'ran off' with de Almeida after reading a Page Six article, a source told the outlet.  

Meanwhile, Paulson's lawyer has accused Jenny of 'greed' for turning down a settlement thought to be worth billions.

'People would have been astounded by the generosity of Mr. Paulson's offer, which would have given Ms. Paulson far more than what is required by law. Her greed has created an insurmountable obstacle to settlement,' attorney Bill Zabel told the New York Post. 

Paulson also told the outlet that he had been trying to meet with Jenny and her lawyers for eight months, but she had, 'rejected all offers of arbitration or mediation.'

The financier - ranked the No. 177 richest man in America in 2020 by Forbes - has retained Zabel, who has represented a string of rich and famous clients, including George Soros and Howard Stern. 

Jenny's attorney told the Post that she had engaged in negotiations with Paulson but had ultimately decided to take the case to trial. 

'Husbands who have made a fortune in the marriage do not give their wives allowances... He is trying to put pressure on her to accomplish a settlement, and it is just wrong,' her lawyer, Robert Cohen, told the Post. 

The feuding couple, who have been married for two decades and share daughters Danielle and Giselle, are reportedly fighting over an impressive real estate portfolio upwards of $200million ahead of the divorce that could soon see the magnate's fortune dwindle. 

Paulson is also the largest shareholder in Starwood Hotels.  He owns a 7 percent stake of the $12.2billion company and is known to collect Alexander Calder pieces, which sell on average for $175,000.

He also has major stakes in luxury resorts in Puerto Rico, including Condado Vanderbilt Hotel and St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, according to Forbes. 

Paulson and Jenny first met in the late 1990s when she delivered lunch to his offices. He then hired the Romanian national as his assistant, reported Bloomberg.

As he approached his mid-40s, John began casting about for a wife and set his sights on Jenny, who did not smoke or drink, and had a 'cheerful' personality, according to a 2009 book about the hedge fund trader called The Greatest Trade Ever, by Gregory Zuckerman. 

Paulson was quoted in the book as saying that Jenny was 'a breath of fresh air' and he spent a year courting his assistant. However, she refused to go out with him unless he fired her and found her another job.

Jenny ultimately agreed to a lunch date with John, and after sharing 200 meals together, the investor proposed to her, according to the book.