After the downfall of former real estate mogul René Benko, the next blow has struck: his wife Nathalie has filed for divorce. Since January, the founder of the Signa Empire has been in pre-trial detention, following the collapse of his billion-dollar company. Now, his family is also crumbling.
According to Austrian media, Nathalie Benko has finally drawn a line under the marriage. She had been absent from the public eye for months and had distanced herself from her husband’s business dealings. It is reported that she has also left their joint residence, a luxurious villa in Innsbruck-Igls, which is now up for sale.
With the divorce, financial questions are also coming to the forefront. Creditors, who collectively claim billions of dollars, want to examine the division of assets between the couple. A prenuptial agreement from 2010 is said to secure alimony payments for Nathalie, but does not grant her any claim to company shares or foundation funds.
While René Benko prepares his defense in pre-trial detention, Nathalie is reportedly planning her new start. Insiders claim that she plans to revert to her maiden name, Sterchele, after the divorce. Moreover, legal issues seem far from over for her, as the recent establishment of a trust account for her triggered money laundering suspicion reports.
Benko, once a celebrated investor and owner of luxury properties, is not only facing economic ruin but also the shattering of his private life. As insolvency proceedings against him continue and creditors demand billions, his wife has finally turned her back on him.