Celebrity News July 10, 2019
Matt Lauer’s Wife Annette Roque Files for Divorce
Matt Lauer's wife Annette Roque has officially pulled the plug on their 21-year marriage.
On Tuesday, Roque filed divorce papers in Suffolk County, New York, TMZ reports, citing court documents.
Roque's lawyer John Teitler confirmed to the site that they hashed out how to divide their assets before filing the paperwork with the court.
Lauer and Roque are now waiting for a judge to sign off, so the divorce can be finalized.
A source told Page Six that Roque would get up to $20 million in assets, their Hamptons horse farm in Water Mill, and joint custody of their kids Jack, 18, Romy, 15, and Thijs, 12.
Last year, another insider told Page Six, “Matt's bending over backwards to give Annette everything she wants because he feels so guilty.”
The insider added, “Things really have settled down. Matt and Annette are getting on and they're both spending time with their kids. They hope to settle the divorce very soon.”
The divorce filing comes nearly two years after he was fired from “Today” for alleged inappropriate sexual behavior. At the time, he apologized for his actions, saying, “There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. As I am writing this, I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC.”
Matt Lauer Speaks Out After Sexual Misconduct Allegations
View StoryWhen the news broke, Roque and Lauer sparked split rumors when they were both spotted without their wedding rings.
Annette's father Henri claimed that they would be heading for a divorce. He told DailyMailTV, “I have no words for her husband. What he has done is bad. Everybody feels betrayed. She is not going to stay with him and work it out. They are not together trying to work it out.”
Roque was also seen meeting with divorce lawyers in NYC amid the sexual harassment scandal.
A former colleague of Lauer's also claimed that they “lived totally separate lives.”
Over 10 years ago, Annette filed for divorce, but reconciled weeks later. A source claimed, “Matt agreed to pay Annette a lump sum of millions back in 2006 as an incentive to stay with him to help him maintain his squeaky clean image as 'America's Dad.' She also got an allowance every year, plus it was agreed that she would get a share of the value of all their homes if they did split.”
In 2010, Matt denied that they were calling it quits, telling People magazine, “I am living in my apartment with Annette and my children as a family and a couple. I have never moved out. I am not moving out. There is no truth to that.”
He also addressed cheating rumors, saying, “The accusations [of infidelity] are ridiculous and I'm not going to [dignify] them with an answer. It's not true.”
According to Time, Lauer has earned over $100 million, with his most recent “Today” salary reportedly over $25 million a year.