A Los Angeles jury Wednesday ruled in favor of Irvine Company’s Donald Bren in a dispute over child support for two adult children he fathered out of wedlock.
Christie Bren, 22, and David Bren, 18, sued their father for retroactive child support totaling close to $100 million each—or $400,000 a month from the time they were born.
The jury ruled 9-3 that Donald Bren had satisfied his parental obligations with $9 million he has spent to support his children.
Bren also plans to pay for college and graduate school for his children until age 25.
David Bren is set to attend private Boston University, while Christie Bren plans to go to film school.
The Irvine Co. owner and chairman laid out child support terms with former girlfriend Jennifer Gold in four separate agreements in which he paid about $10,000 a month for each child, but did not play a role in their lives.
Bren had an on-and-off relationship with Gold from 1984 to 1997.
The children plan to appeal the case.
The 77-year-old prevailed in the suit, but at a cost. The trial aired personal details of an intensely private man, painting a sometimes unflattering portrait of a detached father who insisted he never loved Gold.
Bren is the county’s wealthiest man, according to the Business Journal’s August OC’s Wealthiest list. We estimate his wealth at $12 billion.
He ranks as the 45th richest man in the world, according to Forbes magazine.
