Brandi Glanville Details Court Battle Over Retirement Funds
Reality television personality Brandi Glanville has revealed the significant financial and legal hurdles she faced in reclaiming her own retirement savings from her ex-husband, actor Eddie Cibrian. Glanville, 53, stated on a recent episode of her podcast, Brandi Glanville Unfiltered, that she was compelled to take legal action to secure her 401K after Cibrian, 52, allegedly attempted to withhold the funds following their 2010 divorce.
According to Glanville, the process of retrieving her retirement assets was protracted and costly, ultimately costing her over $10,000. She explained that Cibrian was initially unwilling to relinquish the funds, reportedly telling her to “get a lawyer.” This prompted Glanville to engage legal counsel to navigate the complexities of dividing retirement assets.
Legal Process for Retirement Division
The Salinas, California native detailed the necessity of obtaining a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), a legal document that specifies how retirement funds like 401Ks and pensions are divided in divorce proceedings. Glanville shared her experience with co-host James Maas on the podcast, emphasizing the unexpected burden this placed upon her.
Glanville also alluded to ongoing legal matters, expressing her frustration at potentially needing to hire another attorney for a current dispute. “I’m going to have to get a lawyer to fight, which is so ridiculous – I don’t want that for anyone,” she remarked.
Advice for Fellow Housewives
Drawing from her personal experience, Glanville advised her fellow cast members on various Bravo reality shows to proactively manage their finances, particularly their retirement accounts. “That goes back to Housewives, they’re all getting divorced and half of them don’t even have a 401K,” Glanville stated, referring to her two sons with Cibrian, Mason, 23, and Jake, 19.
She urged them to “Get your s*** together ladies – know where the money is.”
Background of the Divorce
Glanville and Cibrian’s marriage ended after eight years, reportedly following an affair between Cibrian and singer-actress LeAnn Rimes on the set of the 2009 film Northern Lights. Cibrian and Rimes married in April 2011.
In a 2021 opinion piece, Glanville recounted discovering the affair through media reports, describing the moment as devastating. She recalled seeing video footage of Cibrian and Rimes kissing and stated that Cibrian attempted to deny the infidelity, despite the visual evidence. Glanville admitted to having had prior suspicions, noting instances where she observed chemistry between Cibrian and co-stars, but was often dismissed as being “crazy” or “jealous” when she raised concerns.
She reflected on their past commitment, stating, “Eddie and I were together for 13 years and married for eight. We always promised each other that we would never get a divorce and that we’d love each other when we were old.”
