Luciaetta Ivey is the ex-wife of Phil Ivey, whom many regard as the greatest poker player ever. He is called the Tiger Woods of Poker.
Some speculate he may have begun his career learning with free poker online games before his great success was made public. However, despite his career success, he couldn’t avoid the pitfall of love.
Luciaetta and Phill had a complicated divorce case. They separated but later had a legal battle that exposed Phil’s private life and the financial responsibilities he incurred as a result. Phil Ivey is renowned for his mastery of casino games, making him a legendary figure in the world of poker. This event turned his life upside down.
Today’s casino news discusses how Luciaetta Ivey and Phil separated, brought to you by Vegas Aces Casino.
Luciaetta Ivey and Phil’s Divorce: Background Story
Phil and Luciaetta Ivey met in the late 1990s and tied the knot in Las Vegas on May 19, 2002. Then, on December 22, 2009, just days before Christmas, the couple filed a joint petition for divorce in a Nevada court. Many who know how to wish a poker player good luck were shocked. After making the financial arrangements, the court closed the divorce proceedings.
Luciaetta Ivey discovered that Judge Bill Gonzalez, who handled their divorce, received campaign donations from Phil Ivey and his legal team. She then sought to reopen the case. Court records showed Phil contributed $5,000 to Gonzalez’s campaign, about 7% of the funds raised that year. Luciaetta quickly demanded the judge’s disqualification, suspecting bias, but Chief Judge Jennifer Togliatti denied her request.
Luciaetta argued her divorce settlement was unfair, with her lawyer pointing out the suspicious timing of Phil’s donation while the case was still ongoing, though technically closed. The Supreme Court acknowledged her concerns, giving Phil 30 days to respond with income records from Tiltware, the company he joined during their marriage.
The Divorce of Luciaetta Ivey: Assets and Finances Split
Phil Ivey responded to the court, with his lawyers revealing he earned $920,000 a month from Tiltware, LLC, all due to knowing how to play poker.
Luciaetta Ivey received a car, a life insurance policy, 40% of a stock account, half the home sale proceeds, 40% of business interests (excluding Tiltware, LLC) including any online casino
wins, $1.2 million in designer handbags, and over $1 million in jewelry.
A document showed Luciaetta Ivey received $180,000 per month from Phil Ivey’s Tiltware income, while he kept $740,000. This deal depended on his continued payments from Tiltware. Whether Phil’s wins came from skill or help from casino guides remains unknown.
The company shut down after the “Black Friday case,” which halted major online poker sites offering Casino Hold em in the US. As a result, Luciaetta Ivey hasn’t received any payments since April 2011.
Phil Ivey, a master who defeated players with straight poker, claimed significant debt in the settlement. He agreed to take on over $170,000 in credit card debt and $15.1 million in casino games and gambling debts.
Legal Battle Ended in Failure
Despite her initial concerns about the fairness of their divorce settlement, Luciaetta Ivey’s legal battle ultimately failed. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the campaign contributions made by Phil Ivey did not violate her rights or Nevada law.
The Ivey divorce case serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of high-stakes relationships and the potential pitfalls of financial settlements involving high-profile individuals.
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