Holly Valance vows to take billionaire husband Nick Candy ‘for every penny’
Property tycoon Nick Candy could be in for a nasty divorce with former Neighbours star Holly Valance said to be “incredibly upset”.
Aussie star Holly Valance is said to have vowed to take her property tycoon husband Nick Candy “for every penny” following their split.
Friends last week told The Sun that the former Neighbours actress and singer had split from her billionaire husband in recent weeks.
A spokesman for the couple confirmed to the publication that the pair were divorcing, adding: “This is a private matter. We won’t be making any further comment.”
Holly, 42, and Nick, 52, were last photographed together in March, heading out for lunch in London.
Valance was spotted for the first time since news of the split was made public this week in London getting off a flight at Heathrow Airport.
The pair is could be headed for an ugly divorce after 14 years of marriage and two daughters.
“Holly is incredibly upset. Her main concern is, and always will be, for their two daughters,” a source, cited by The Sun, said.
“But when it comes to the divorce, she’s made it clear she wants what she’s owed and will take Nick for every penny. She insists that she is the injured party in this.”
Valance and Candy are believed to have signed a pre-nuptial agreement before they wed in 2012 in a lavish $6.3 million ceremony in Beverly Hills, California
“It’s been a very painful time for Holly and she has told friends that the split was not on her terms,” according to the source.
“Given the circumstances, it feels as if there could be some room to manoeuvre.
“Whatever the sum ends up being, it will be in the tens of millions of pounds.”
Meanwhile a friend for Candy told The Sun: “Nick is a very decent guy and he will always do right by Holly and their children.”
Family law experts say even if there is a prenup, Valance’s split could still deliver her a mega payday as she eyeballs a portion of Candy’s $A2.93 billion fortune.
They say there is a “good chance” a financial agreement would have been signed, entitling the 42-year-old mother of two to a percentage of assets and/or spousal payments.
“Certainly when we do prenups in Australia we tend to take into account all future circumstances,” prominent Sydney family lawyer and founding partner of Edwards Maloney, Fran Edwards, said.
“They would generally try to take into account the growth in assets … in our jurisdiction the document would also generally take into account any future needs including spouse maintenance.
“It can say pretty much anything that the party’s agree on … but I would’ve thought he would have been advised to err on the side of a bit of generosity towards her … to keep any potential separation and property settlement private and avoid any suggestion the deal is not equitable.”
Family lawyer and Lander and Rogers partner Elanor Lau said there’s no guarantee a prenup would not be challenged.
“Where one party comes into the relationship with significantly more wealth, typically parties want a prenup,” Ms Lau said.
“Once a financial agreement is signed it doesn’t guarantee it will never be set aside by a court … it’s always a possibility.”
Candy’s impressive property portfolio includes a two-storey penthouse in his family’s $2.5bn One Hyde Park development, which has been for sale for four years for $366m.
The rest of the portfolio includes a $100m Los Angeles mansion, a comparatively humble $18m Oxfordshire estate and a six floor Mayfair office Candy bought for $27m in 2015.
– additional reporting Thomas Henry
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Originally published as Holly Valance vows to take billionaire husband Nick Candy ‘for every penny’