Linda Evangelista Child Support Case: Fighting Baby Daddy In Court

Francois-Henri Pinault has been portrayed as a deadbeat dad by his supermodel ex-girlfriend but Hollywoodlife.com has learned exclusively that he loves his son; and has tried repeatedly to pay child support.

As stunning supermodel Linda Evangelista, 46, and fashion business billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault face off in for a third day in court today, May 7, Hollywoodlife.com has learned from a Pinault insider, that the French father is hardly the deadbeat dad that Evangelista’s lawyer, William Beslow, has painted in court.

While he doesn’t want to pay $46,000 a month in child support for son, 5-year-old Augustin, known as Augie, because he sees much of it as “mom support” for Linda, he has repeatedly tried to reach a child support agreement, to no avail.

Linda Evangelista Child Support Settlement — Billionaire Dad Cheaps Out

“Augie will never want for anything. He will go to the best schools and have the best health care and Francois is already paying for all this now. His only concern is for Augie,” a Pinault insider tells HollywoodLife.com.

“No matter what happens in this trial, Francois will always have an incredibly close relationship with his son. He’s loved him ever since he was expecting him,” says the insider who insists that contrary to Evangelista’s bombshell claim in court – he never asked her to terminate her pregnancy.

While it’s been reported that Pinault has not been interested in paying child support, the insider says that the French businessman, who is married to superstar actress, Salma Hayek, 45, contacted Linda’s attorney after Augie was born and tried to work out a child support agreement. Hollywoodlife.com has learned that her attorney made a proposal, which Pinault thought was too high. He countered that proposal and then received no definitive response for three years. When Linda hired a new attorney, William Beslow in 2010, Pinault’s attorney again reached out trying to formalize child support. Beslow responded with an agreement which included both child support for Augie, as well as requests for Linda. When Pinault didn’t accept that “settlement,” Evangelista filed suit.

“The trial is a last resort. Francois doesn’t want to put his son through it or go through it himself , but Linda Evangelista’s demands weren’t reasonable. They didn’t pass the smell test,” says the insider.

The largest child support settlement ever awarded in New York state, where Evangelista lives, thus far has been for $19 thousand a month, to Sean (P Diddy) Combs‘ ex, Misa Hylton-Byrn for support of their son, Justin, now 18.

While Pinault is the heir to a family fortune of $11.5 billion, he has no access to those funds, according to the insider. He lives on his $4-$5 million salary as CEO of Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and more. While that is a huge amount, the insider contends that $46,000 a month is a quarter of Pinault’s post-tax take home pay.

However, Evangelista doesn’t have to worry about her son being taken care of in Pinault’s estate. According to French law, he will inherit the exact same amount as Pinault’s three other children including his younger half sister, Valentina, 4, who’s mom is Salma Hayek.

What’s being contested in court are expenses like the $15,000-$16,000 a month in charges for car service and security, $7500 a month for vacations and the cost of an extra apartment to be rented near Augie’s school, so he can have play dates there.

What’s so sad here is that, relations between Evangelista and Pinault have been good enough until now, for Pinault to see his son several times a year – every time he is in NYC, for Salma and Valentina to have play dates with Augie and for Pinault to call Evangelista an “excellent mother” in court.

Now, however, the disturbing accusation was made in court by Linda’s lawyer, that Pinault wanted Evangelista to terminate her pregnancy . While the insider insists to Hollywoodlife.com that Pinault never said or wanted that, little Augie, will read that accusation one day. Meanwhile, Pinault is apparently looking forward to the trial ending on Tuesday, so he can see his son, before he goes back to Paris.

The magistrate’s decision on support could come at the end of testimony on Tuesday, May 8, or could take months.

What do you think Hollywoodlifers – is $46 thousand a month in child support absurd for a billionaire’s son? Tell me now and vote!

Bonnie Fuller

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Three children by three different women. Has he no self control? I don’t care how much money that man has or how successful people think he is, clearly he is a deadbeat and shame on them for even getting involved!! Once again, a parent’s selfish actions adversely affect the most innnocent persons on earth. Tragic!

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THIS IS SO ABSURED. EVANGELISTA SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT FRANCIOS IS INVOLVED IN THEIR SON’S LIFE. SHE SEEMS TO BE DESPERATE FOR MONEY SINCE HER CAREER ISNT THAT SUCCESSFUL LIKE IT USED TO BE. IF NEITHER ONE OF THEM WERE RICH NOR FAMOUS THEY WOULD BE LIVING A NORMAL LIFE AND CHILD SUPPORT WOULDNT BE THAT MUCH. ITS UNFAIR THAT THE CHILD, LIL AUGIE SHOULD BE PUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THIS MESS. BOTH PARTIES NEED TO AGREE ON A DECENT PROPOSEL THAT BENEFITS THE CHILD. CHILD SUPPORT IS MEANT FOR THE CHILD, NOT FOR THE MOTHER TO ABUSE THE SYSTEM AND SHOP FOR HERSELF. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN MOST CASES OF CHILD SUPPORT BATTLES.

Guess the laughs on you, MVK, they settled. It seems that you have not really been following this story very well. He (P), does not participate in his son’s life, and as far as support, never paid an iota for anything in his rearing so far, and has seen him a total of 7 times in the last 5 and half years. Linda in order to protect his, (P’S), identity did not even acknowledge him as his child to the public when he was born. The one who isn’t playing nice is Mr. Pinault who thinks he can just walk away while the rest of his 3 children live a life of grandure. Augie derserves whatever the others get.

I don’t care, its not my life.

Goodbye

Both parents should split the child’s expense equally. His family fortune has nothing to do with him or his children.

this is naive and unrealistic. you are thinking from the frame of mind of two parents with relatively equal wealth. that is not the case here, nor is the child just some kid that nobody notices. his picture is in the papers, and both his mom and dad are celebrities to some degree. he needs special things, including secure schools/transportation and housing. he should get them if EITHER parent can afford it. he shouldn’t be limited to what linda can afford. how is that fair to the child when his father is filthy dripping rich and can easily afford these things? he’s bitter b/c he lost control (as most men do when sex is involved) and wants to take it out on linda by limiting the child to what she can afford. that is not how the law works. each parent pays what they can afford. it’s not halfsies… what if she were living in section 8 housing? would you still say the child could only have what his mom could afford to pay half of- even if dad were a billionaire, or even a millionaire, or even someone with a six figure salary. please, think about what you are saying.

She is a money hungry witch….with a capital B. I don’t blame him for not wanting to pay that amount. she wants the money for herself and to try and ruin Pinault. She could care less about the child. He’s nothing but a pawn to her. Pinault’s been supporting that baby since it was born and paying for everything. I can’t stand money hungry people. Linda is ignorant. She would get more out of him if she played nice. I too hope the judge laughs her out of court.

What the hell do you know. If you have the son of (billionaire ($14 in fact)and live in NYC don’t you think that you would need body guards to protect your son?

She has raised that child on her own with not even a cent from this billionaire for close to six years, while his other children live in the lap of luxury and have staff travel with them. Give me a break, she deserves that and more.

thank you. someone with some common sense.

Pinault didn’t pay anything for the boy, he was never asked and after 5 years of being the sole provider, the mother is wanting an arrangement on paper. You guys don’t take the time to read the articles, do you?

He may never have “asked for” a child, but he certainly “asked for” sexual relations with her. Perhapys nobody told you about the birds and the bees, but that’s what happens! He needs to man up!

She wants $16,000 for car service? That is the most dumbest thing i’ve ever heard of. She is out to try and get all she can get for herself.In all honesty,what kid needs thousands of dollars a month ,especially when their that young? I hope the judge will not let her take advantage of this man,even though he’s a billionaire.

Sounds like she did what a lot of women do…accidentally on purpose got pregnant with a successful mans baby . Now she wants to reap the rewards. Men need to start thinking about using protection .

where did you do your research, and what constitutes “a lot of women” to you? sounds like a gross stereotype unbased in reality, to me.

Just like the column said, that $46,000 is more like “wife support”. That is absurd.

ps- this “inside information” doesn’t jive with what has already been admitted by the billionaire. that he simply hadn’t paid money b/c he hadn’t been asked to pay. the guy is bitter b/c he got tricked, and he’s the one trying to take it out on linda by skimping on the child. again, i really don’t think it’s unusual for a man to pay 25% of his salary toward his child. i can tell you that i sure as HELL spend more than 25% of my salary on my child. why should this guy get off cheaper than the rest of us? just b/c he doesn’t want the mom to get to share in the luxuries of the son she’s raising? he can afford it. he should pay it. let go of the fact that linda tricked you, and next time, be a little more careful where you leave your sperm if you don’t want to take care of the life it creates.