A source close to Halle Berry claims her ex-husband Olivier Martinez keeps returning to court with a financial motive.
Martinez, 60, filed new court documents in Los Angeles on Nov. 9 seeking increased child support from Berry, also 60, according to paperwork. The filing came just weeks after a judge dissolved a temporary restraining order Martinez had obtained against the actress and denied his bid to make it permanent.
Under the former couple’s original divorce settlement, finalized in August 2023, Berry was ordered to pay Martinez $8,000 monthly in child support plus 4.3 percent of any income she earned above $2 million. Martinez now argues that arrangement no longer reflects reality, claiming he has their son Maceo, 13, approximately 82 percent of the time compared to the previous equal custody split.
“Olivier keeps going back to court asking Halle for more money. It’s been going on for years,” the source close to Berry said exclusively.
“He’s been fighting for more custody of Maceo, which could mean Halle has to pay him even more child support. The feeling is that this is more about money than anything else.”
Martinez’s attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, pushed back hard against that characterization in a statement.
“My client was awarded custody per Family Code Section 6340,” Baghdaserians shared. “His motivation has always been the health, safety and welfare of the minor child.”
The financial picture Martinez presented in his filing was stark. He disclosed earning an average of just $776.34 per month in acting residuals over the previous year while listing $17,555.99 in estimated monthly expenses and proposed needs. That breakdown included $3,500 for entertainment, gifts and vacations, $1,000 for clothing, and another $1,000 for savings and investments. He also claimed to owe his attorneys more than $176,000 in legal fees.
Martinez had not yet specified exactly how much additional child support he wanted because he was waiting for updated financial information from Berry, the documents showed. His attorneys argued that Maceo was entitled to enjoy a standard of living comparable to his mother’s and that Berry should pay based on her earnings and the new custody arrangement.
Berry has found support throughout the legal battle from her fiancé, Van Hunt. “Van has really been Halle’s rock through all of this,” a source exclusively said. “He’s been by her side throughout the whole custody battle and restraining order situation.” The musician also testified in support of the actress during court proceedings last month.
The current financial dispute follows months of bitter accusations between the former spouses. In October, Martinez accused Berry of choking their son during an alleged altercation at her home, claiming in court documents that Maceo desperately contacted his father to pick him up. Martinez initially obtained a temporary restraining order against Berry, but a Los Angeles judge dissolved it on Oct. 29 and denied his request for a permanent order. However, Martinez retained primary physical custody of Maceo under a modified custody arrangement, while Berry was granted daytime visits without overnight stays. The former couple continued to share legal custody.
Berry and Martinez married in 2013 and separated in 2015, with their divorce finalized in August 2023 after years of legal wrangling.
Martinez has previously maintained that his custody efforts were motivated by concerns for Maceo’s welfare.
A representative for Berry did not immediately respond to the outlet’s requests for comment.