Kenny G and his ex-wife, Lyndie Benson, are reportedly embroiled in a contentious legal battle after he tried to renegotiate the terms of their divorce in 2012.
After a failed attempt to reduce his $40,000-a-month spousal support, the 67-year-old saxophonist’s former husband is seeking the emails regarding his six-figure lease on his $40 million Malibu mansion.
In a November 27 filing obtained by PeopleBenson claims the Grammy winner’s oceanfront home was rented to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez for “$600,000 per month, in a deal effective April 2022.”
She claims to have made “several requests” for Kenny to “turn over all emails and documentation related to the alleged lease with Bezos,” but says he refused due to “privacy concerns” for his tenant.
Legal Troubles: Kenny G and his ex-wife, Lyndie Benson, are reportedly embroiled in a contentious legal battle as he attempts to renegotiate the terms of their 2012 divorce; pictured in 2006
Benson also accused her ex-husband of “violating the terms of their divorce agreement by not selling the house, which would potentially make her a profit, and instead holding on to it and generating rental income.”
In the filing, Benson claims that they agreed that “(i)n the event that the Grayfox Property is ultimately sold for more than $40,000,000,” they “will receive 25% of the net profits, defined as all remaining amounts in excess of $40,000,000.”
However, his lawyer disagrees and states: ‘There is no order.’ . . for Kenny to sell the Grayfox property” in their divorce agreement and her “potential payout only comes into play if he chooses to sell it.”
In March, he was ordered to pay his ex-wife’s attorney fees – amounting to $320,000 – after trying to reduce his spousal support due to a drop in income.
The ruling came after Kenny filed legal papers demanding that Benson agree to terminate their spousal support worth $40,000 per month, claiming he could no longer afford it.
The request was initially filed in September 2021, but was dragged out in court due to complications in establishing the “true nature and extent” of his income, according to the new documents.
The musician, born in Seattle as Kenneth Gorelick, was married to Benson for 21 years and, as the highest earner, had agreed to pay her the hefty monthly amount after their divorce in 2013.
But he has since asked to change the agreement, citing a slump in his finances, despite court documents stating he earns $600,000 a month in rental income alone.
“Even assuming that the court were to completely disregard all of petitioner’s income from his music services, petitioner claims, by his own admission, that he receives $600,000 per month in rental income with very negligible expenses,” the papers say.
Feud: After failed attempt to reduce his $40,000 per month spousal support, 67-year-old saxophonist’s former saxophonist seeks emails regarding his six-figure lease on his $40 million Malibu mansion (seen in 2019)
“Compared to the income that defendant (Benson) receives and the resources to which she has access, there can be no finding other than a significant disparity between the parties.”
Because Kenny still earns ‘5 to 10 times’ more than his ex, he remains the highest earner who will have to cover her legal costs.
The case had remained unresolved since 2021, prompting his attorneys to serve Benson this spring.
“Kenny, who is now 65 years old, has been paying spousal support to Lyndie for over nine years,” the original documents state.
‘Kenny is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist with a long successful career and more than 15 albums.
“However, as explained in Kenny’s accompanying statement, not only have Kenny’s touring opportunities, where he earns most of his income, declined over the past two to three years, but his percentage of tour income has also decreased.
“Kenny’s income has declined substantially steadily since 2018.”
His legal team – led by high-profile divorce lawyer Laura Wasser – did not specify how much the musician was worth.
At the time of his divorce, it was widely reported that he was worth $50 million.
In a Nov. 27 filing obtained by People, Benson claims the Grammy winner’s oceanfront home was rented to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez for “$600,000 per month in an agreement that began in April 2022.” (seen in 2022).
He has paid his ex-wife $3.9 million since 2013, his lawyers noted.
“Lyndie is 57 years old and, to Kenny’s knowledge, in good health,” his attorneys wrote in their initial complaint.
‘Lyndie has refused to become completely self-sufficient for almost ten years.
“Kenny should not have to continue to bear the burden of her refusal to do this.”
His lawyers note that she founded a clothing company, Bleusalt, but refused to hand over financial documentation related to the company.
In May 2022, Forbes interviewed her and described it as a “thriving fashion label” of “Malibu-inspired chic essentials.”
The musician and his wife Lyndie Benson are seen at home in June 1992
Kenny G can be seen playing the Charles Krug Winery presented by The Blue Note in Napa Valley in July 2021
She told the magazine: ‘I’ve always been obsessed with beautiful cashmere and head-to-toe outfits from Loro Piana and Bamford. Luxury clothes that looked good on the beach around a campfire and just as good when you were at Nobu for dinner.
“So once I found and perfected the fabric for Bleusalt, the inspiration was already fully realized in my daily life and aesthetic.”
He wants to stop the payments completely or reduce them substantially.
He is also asking the court to end the requirement that he continue to make payments on a life insurance policy, which was guaranteed in the divorce.
Kenny G is the best-selling instrumental artist ever and will perform in Las Vegas next month.
With eleven platinum albums and eight others that have reached multi-platinum status, Kenny G is one of the most successful artists according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
He appeared on the soundtrack of The SpongeBob Movie and collaborated with Kanye West and Katy Perry.