Now that Tiger Woods has admitted to “transgressions,” many wonder what is next for his marriage. Many sources are saying that for now, wife Elin Nordegren, who is often a fixture on the 18th green at golf tournaments, is standing by her man.
“She and Tiger have had problems in the past, this is obviously as bad as it’s ever been, but she’s not leaving as of now,” said one person with knowledge of the couple’s marriage over the years.
A report in the Chicago Sun Times claims that “intense marriage counseling” is taking place, but Elin’s motivation might also be linked to her personal bank account.
“The links legend's spouse is reportedly being paid a hefty seven-figure amount — immediately transferred into an account she alone controls — to stick with her husband,” Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker reported. He goes on to write that Elin demanded and is getting a total rewrite of the couple’s prenuptial agreement. The couple wed in 2004 and have two children.
Reportedly, the couple had an agreement that stipulated they must remain married for 10 years in order for Elin to collect a settlement of $20 million, and that is the part of the settlement being negotiated.
While it would seem obvious for Woods to have a prenup, no one close to Woods has confirmed that the agreement exists.
One veteran reporter remarked, “Everyone keeps saying ‘oh yeah, he’s got to have the (ironclad) prenup,’ and I think the media is all like, ‘he went to Stanford, he can’t be that dumb.’ But maybe he does and maybe he doesn’t.”
Walters scores Jackson kids interview ... sort of
Barbara Walters’ “Most Fascinating People” special doesn’t air until Dec. 9, but the subjects of her annual show are slowly being announced. Among them: Lady Gaga, South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford, and perhaps the most fascinating thus far, Michael Jackson’s kids Paris, Prince and Blanket.
Because the family has so fiercely protected the kids’ privacy, the idea of them appearing for an interview was compelling. But don’t get too excited: according to several sources familiar with the level of access granted to Walters, she didn’t actually get the kids on camera for a fresh interview. Instead, older footage will run. “The kids have been doing best as they possibly can,” said one family friend. “Rebbie (Michael’s sister) has been taking great care of them. One thing the family is mostly in agreement about is that the kids’ privacy should be as protected as possible.”
Ann Curry vouches for Brangelina’s souls
Despite the spate of rumors depicting a less than happy relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the couple carries on, raising their kids and continuing their charitable work. They’ve donated $6.8 million to charities in 2008 through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and they’ve got a big fan in TODAY show correspondent Ann Curry.
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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt : Actors and activists
“I’m not that interested in their personal lives, but I’m very interested in their souls,” Curry told Life & Style at the Help USA Event in New York on Nov. 18. “They have very beautiful souls.
“They’re much deeper and more layered than they’re known to be,” Curry said. “They have a lot to give, and they recognize that. Their motivations for giving and trying to change the world are pure. They’ve become a force in this world full of suffering.”
Organizations that have benefited from the couple’s generosity: the Global Health Council, Human Rights Watch, Armed Services YMCA and the Make It Right Foundation.
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter @courtneyatmsnbc