Phil Collins and his ex reunited but she didn’t return his 30 million settlement

Destination Fashion 2016

I have a lot of divorced male friends, and I have heard a lot of awful tales of alimony and child support nightmares, but Phil Collins’ tale pretty much takes the cake. The former lead singer of Genesis and the man responsible for the catchy earworm of a tune “Sussudio” is about to release a tell-all autobiography, and, in advance of the release, he talked about his third marriage to jewelry designer Orianne Cevey, which does take quite the interesting turn.

At a press conference for his upcoming “Not Dead Yet” European tour, Phil admitted that he reunited with wife #3 after being divorced for 8 years. Upon their divorce in 2008, he paid Orianne a nearly $30.5 million settlement. At the time, it was the largest payout in Britain. Phil got back together with his now 43-year-old estranged wife, and mother to sons Nicholas, 15, and Matthew, 11 earlier this year – and admitted he never got back any of the money he gave her.

During the press conference at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Monday, Phil told interviewer Jools Holland (of Squeeze fame), “I’m back with my third wife so I’ve only really been divorced twice you could say, if you were being generous. And she didn’t give me the money back.” What the what? I get that some of that money was for child support, but $30 million is a lot of money for a 9-year marriage, don’t you think? Although, it doesn’t sound like Phil really cares that he gets reimbursed. He could live on residuals from “In the Air Tonight” alone.

If you’re excited to hear that Phil is going out on tour and you don’t live in Europe – or can afford to get there – you might be disappointed. The tour, scheduled for June of 2017, includes five performances in London, as well as stints in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France. No US dates have been discussed as of yet. Since Phil has had his share pop health maladies, admitting, “60 years of drumming messed my back and hips up,” his son Nicholas will be joining him on the road and hitting the skins for his famous Dad. As for why Phil, who was last on the road with Genesis in 2007, decided to embark on this mini-tour, Phil said, “thanks to the fans, my family and support from some extraordinary artists I have rediscovered my passion for music and performing. It’s time to do it all again and I’m excited. It just feels right.”

Tickets for the shows go on sale on October 21, just four days before the release of his autobiography, also titled Not Dead Yet. In addition to stories about marriage #3 and the drinking that occurred after the split, the book sure sounds like a good read. In a statement about the book, Phil said, “Throughout [my life], there have been lots of highs, and more than a few lows. I’m being completely honest about all of them, embarrassingly so in some cases.”

I always liked Phil Collins’ and Genesis’ music. I really enjoyed his acting work as well, especially on Miami Vice. Spoken like a true child of the 80s, right? I do hope Phil tours in the US and I can’t wait to read the book.

The Little Dreams Foundation Benefit Gala

Phil Collins arrives at the BBC Radio 1 studios

The Little Dreams Foundation Benefit Gala

Phil Collins attends photocall outside the Royal Albert Hall

Photo credit: WENN.com, Getty Images

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35 Responses to “Phil Collins and his ex reunited but she didn’t return his 30 million settlement”

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  1. TrueStory says:

    Why would or should she give the money back? I’m lost. ….

    • Amanda DG says:

      I agree.

    • Bread and Circuses says:

      I think Phil was just joking around; I’m not sure why anyone else would pearl-clutch over it.

      That settlement was the money the court thought she was entitled to, fairly, as having invested in a marriage as an equal partner.

      She doesn’t have to give that money back if she re-marries some other guy, so she doesn’t have to give it back if she re-marries (or doesn’t) this one, either. After all, whatever is left of the money is being brought back into the relationship again, if the relationship starts up again.

  2. JustJen says:

    Ick. She looks insufferable.

  3. lvw2 says:

    cashing checks as “you’ll be in my heart” plays softly in the background.

  4. MsGoblin says:

    It never occurred to me that drumming could mess-up hips and back. However, I’ve always wondered how they don’t have SEVERE carpal tunnel syndrome!

    • Boxy Lady says:

      @ MsGoblin I have wondered about carpal tunnel for drummers too. Maybe it depends on the angles of the wrist action or if they use a British or American grip. But I have definitely heard about hip and back problems for drummers. The hips I think are affected by the drummers’ use of the foot pedals.

  5. QueenB says:

    why would he even mention this in public?

  6. Capepopsie says:

    He uses a cane?
    Is that due to his back problem?
    I had no idea.
    Enjoy his music very much.

    • Shutterbug99 says:

      He had surgery on his back which affected his foot. He is waiting for the nerves in his foot to regenerate if I recall correctly.

    • NotSoSocialButterfly says:

      Why in the world does she have ( which looks like) a hiker’s walking stick????? Is it some kind of burn on him?

      • Shutterbug99 says:

        😀 No.

        She was left partially paralysed following back surgery. Seems like they’ve both had some major back problems.

      • LAK says:

        She had botched surgery for a slipped disc which left her wheelchair bound for months, if not years. She’s had to learn to walk again and the cane is still very necessary.

  7. lucy2 says:

    Ooooh…the way he brought that up right away as part of his answer….not a good sign. Resentment building.

  8. Colleen says:

    I too am an 80s child and I love Phil Collins and Genesis. I’ve been hoping he comes this way, but I bet it would be difficult to get tickets anyway.

    I don’t think she should be expected to give the money back, and I think it was strange of him to mention it, but perhaps he was jumping the gun on a question he possibly is getting asked since being reunited with his wife?

    • PrincessMe says:

      What you said Colleen. I thought it was weird that he brought it up, but maybe he is trying to get in front of that question so he isn’t asked a million times.
      When I read the headline, I thought the reconciliation happened soon after the divorce, but after 8 years? Why should she “give it back”. Who knows how she’s used it over the years or invested it? Plus, it doesn’t seem as if they’ve gotten remarried, so why would she give it back?

  9. M says:

    She’s not stupid. If he cast her aside before, he can and probably will do it again. That $30mil is her insurance. Too bad, sucka!

    • TheSageM says:

      But it was her who left him. In fact, she married another (younger, handsome) man. Then she suffered from some botched surgery that left her paralysed and the new husband left her. That’s when she reunited with Phil Collins.

  10. Shutterbug99 says:

    The Sunday Times had a big Phil Collins piece at the weekend. I don’t really know much at all about his personal life, but it was an interesting read. He talked about his chronic alcoholism (I never knew about this!) and his relationship with his wife. They seem to live a strange co-existence in their Malibu mansion (previously inhabited by J-Lo). He said that most days they barely see each other; she is a social butterfly while he no longer goes out at all. The way he talked about her was a little strange for a recently reunited couple, that is for sure!

    • Aren says:

      That sounds very sad.
      Old males suffer a lot from lack of dignity, they’ll rather have a young wife than a real friend or companion.

  11. CoKatie says:

    As a NY girl, I find Phil despicable. Don’t know if you were aware, but he had been with Dana Tyler, a NY news anchor for almost 10 years when he decided to pull the rug out from under her and return to wife #3. Google Dana. We should ALL look so good at 57. She ended up taking about 4 months off work after this “out of no where” reconciliation with his ex. I’m all for re found love, but Damn, keep it classy, Phil. Dana, girl, you do you. You’re beautiful, intelligent, and deserve WAY better.

    • Capepopsie says:

      Well, I Googled her and you are perfectly right!
      That was nasty. . .
      Really bad.
      My sympathy goes entirely to Dana, in this case!

    • Aren says:

      That sucks.
      Wife #3 has a Kardishan vibe to her, the “I’ll send nudes while he’s in a relationship” kind.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      Yeah, what he did to Dana Tyler sucks.

    • LAK says:

      Well, he chucked wife no 2 by fax…..as he settled in with soon to be no 3. Wife no 1 divorced him for adultery, which he didn’t dispute because, in his own words, he was never faithful to her.

      So…par of the course for him.

      http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/phil-collins-wiltshire-based-ex-wife-sick-stories/story-26365404-detail/story.html

    • LinaLamont says:

      I thought it was common knowledge that PC is and always has been a douche…not just with his wives/girlfriends.

      As for Dana Tyler… yes, what was done to her sucks, but, for fucksake, who has the luxury of taking 4 months off after a breakup? I got 1 day off after the death of a parent. I don’t know anyone who took 4 months off after a divorce… even with kids involved.

    • ol cranky says:

      he pulled a similar stunt with wife #2 (Jill Tavelman, Lily’s mom). He was supposedly screwing around with an old girlfriend while married to her and then dumped her by fax.

  12. cakecakecake says:

    I’m a child of the 80’s and LOVE me some Phil Collins!!

    he can do no wrong, he’s a part of my history. He looks happy to be back w/his kids
    (side eye) and yup, his wife looks vapid but he may love vapid. LOL!

  13. Minina says:

    I get the impression that maybe they reunited out of convenience for both.

    He may need a caretaker, and emotional support with his back problems. And I get the feeling like maybe he doesn’t think he has much longer? I don’t know though. And she needs some support and insulation from her ex husband with whom I believe she has had a contentious divorce. And she looks more stable back with Phil, her kids father, and of course the kids are happy about this.

    And I don’t think she has to give him back any money from their settlement.

    • LAK says:

      She needs a carer too because she was partially paralysed from botched back surgery and had to learn to walk again and is using walking sticks.

  14. Heather says:

    He is disappearing into his own face 🙁

  15. JRenee says:

    Sounds messy as hell. She’s married to someone else & is divorcing him to be with Phil. Phil dumped the girlfriend he was with longer than he was married to wife #3. Yikes!!

  16. phlyfiremama says:

    Rediscovered my love for music=needs another 30 million dollars. LOL