Nikke Finke suggests that CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) and Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA) Chairman Sumner Redstone may seek a divorce from his second wife, Paula Fortunato. This a mere four years after Redstone, 84, divorced his first wife of 52 years, Phyllis.
A Finke source told her that Redstone has "asked [Fortunato] to leave the Beverly Park house, and she won't leave. It's a Mexican standoff. I'm told she signed one of those iron-clad prenups and would only get $1 million if the marriage breaks up. He's not happy in the relationship, and he has not been happy for a while. I don't think it's going to last for too long."
Redstone is certainly the feuding sort. He is in the midst of a battle to toss his daughter Shari from the Viacom and CBS boards, he recently settled a lawsuit with his son, and of course is a mere four years past his first divorce. Ironically, it was just last month that Redstone said he was closer to Fortunato than to Shari.
Redstone is reportedly back with Christine Forsyth-Peters, the ex-wife of Hollywood mogul Jon Peters, whose alleged relationship with Redstone contributed to his split with Phyllis.
I guess money doesn't buy happiness.
Peter Cohan is president of Peter S. Cohan & Associates, a management consulting and venture capital firm. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in CBS or Viacom.
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