The $9,900 Finish Line: A Spousal Support Victory Lap

For the past five years, I have been faithfully participating in what might be the most expensive subscription service in America: California spousal support.

Total cost so far: roughly $2.5 million.

Remaining balance: $9,900.

Yes, after half a decade of checks, paperwork, court dates, and financial gymnastics that would impress an Olympic athlete, I am finally approaching the finish line.

This GoFundMe is not about hardship. I am not homeless. I am not starving. My kids are healthy, my businesses are moving forward, and life is good.

But after writing over two and a half million dollars in spousal support, I figured the final $9,900 deserves something special.

Think of this as the “End of Spousal Support Celebration Fund.”

For five years I stayed quiet while wild stories circulated online. I chose not to respond publicly because my focus was always on the only thing that truly matters: my kids. They are now old enough to see how hard their father works every day to keep everyone afloat and to keep moving forward.

And we did.

This chapter of my life taught me a lot about resilience, patience, and the strange financial maze that is the California divorce system. If you know, you know. If you don’t, consider yourself lucky.

Now that the end is finally in sight, I want to close this chapter with something symbolic.

So here is the plan.

Once the final payment is made, I will be celebrating the end of this five year marathon at E11EVEN Miami, one of the most legendary nightlife spots in the country.

Not out of bitterness.

Not out of revenge.

But because sometimes the only way to survive something absurd is to laugh about it.

Every dollar raised here will go toward one epic night marking the official end of the most expensive chapter of my life.

Think of it as a spousal support graduation party.

And if you are another father who has ever looked at a divorce settlement and thought, “How is this even real?” then this celebration is for you too.

The truth is that many fathers quietly fight through the same financial pressure every day. The system can be brutal, the process can be exhausting, and sometimes the only way through it is to keep working, keep showing up for your kids, and keep your sense of humor.

So if you want to throw a dollar in the jar to celebrate the end of this five year saga, I appreciate it.

If not, that’s fine too. Just knowing the finish line is here is enough.

But if this GoFundMe helps turn the final $9,900 into a legendary closing party, then we might as well make it a good story.

Five years.

$2.5 million.

One final payment.

Let’s close this chapter the right way.

And if you see me at E11EVEN… the first round is on the divorce.

— Nik Richie