Expert: Tiger "Hush Money" to Elin Won't Work

(CBS)  Tiger Woods is said to be working out a big money settlement ending his five-year marriage.

Some reports say he will pay his wife, Elin Nordegren, up to $750 million.

In return, say the reports, she'd agree not to talk in public about their marriage, and she'd get custody of their two children. He would get to see them regularly, but wouldn't be allowed to have other single women around when he does.

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On "The Early Show" Friday, prominent divorce lawyer Raoul Felder told co-anchor Harry Smith it's likely no amount of money could keep Elin's lips truly sealed.

Any number, Felder says, "is inflated, but whatever the number is, it's gonna be a huge number. But it sounds better when you say $750 million, not dollars. $750 million dollars."

Such a huge amount, Felder pointed out, doesn't "seem real to anybody. But it's hush money, and the rationalization is always, 'Well, look, you've gotta pay her so much anyway, so pay a little more for hush money.

"But it never works.

"The lady tells her sister-in-law, who tells a neighbor, who tells the hairdresser, who calls up a newspaper, she wants a ticket to a rock concert, and on and on and on, and suddenly, it's in the press."

Whatever Tiger forks over, Felder says, is "a calculated business computation. He figures he makes so much money from the endorsements, much more than from golf, and if he could keep it spinning for another three or four years, he can make back that money. And maybe he's right.

"But it never really does work.

"What you try to do is stagger the payments, but wives don't want to stagger too much.

Felder noted that Tiger and Elin had a prenuptial agreement but, "Then, when some of the bimbos came out -- I hate to use the word, but when some of the bimbos came out, they had a richer post-nup, reputedly $55 million. But he's in a bad state now, because he has this trail of bimbos. It's like a bakery - 'Take a number, take a number, next in line.' So, the only thing he can do it try to buy her quiet."

The conditions said to be in the pending pact are "kind of stupid," Felder asserted, "because what's supposed to happen? He gets married to a woman, then find out if she likes his kids? But he would have signed a laundry ticket. That's what it sounds like to me. He just wants to get out of it."

What would he advise Tiger if he were representing him? "I would tell him, 'It's gonna come out anyway. Save your money. Just have a press conference and answer some real questions, which he's never really done. get it over with and me on.

"America loves second lives. If President Nixon had a second life - you could go all through history."

[carmenlight]

Elin Nordegren deserves a substantial divorce settlement amount since Tiger Woods is demanding from Elin a lifetime of silence. Tiger is the one who caused irreparable damage to the marriage and the dissolution of the family unit with his adulterous, reckless and irresponsible behavior. Tiger Woods humiliated his wife in front of the world and caused his family enough hurt, pain and suffering that will last them for the rest of their lives! Tiger Woods used his wife and children to earn millions from sponsors projecting a false image of integrity as a devoted husband and family man, while living a sordid secret life. Tiger, reportedly, had unprotected sex with multiple promiscuous partners, potentially exposing Elin to life threatening conditions such as STD, HIV, hepatitis, herpes, uterine cancer, etc. Some of these conditions can be dormant and could take years to show up. It is very wise of Elin to demand that Tiger never expose their children to any future female companions ''unless he is married to said person.'' I commend Elin for being a caring and loving mother and for her great courage, dignity and class during this horrid time in her life. I wish Elin and her precious children all the best for the future!!!

[betterusa]

In no way do I condone what Tiger did while married but to give her $750 million?! I am not saying she was hurt but it does take 2 and something did not keep him completely happy. Why $700 million more than the prenup? Why even have a prenup if it is worthless? Is the attorney that drew up the prenup going to give back his fee for his work since it was worthless? Does Tiger have to also pay child support? If so, that is really bad. Elin was basically innocent but she does not deserve that kind of money. Note to Tiger: She will talk so listen to Felder; come clean and move on!

[bradkt1]

The only rationale that I have for this is that she knows something that could totally ruin him and destroy his ability to generate tons of endorsement money in the future. I hate to admit it, but the first thing that came to my mind was HGH or PEDs. After all, Tiger is now allegedly cooperating with the feds who busted his doctor for crossing the border with HGH...although I hasten to add that he has strongly denied that the doctor ever gave him any HGH or PEDs.

That's a curious combination of events: (1) Tiger is a player who is known for his unusually long golfing drives; (2) Tiger's doctor is busted for crossing the border with HGH; (3) Tiger's doctor treated Tiger for a sports injury...which is usually the standard excuse for taking HGH or PEDs given by a player who has been caught; (4) the wife (who was in a position to know) being paid this enoumous amount of hush money to keep her mouth shut); and (5) Tiger's recent unimpressive play in since he came back and would be presumably clean under this scenario.

The wife would have every incentive to keep her mouth shut if she wants her gravy train to keep running on schedule.

I'm not saying that this what happened, but the shoe sure looks like it fits.