Olivier Martinez Wants Halle Berry to Pay $240,000 in Legal Fees, and Here We Go Again

Halle Berry’s custody battle with Olivier Martinez has reached the point where her ex-husband wants her to pick up another enormous bill.

Martinez is asking a Los Angeles judge to order Berry to pay $240,000 in attorney fees connected to their ongoing custody dispute over their 13-year-old son, Maceo.

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Martinez says he owes his lawyers $176,522.58 and is requesting another $63,477.42 for anticipated future legal expenses. Together, that brings his request to exactly $240,000. His argument is simple: he says he cannot afford the legal fight himself.

Olivier Says His Monthly Expenses Top $17,000

Martinez reports receiving an average of just $776.34 per month in residual income. At the same time, he estimates his monthly expenses at $17,555.99. He also reports having approximately $43,206 across several accounts. Those figures invite an obvious question.

If Olivier brings in less than $800 a month in residuals but spends more than $17,000 every month, how is he funding that lifestyle? Is Olivier effectively relying on Halle’s child support payments to help fund his lifestyle? More importantly, why should Halle become responsible for closing that enormous gap?

The court has not ordered Halle to pay the $240,000, and Olivier’s latest request does not exist in a financial vacuum. Under their 2023 divorce settlement, Halle already agreed to pay $8,000 per month in child support. She also pays 4.3 percent of any income she earns above $2 million.

On top of that, Halle covers Maceo’s private-school tuition, health insurance and agreed extracurricular expenses. She is clearly not avoiding her financial responsibilities toward their son. So why should she also have to bankroll Olivier’s legal bills?

Halle Is Already Paying a Substantial Amount

The custody dispute has become increasingly contentious. Last week, a judge dissolved the temporary domestic violence restraining order Martinez had obtained against Berry and declined to make it permanent.

However, the court kept a temporary custody arrangement that gives Martinez primary physical custody of Maceo. Halle’s overnight visits remain suspended for now, although she retains joint legal custody. The judge is expected to revisit custody issues this month.

Martinez accused Halle of physically abusing Maceo. Halle has strongly denied those allegations and says she has never abused her son.

If Olivier reports monthly expenses of $17,555.99 while declaring less than $800 a month in residual income, it is fair to ask how he plans to sustain that financial gap without repeatedly looking to Halle.

That is difficult to swallow. Halle already pays Martinez $8,000 every month in child support, in addition to other expenses for Maceo. She covers their son’s schooling, health insurance and agreed extracurricular costs. Those are substantial financial commitments. Olivier, meanwhile, says he earns less than $800 a month in residuals while maintaining monthly expenses above $17,000.

At some point, his own finances have to become his responsibility. Halle should not function as an unlimited bank account simply because she has more money.

If Olivier chooses to spend $17,555.99 every month while earning a fraction of that amount, he needs to explain how he plans to sustain those expenses without repeatedly looking to his ex-wife. And if he has accumulated more than $176,000 in legal bills during this custody battle, those bills did not magically appear.

Enough is enough. Halle is already providing substantial financial support for their child. Olivier is an adult. He has his own lawyers, his own expenses and his own financial responsibilities. He should figure out how to pay them.