Jason, Amanda Dufner Getting a Divorce

[Mr. Desmond]

This post isn't about whether Amanda is a gold digger. But I do think we can make inferences from what we know about the settlement.

Does $2.5M indicate anything about Amanda's fault? If it is significantly less than what she would get from a judge in a typical equitable division of assets, then I would infer yes.

They've been married 3 years, and Jason has made (someone calculated) >20M in that time. You can't divide money already blown, however, so earnings are not the final answer. Presumably they accumulated at least $10M in assets during that time. That's probably low because it assumes he made $20M and they managed to completely blow $10M (i.e. earnings spent with no asset to show for it), so the real figure of assets accumulated is probably $10M-$15M.

As a starting point for equitable division, Amanda would be entitled to half, or $5M-$7M. So why is she settling for less than half of that? Typically an all cash settlement would be less, as cash is more "valuable" at the instant than assets which must be liquidated and divided. A prenuptual agreement probably doesn't explain it, because pre-nups typically focus on assets (and appreciation of those assets) then in existence when the pre-nup is signed. Jason made most of his money after they were married. Amanda also has a lawyer, so I think we can assume she is well informed of where she stands and what her reasonably achievable outcomes are.

So, what else might explain why she's taking less than half of what would likely be the default settlement? There are two "most likely" reasons: fault, or she just wants out as quickly as possible. In equitable division, evidence of infidelity, or if she "squandered" a disproportionate amount of the earnings, could swing the division significantly in Jason's favor. She might not want to submit to a presentation of evidence about her indiscretions, or her attorney may have advised her that the judge is likely to give her significantly less if she has misbehaved. It's also possible that she's just tired of being married to Jason and is willing to take a (relatively) small, all-cash settlement to get him to agree quickly.

I, for one, am not willing to assume that she's leaving up to $5M on the table because she's just a nice person. Of course that's possible, but it's extremely unlikely.

Based on (admittedly parse) facts, I think the most likely conclusions are these:

--Amanda is taking a nominal cash settlement because she unilaterally ended the marriage, either through fault or abandonment; OR

--The Dufners have squandered the vast majority of his earnings over the last 3+ years, and there simply isn't that much to divide. In this, it's likely that Amanda played a primary role in the squandering--otherwise she could force him to give up MORE than half of the assets accumulated since the marriage, so she would likely still not settle for $2.5M.

As for her instagram account, I certainly would not want my wife constantly uploading photos of herself in micro-bikinis flaunting her nearly naked body. I don't go as far as @Shorty, but the steady stream of a$$ shots is not what most people would want from the mother of their (future) children.

From an Alabama Lawyer Blog:

Alabama is an “equitable distribution” state rather than a “community property” state.  This means that property is divided depending on several subjective factors rather than each party receiving a 50-50 split of property.  The equitable distribution method is more flexible than other methods but makes it harder to determine who will receive what since the various factors are weighed subjectively.  The following is a list of factors generally considered by the court to help determine property distribution:

1. Earning Power of the Parties – one spouse may make significantly more money than the other and, thus, will be in a better position post divorce to re-accumulate property.
2. Work to Acquire the Property – one spouse may have contributed significantly more work in acquiring the property and, thus, should be given a greater share of said property.
3. Value of Homemaker – one spouse may have contributed significantly more as a homemaker, which allowed the other spouse to contribute more monetarily.  The homemaker should be given credit for such.
4. Economic Fault – if a spouse is found to have “wasted” or “dissipated” marital property in an effort to ensure the other spouse does not receive anything, the faulty spouse may have to reimburse (so to speak) the non-faulty spouse.
5. Duration of Marriage – the longer the marriage, the more likely each party is to receive a more equal (50/50) split of the property.
6. Age and Health – the court will consider each parties ability to earn a living and acquire property AFTER the divorce.
7. Children – consideration is given to the party who will be responsible for providing for the children of the marriage.  For example, the custodial parent may be granted the marital house to provide stability for the children.
8. Abuse or Infidility – a spouse who has committed abuse or adultery may be “punished” for such acts by receiving less of the marital estate.

The factors above are just examples of some factors considered by the court when distributing property in Alabama.  Generally, the court looks at the financial state each party will be in after the divorce when determining how to divide property.  Although the equitable distribution method makes it harder to determine who will receive what, the parties are free to negotiate prior to a judge hearing the case.  If the parties can’t decide on the division of all property, the court can distribute the remaining items later.

[k-troop]

From an Alabama Lawyer Blog:

Alabama is an “equitable distribution” state rather than a “community property” state.  This means that property is divided depending on several subjective factors rather than each party receiving a 50-50 split of property.  The equitable distribution method is more flexible than other methods but makes it harder to determine who will receive what since the various factors are weighed subjectively.  The following is a list of factors generally considered by the court to help determine property distribution:

Earning Power of the Parties – one spouse may make significantly more money than the other and, thus, will be in a better position post divorce to re-accumulate property.

Work to Acquire the Property – one spouse may have contributed significantly more work in acquiring the property and, thus, should be given a greater share of said property.

Value of Homemaker – one spouse may have contributed significantly more as a homemaker, which allowed the other spouse to contribute more monetarily.  The homemaker should be given credit for such.

Economic Fault – if a spouse is found to have “wasted” or “dissipated” marital property in an effort to ensure the other spouse does not receive anything, the faulty spouse may have to reimburse (so to speak) the non-faulty spouse.

Duration of Marriage – the longer the marriage, the more likely each party is to receive a more equal (50/50) split of the property.

Age and Health – the court will consider each parties ability to earn a living and acquire property AFTER the divorce.

Children – consideration is given to the party who will be responsible for providing for the children of the marriage.  For example, the custodial parent may be granted the marital house to provide stability for the children.

Abuse or Infidility – a spouse who has committed abuse or adultery may be “punished” for such acts by receiving less of the marital estate.

The factors above are just examples of some factors considered by the court when distributing property in Alabama.  Generally, the court looks at the financial state each party will be in after the divorce when determining how to divide property.  Although the equitable distribution method makes it harder to determine who will receive what, the parties are free to negotiate prior to a judge hearing the case.  If the parties can’t decide on the division of all property, the court can distribute the remaining items later.

As a matter of practice, though, the judge will start with an inventory of all assets accumulated during the marriage.  The default settlement would be 50/50.  The "factors" that play into equitable division determine which way, and by how much, to deviate from the default, as well as whether to divide pre-marital assets.

Community property states simply take out the discretion.  Each party automatically owns a 50% interest in any asset acquired or accumulated during the marriage.  The judge simply acts as accountant, and determines the value of alimony/child support, if any.

[RJH999]

LOL

[Shorty]

So, basically anyone that's showing off.

Showing off their butt and showing nothing about their brain. Yes.

[Vinsk]

Abuse or Infidility – a spouse who has committed abuse or adultery may be “punished” for such acts by receiving less of the marital estate. Insert theme music from "Jaws".

[Shorty]

For @Shorty : Here is a picture of me in First Class holding a glass of champagne.

Nah, those are coin operated massage chairs at WalMart.

[Phil McGleno]

So you don't know me much less than I know about Amanda and you can say I have no clue.

I did not make a comment about you. [quote name="Valleygolfer" url="/t/81079/jason-amanda-dufner-getting-a-divorce/252#post_1123569"]I think you have anger issues and couldn't handle a civil conversation.[/quote] I am not angry. I just think you are talking out of your ass and called you on it. [quote name="Valleygolfer" url="/t/81079/jason-amanda-dufner-getting-a-divorce/252#post_1123569"]Pros like you are not liked behind your back fyi.[/quote] Plenty of friends pal. You are not liked right here to your virtual face on this site because you talk out of your ass. [quote name="Valleygolfer" url="/t/81079/jason-amanda-dufner-getting-a-divorce/252#post_1123569"]I guess you are saying Dufner couldn't be where he is without Amanda? [/quote] I did not say anything like that. I did not say anything about you and I did not pass judgment on Amanda and Jason. I know next to nothing about their relationship which is exactly how much you know.

[big-e]

brand new to this......

obviously the Dufner's are a very polarizing "couple" (?)..... Did I miss something? ..... When did anybody start caring about the Dufner's (especially the one that doesn't play golf)?

[Gunther]

brand new to this......  obviously the Dufner's are a very polarizing "couple" (?)..... Did I miss something? ..... When did anybody start caring about the Dufner's (especially the one that doesn't play golf)?

Right after he grabbed her ass after the PGA.

[big-e]

yep.... I missed that.

[Fourputt]

Reading this thread is like watching a long, drawn out, slow motion train wreck.  I can't figure any other reason why I keep coming back except to read outrageous comments by a lot of foolish members who seem to think that they know a lot more about the Duffners than they possibly could.  You people must have a hard time walking with both feet stuck in your mouths.

[Hammer 4]

Ya know, threads like this one, is all about Speculation, and nothing more, with regards as to Why they are divorcing..and frankly, it's no one biz, but theirs. Anytime this happens to folks, a divorce that is, it's a shame, but it happens, I know first hand cuz my parents did when I was about 9...it's part of life, move on.

[saturday]

Of Amanda D? There are dozens of them. Really classy, eh? So natural, so uncontrived. :loco: [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/116994/] [/URL][URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/116995/] [/URL][URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/116996/] [/URL]

Shorty wins the argument. Everyone else loses terribly. Thanks for coming out.

[CraiginKSA]

Reading this thread is like watching a long, drawn out, slow motion train wreck.  I can't figure any other reason why I keep coming back except to read outrageous comments by a lot of foolish members who seem to think that they know a lot more about the Duffners than they possibly could.  You people must have a hard time walking with both feet stuck in your mouths.

I only have one mouth.

The reason this thread is so compelling is that deep down everyone wanted that marriage to work.  We all want the "average looking joe gets the pretty girl and they live happily ever after" story to be real.  Unfortuntately, that's not how it worked out.  When it all fell apart, without the benefit of a definitive reason, the default position was "it's her fault!"  She's the one who keeps posting her assets all over the internet.  She's the one who filed for divorce.  She's the one that broke that poor guy's heart.

There is nothing more boring to watch or read about Leonardo DeCaprio or George Clooney working their way through the roster of models and actresses.  Couldn't care less.  But when you see someone like Lefty and Amy, Jim Furyk and Tabitha (that's her real name BTW) or Jason and Amanda, you really would like that to end well.  I mean, good lord. I'm no heart throb, but I look like Brad Pitt compared to Jim Furyk!

That's why that show "The Big Bang Theory" is so popular - nerds with pretty girls.  It didn't go the distance and now everyone wants to know why.

[Ferguson]

I only have one mouth. :-D The reason this thread is so compelling is that deep down everyone wanted that marriage to work.  We all want the "average looking joe gets the pretty girl and they live happily ever after" story to be real.  Unfortuntately, that's not how it worked out.  When it all fell apart, without the benefit of a definitive reason, the default position was "it's her fault!"  She's the one who keeps posting her assets all over the internet.  She's the one who filed for divorce.  She's the one that broke that poor guy's heart. There is nothing more boring to watch or read about Leonardo DeCaprio or George Clooney working their way through the roster of models and actresses.  Couldn't care less.  But when you see someone like Lefty and Amy, Jim Furyk and Tabitha (that's her real name BTW) or Jason and Amanda, you really would like that to end well.  I mean, good lord. I'm no heart throb, but I look like Brad Pitt compared to Jim Furyk! That's why that show "The Big Bang Theory" is so popular - nerds with pretty girls.  It didn't go the distance and now everyone wants to know why.

I did not want their marriage to work deep down or otherwise. Sometimes it's better to split and move on and not waste time and energy trying to repair incompatibility. Any way you slice it: Incompatibility after 1 year = Incompatibility after 3 years. Thank the lord no kids were involved. Marriage is a 2-way street and fault is equally shared like all of their possessions, depending on the lawyer you hire.

[CraiginKSA]

Yea, I wanted them to be compatible. I wanted them to have a bunch of kids who would run out onto the green and grab Daddy's legs while he planted a big smooch on Amanda's face and grabbed her butt.  I wanted that marriage to last until she was too saggy and wrinkled to post up her goodies on Instagram.

I'm a romantic that way.

But like the song says, after the love is gone, best to get out and move on.

[Mr. Desmond]

I only have one mouth.

The reason this thread is so compelling is that deep down everyone wanted that marriage to work.  We all want the "average looking joe gets the pretty girl and they live happily ever after" story to be real.  Unfortuntately, that's not how it worked out.  When it all fell apart, without the benefit of a definitive reason, the default position was "it's her fault!"  She's the one who keeps posting her assets all over the internet.  She's the one who filed for divorce.  She's the one that broke that poor guy's heart.

No.

I don't care.

People make choices, and sometimes they make poor choices. Why remain miserable, if they are?

[boogielicious]

Reading this thread is like watching a long, drawn out, slow motion train wreck.  I can't figure any other reason why I keep coming back except to read outrageous comments by a lot of foolish members who seem to think that they know a lot more about the Duffners than they possibly could.  You people must have a hard time walking with both feet stuck in your mouths.

This thread is analogous to a bad marriage!  Two sides can't agree.  Conversations get loud and illogical.  The sides say things they don't full mean but can't take back.  This thread needs c ounseling .