DIVVY IT UP: Antonio Villaraigosa’s newest divorce settlement includes an unusual division of spousal assets: the rights to use his name. The former Los Angeles mayor — who announced last summer he’ll vie to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026 — recently settled his split with now ex-wife Patricia Govea, agreeing to give her a lump payment of $550,000. The couple’s settlement, first reported by the tabloid “In Touch,” is the latest example of how the former mayor’s personal life — and personal finances — have been a recurring subplot in his political career. Villaraigosa once lamented to the Los Angeles Times that when he left the LA mayor’s mansion in 2013, he had “no job, no house, no car.” He later went on to make millions as a consultant. This is the second divorce for Villaraigosa, whose first, 20-year marriage famously fell apart in 2007 after an affair with a TV reporter who had been assigned to cover him. The former mayor got his distinctive last name from that relationship — he and his then-wife merged his surname, Villar, with hers, Raigosa. That name is now part of Villaraigosa’s current settlement, which requires Govea to effectively give it back to him. Under their agreement, she will return to using her maiden name — and can’t use Villaraigosa for “any social, marketing or business purpose” as of Dec. 6. Christopher Melcher, a Los Angeles divorce attorney, said that part of the agreement is uncommon, as it’s typically “the former wife's right to continue using her married name or have her maiden name restored.” Without the settlement, the court wouldn’t have been able to compel the name change, he said. “I do understand where he would want to avoid confusion,” Melcher said. “Maybe there's another Mrs. Villaraigosa in the cards, or just misuse of the name that could have political fallout for him.” Villaraigosa’s team did not provide a comment on the settlement. Govea married Villaraigosa in 2016 and was involved in his 2018 run for governor. In a declaration from their divorce case, she described a “demanding and exhausting” campaign schedule that involved extensive travel, fundraising and networking — even English classes for Govea, who lived in Mexico before their marriage. In addition to the $550,000, Govea gets another $200,000 in reimbursed real estate fees and a 2016 Range Rover. Villaraigosa keeps their $3 million Beverly Hills home and a leased 2024 Volvo midsize SUV. He also gets their Netflix and other streaming accounts, which the settlement was undoubtedly hinging on. Melcher said he had never seen a Netflix account awarded in a divorce agreement, calling it “really bizarre.” The size of the lump-sum payment Govea will receive is likely in line with the spousal support she would’ve received, due to the couple’s short marriage, Melcher said. Villaraigosa built much of his wealth after serving as mayor from 2005 to 2013, the Los Angeles Times reported in 2017, when he was in the midst of his first run for governor against Newsom. He went from earning about $167,000 in 2011 to more than $1.3 million in 2016, with much of the money coming from consulting fees. Most recently, Villaraigosa worked for consulting and lobbying group Actum, although he has since stepped away from the firm to run for governor. IT’S THURSDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@politico.com.
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