Reality Star DeAnna Pappas Wins $27K From Ex in Divorce Court

When two people who’ve built their lives in the spotlight end up in divorce court, the stakes feel higher—and the details matter more. That’s exactly what happened when Bachelorette alum DeAnna Pappas faced off against her ex-husband Stephen Stagliano in an L.A. courtroom, and the judge sided with her after she made a compelling case about her financial struggles.

The core issue: Stephen had withdrawn $109,000 from a retirement account that DeAnna had an interest in during their split. He didn’t deny taking the money, though he maintained he wasn’t acting with any malicious intent. Still, a judge ordered him to pay her $27,240 for money owed under their divorce settlement. The payment plan? $500 a month, with a catch—if he misses even one payment, the entire amount becomes due immediately. That’s the kind of stipulation a court includes when trust is already broken.

The backdrop here reveals why DeAnna needed this ruling to stick. She told the court she’s been surviving off her savings after losing her previous job. Now she’s working as a flight attendant, earning around $2,618 per month. Meanwhile, Stephen faced his own financial hit when he lost his job in the gaming industry and had to pivot to Uber driving to make ends meet. That’s why the court recently reduced his child support obligations—both exes are struggling. They share two minor children and were married from 2011 until their 2023 split.

What makes this case worth paying attention to isn’t the drama (though there’s certainly some of that). It’s the intersection of two people trying to rebuild their lives while navigating a system that’s supposed to hold everyone accountable. DeAnna’s willingness to fight for what she was owed, even as she’s rebuilding financially, shows someone taking her situation seriously. And the judge’s decision—coupled with that all-or-nothing payment clause—sends a message that financial obligations in divorce don’t disappear just because times get tough for either party.

The reality? Both are working harder than they were when they were together, and neither is living the kind of financial cushion you might assume comes with reality TV fame.