Denise Richards ‘Was Taken Aback’ When Aaron Phypers Filed for Divorce After 6 Years of Marriage

Denise Richards was adamant. On the March 4 premiere of Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, the 54-year-old declared that she would “never” get divorced again after the 2005 breakdown of her marriage to Charlie Sheen turned into one of the nastiest splits in Hollywood history. “Even if we hate each other, I’m not gonna f**king get divorced,” she told husband Aaron Phypers, who agreed, saying, “No, we’ll just have different homes or something, but we’re not gonna hate each other.”

That may no longer be the case. After six years of marriage, the former wellness pro, 52, filed for divorce from the actress July 7, citing “irreconcilable differences” and listing July 4 as the date of separation. “It hasn’t been great between them, but Denise still thought they could work things out,” a source tells Star. “Denise was taken aback when Aaron filed for divorce. She didn’t think he’d actually do it.” Adding to the humiliation, it appears Aaron is going after the actress’ money. Says the source, “There is no doubt he will try to get as much as he can.”

Love After Heartbreak

The pair met in 2017 when Denise sought “preventative DNA repair” at Aaron’s since-shuttered Malibu, Calif., wellness clinic, Quantum 360. “We would start talking about different things because we knew a lot of the same people and same interests, and I started to develop an attraction,” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star recalled on Bravo’s After Show. A year later, they wed on Sept. 8 before family, friends — and her castmates.

“My thoughts were, if I’m going to be part of a reality show, I need to keep it real [and] show that part of my life even though it’s a personal moment,” Denise posted of letting Bravo capture the nuptials. Allowing cameras into their lives, however, also invited public scrutiny, especially into Aaron’s business. After one episode where he discussed atoms, a fan scoffed it sounded like “a giant scam for rich people.”

Legal Troubles

It didn’t help that in 2024, a man named Rupert Perry filed a lawsuit against Aaron for breach of oral contract and fraud/false promise. According to court documents, his late wife, Elina Katsioula-Beall, sought stem cell treatment for cancer at Aaron’s center, which Aaron allegedly claimed “had a 98% success rate and he was so confident in it that, if it did not work, he would refund … fifty percent (50%) of the money.” Instead, Elina’s tumors grew 25 percent, and when the couple asked for their $63,000 back, the filing alleges, Aaron “ignored” the request and suggested that Elina undergo another round of treatment instead.

Aaron, who also owes $228,000 to the Creditors Adjustment Bureau, reportedly has yet to reply in court. But with the closing of Quantum 360, his income dried up. In his divorce filing, he claims he hasn’t made any money since. Tellingly, he is requesting spousal support from Denise, who he alleges earns $250,000 a month from OnlyFans, the risque subscription service, and other ventures. He also detailed the couple’s monthly spending habits: $20,000 on clothes, $15,000 on dining out and $15,000 on entertainment. “Aaron has not contributed anything since he closed his facility down,” says the source. “It’s raised a lot of eyebrows among Denise’s friends, who think he’s been taking advantage.”

Tensions At Home

He’s not the only one getting handouts. On Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, the actress revealed that Aaron’s family was living in her Malibu home. “My living situation is a little confusing,”  she admitted, saying her husband’s parents and brother came for a three-day visit, then stayed for more than three years. She wound up moving into townhouses she rented for Aaron and her daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20 (with ex Charlie), and Eloise, 14, who she adopted in 2011.

They weren’t the happiest of homes. In September 2021, Sami announced on TikTok that she’d moved out of the “hell house” and briefly moved in with her father, 59. “We were all fighting constantly,” she recently shared on Gia Giudice’s podcast, Casual Chaos. “I was really struggling mentally in that house, and there’s obviously a lot that I wish I could say, but I’ll get in trouble for saying [it].” What Denise’s friends will say is this: “They aren’t surprised by the divorce,” spills the source. “They are saying Denise will probably be forced to fork over a lot of money because she’s the breadwinner.”