We all know Sonja Morgan as the flamboyant, confident, fur hat with yoga clothes wearing housewife who has a taste for luxury on The Real Housewives of New York. Sonja, whose money struggles has been highlighted this season, is now opening up on her unfavorable situation and what she plans to do to get out of it.
Sonja, who was forced to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy after being sued for a failed movie venture, reveals to the NY Post that her never-ending divorce is adding to her financial troubles. She states, “I’m sure the world thinks, ‘Sonja doesn’t have to worry, she’s got that husband there for her.’ But I’m on my own.” The absent husband she is referring to is her ex, 80-year-old John Adams Morgan, who, according to court papers filed by Sonja, owes her a $3 million divorce judgment and over $300,000 in alimony.
Sonja, 47, also claims that her ex-husband, whose family tree includes J.P. Morgan and President John Adams, has prohibited her from using, visiting or selling the properties the couple still co-owns. For someone who lives on his own private $19 million island, Sonja feels her ex is being a tad stingy. Because the divorce remains unsettled, Sonja fears she will have to sell her $6 million Upper East Side home featured on RHONY. Through his attorney, Adams Morgan tells his reason for the delay in payment. He believes the divorce judgment exceeds the amount he promised to pay in pre and post-nuptial agreements, and he is appealing the judge’s order.
A source also tells E! News that Sonja, who earns $275,000 a year from RHONY, is “devastated” and hoping she can keep the home for her daughter. “She wants to sell it back to her ex husband, so she can make that money off it and her daughter can live there, but he’s refusing. She wants to keep it for her daughter, but it seems she’ll have to sell it and lose it altogether,” states the source.
Meanwhile, Sonja has a plan to get back on track financially, and that plan includes emulating former Housewife cast member Bethenny Frankel. Sonja tells Popeater, “I’ll be like Bethenny. I’ll do the deals first, then the baby, then get married. Bethenny is funny as hell. I enjoyed my time with her. I’m going to be on E! Hollywood Story for Bethenny. She’s one smart cookie, and I’m following right behind her.”
Sonja also opens up about the business deals that added to her money woes. “I woke up one morning and decided to be a movie producer. I put a slate of five movies together, and I started Sonja Productions. I had a movie come out with Forrest Whittaker and Gabrielle Anwar, and we got two awards, and it was on a roll. And then one of my movie deals, it was one big misunderstanding, and then they sued me and I wasn’t adequately represented, and I lost. That’s ok I’m a survivor. I’ll be fine. I’ll take care of Sonja. What goes around comes around, and the universe always gives back. And I’m such a giver.”
Of course, as we all know, where Bethenny made her fortune from Skinnygirl, Sonja is hoping to do the same with toaster ovens. More power to you, Sonja! Sonja is pictured above with her daughter Quincy Morgan at the June 29 World premiere of Cirque du Soleil ‘Zarkana.
Photo credit: Joseph Marzullo/Wenn.com
UPDATE – Photos of John Adams Morgan below –
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SONJA’S MONEY WOES? WILL SHE BE THE NEXT BETHENNY FRANKEL?
