In a legal landscape where men are overwhelmingly the ones ordered to pay—and often penalized for simply trying to parent—any reversal of this norm is bound to make headlines. And thanks to TMZ, we now know that professional wrestler and reality TV star Nikki Bella is paying her ex-husband, “Dancing with the Stars” pro Artem Chigvintsev, $3,500 per month in child support following their finalized divorce settlement. But that’s not all: the court-approved deal also includes a one-time lump-sum payment of $200,000 to Artem, Bella’s agreement to cover their son Matteo’s speech therapy costs, and a 50/50 split of extracurriculars.

In a world where fathers routinely face uphill battles in custody and support cases—often labeled as “deadbeats” or dismissed entirely—this case stands out for a very specific reason: it happened at all.

Why This Settlement Is So Rare

Let’s be clear: Artem Chigvintsev is not your average dad navigating family court. He’s a celebrity, a dancer with a steady public profile, and has the financial means to retain high-powered legal counsel. But even so, it is highly uncommon to see a man awarded both meaningful child support and significant financial concessions in a custody-related case—especially when the mother is the higher earner.

According to multiple studies and court statistics, over 90% of child support payors are men. Even in shared custody arrangements, courts are statistically more likely to assign support obligations to fathers, often relying on outdated gender assumptions about caregiving roles and financial responsibility.

In this case, Bella’s higher income—as the more prominent figure in their joint business ventures and media projects—appears to have guided the financial terms. Still, it likely took aggressive advocacy and careful legal positioning for Artem to walk away with what the law technically promises but rarely delivers to men: equity.

The Legal Details

According to TMZ’s reporting, the finalized settlement—reached in November 2024 and only recently approved by a judge—came after a turbulent stretch that included Artem’s August 2024 arrest and mutual restraining orders. Despite that, the final deal appears to reflect a shift toward normalization of co-parenting and financial fairness.

Here’s what the documents reportedly include:

• $3,500/month in child support paid by Nikki Bella to Artem Chigvintsev.
• $200,000 in lump-sum payments to Artem.
• Speech therapy expenses for their son Matteo to be covered by Bella.
• Split responsibility for extracurricular activities.
• Custody sharing with alternating major holidays.
• Bella retains her business entities, including Stephanie Nicole Garcia Entertainment and Bonita Bonita.

It’s a comprehensive agreement that, by many standards, reflects the kind of negotiated outcomes many fathers hope for—but rarely secure.

What This Means for the Broader Conversation

This isn’t just celebrity gossip fodder. It’s a signal that the courts can treat men fairly—when the conditions are right. But those conditions still often include wealth, visibility, and access to competent legal teams.

For everyday fathers without fame or funds, the outcome might have been very different. Most don’t see a penny in support, even when they’re primary caregivers. Many are saddled with crushing legal fees, denied due process, or alienated from their children altogether based on accusations alone.

Artem’s case shows what’s possible, not what’s typical.

The Road Ahead

As conversations about gender equity continue to evolve, it’s time we apply that lens to all parents. Equity must be a two-way street—financially, emotionally, and legally.

Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev’s settlement may be rare, but it shouldn’t be. If courts can acknowledge that fathers sometimes deserve support too, perhaps we’re one step closer to a future where family court doesn’t default to outdated scripts.

Until then, we’ll keep watching—and reporting.