Wife of Viacom’s CEO Files for Divorce, Seeks $3 Billion

The wife of media titan Sumner Redstone, chairman and chief executive of Viacom Inc., whose company is in a $37-billion deal to acquire CBS Inc., has filed for divorce and is seeking $3 billion, her attorney said Sunday.

Phyllis Redstone, 74, filed in a Boston court for divorce from her 76-year-old husband, according to a Viacom spokesman. They have been married for 52 years.

The company issued a statement saying the suit was a personal matter that would have no effect on Viacom’s proposed merger with CBS. Redstone is set to remain chairman and chief executive once Viacom’s merger with CBS takes place.

The Redstone family interests in National Amusements Inc., which has a controlling stake in Viacom, “are structured in such a way that the personal matters between Mr. and Mrs. Redstone will not affect the ownership, control or management of Viacom, nor will they affect the merger with CBS,” the company said in a statement.

Phyllis Redstone previously filed for divorce in November 1993 in the midst of a high-stakes takeover battle Viacom was waging with home shopping network QVC for control of Paramount Pictures, a Viacom spokesman said, adding that she withdrew the suit three weeks later. Viacom later acquired Paramount for about $10 billion.

Phyllis Redstone’s attorney, Irving Helman of Boston-based law firm Nutter, McClennen & Fish, confirmed a New York Post front-page report Sunday that she was now seeking $3 billion from her husband. He declined to further comment on the case.

A CBS spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

George Abrams, Sumner Redstone’s long-time attorney, said in the Viacom statement that his client, who owns 67% of Viacom stock, would make no comment about the suit, which the court has sealed.