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Shakira's Ex-Boyfriend Seeks $100M for Making Her Famous

By Andrew Lu on December 05, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Shakira is being sued by her ex-boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, for a whopping $100 million.

De la Rua, the son of former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua, claims that he helped increase the singer's level of fame and that the two had a verbal commitment that he would receive a part of her earnings should she become famous, reports Fox News.

Well, Shakira became famous. And after the "Hips Don't Lie" singer made it big, she moved on and is currently expecting a baby with soccer star Gerard Pique.

In his $100 million lawsuit, De la Rua says that he increased Shakira's level of fame during the years he worked as her representative, reports Fox News. De la Rua and Shakira were linked for a decade, and the jilted lover says that he and the singer reached a verbal agreement back in 2005 in which he would receive a part of her earnings in exchange for the contribution of his business and marketing skills, among other things. He claims that the "Shakira brand" rose to new levels under his direction.

The acrimony in the end of the relationship is not completely one-sided. Last month, Shakira accused De la Rua of having improperly appropriated funds generated by her musical success during the years he was her manager, according to Fox News.

As the case winds its way to court, De la Rua may have an uphill battle in winning his case. While verbal contracts are typically enforceable, they can be very difficult to prove in court. Unlike a written contract, there are no terms that are spelled out and no signatures showing acknowledgment and agreement.

In fact, lawsuits involving oral contracts frequently devolve into a he-said, she-said battle because of the lack of evidence.

A breach-of-contract lawsuit that results in a $100 million damage award typically needs to be closely scrutinized. Without a written contract, it's not clear what a judge or jury would look at in the case against Shakira.

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