Mel Owens Ex Wife Warns His Contestants As He's Hit with $980K Divorce Settlement

Golden Bachelor Mel Owens' journey to find love will soon begin... but not everyone is happy about him taking on the coveted role.

The 66-year-old former pro football player, who was recently rumored to be replaced after sparking backlash for his ageist comments, is not getting support from his ex-wife, Fabiana Owens, whom he was married to for 17 years.

The Daily Mail confirmed that Owens has not been replaced due to 'negative publicity' and the season will go ahead as planned, with filming expected to commence later this summer.  

When reached for comment about her ex becoming the next Golden Bachelor, Fabiana, 46, issued a stark warning.

She said told the Daily Mail, 'Good luck. I mean, it's going to be bad. But anyway, I don't want to be involved in this.' 

Mel and Fabiana's divorce was just finalized in December 2024 after a four-year court battle, according to court documents exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail.

Fabiana filed for divorce in February 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple got married in May 2002 and welcomed two children together: sons Lucas, 19, and Andre, 18. 

Per the docs, they separated 20 days prior to the hotel marketing director filing.

The parents share joint legal and physical custody, meaning they share equal parenting time - despite the children no longer being minors (Andre turned 18 a month after the divorce was finalized).

Instead of paying for child support, Mel was ordered to pay his youngest child's high school tuition, fees, and costs of extracurricular activities until he graduates.

Although Fabiana had waived all rights to receive ongoing spousal support, alimony, and/or separate maintenance from Mel, the former athlete was ordered to pay his ex the sum of $980,000.

He was ordered by a California judge to pay this amount, nearly $1 million, 'on or before February 28, 2025.' 

This amount was determined by support arrearage (unpaid child and spousal support that accumulated over time), potential child and/or spousal support owed after December 2024, the division of non-retirement community property assets and debts, prior monetary sanction against him by the court, and contribution to Fabiana's attorney fees and costs, as stated in the divorce settlement.

The support arrearage, alone, totaled $165,312, which includes past due and unpaid child support arrears in the amount of $81,629, plus $83,683 past due and unpaid spousal support arrears.