Mel Owens opened up about his divorce during The Golden Bachelor premiere on Wednesday and how difficult of a year it was.

Nevertheless, he did not address the current legal dispute with his ex-wife, Fabiana Owens, who is reportedly still anticipating payment from him following the finalization of their divorce months ago.

As per recent court documents obtained by the Daily Mail, the 66-year-old former professional football player owes his ex-wife nearly $1 million and faces the potential loss of his home.

Mel and Fabiana’s divorce was finalized in December 2024 after a four-year legal struggle. During that time, they reached several agreements, including Fabiana, then 47, giving up her claim to spousal support and relinquishing their marital home.

The couple’s former home, which is now occupied by Mel, is located in Aliso Viejo, California, and was purchased in 2008 for $840,000.

The five-bedroom, three-bathroom home, which has a pool in the backyard and built-in barbecue, is now estimated to be worth over $2 million.

The Golden Bachelor star Mel Owens has failed to mention his ongoing legal battle between him and his ex-wife, Fabiana, during the show’s premiere

His ex, Fabiana Owens, has revealed that he has yet to pay the full amount of money that he was ordered to pay her when their divorce was finalized last year

He was ordered to pay Fabiana an equalization payment of $980,000 on or before February 28, 2025.

According to Fabiana’s recent court filing, Mel had not paid the full $980,000 and has only paid $40,000. 

‘Mel has flagrantly violated the clear and unambiguous terms of the Judgment,’ she writes. And he has yet to inform her ‘when and how he intends to pay the balance owing.’

Fabiana notes, ‘To date, he has made only a single partial payment of $40,000, leaving an unpaid balance of $940,000 – exclusive of the interest that continues to accrue.’

The accumulated interest to date brings the total amount to $978,887.67.

Time is ticking, as each day he fails to pay her, he’s racking up ‘$257.53 per day’ after her last filing on July 29.

In addition to paying the $978,887.67 amount – plus whatever interest to date – she’s asking him to pay $25,000 in attorney’s fees… which she doesn’t believe is much for Mel, as she alleges he’s getting paid a hefty monthly income.

‘Respondent [Mel Owens] receives an estimated $20,000 per month in retirement income plus his compensation for his work on The Golden Bachelor,’ she states, without detailing his paycheck for the show.

The travel group manager alleges Mel owes her $978,887.67, according to court filings obtained by the Daily Mail

Since Mel did not pay her the equalization payment by February, she filed a new motion with the court asking that he put their marital home in California (pictured) for sale 

That’s not all. She’s requesting in her filing that he ‘immediately’ put the marital home for sale after she did not receive the money she was promised.

She requested the following order be granted: ‘The former marital residence… shall be listed for sale by a broker of Petitioner’s election, immediately, and remain listed until sold. 

‘The Respondent, Mel Owens, shall vacate the marital residence within fourteen days of the date of the hearing on this RFO (Request for Order) to facilitate its expeditious sale.’

The seller’s net proceeds of the house sale, she requests, shall be distributed to her (as part of the over $978,000 she’s owed), $25,000 to pay her attorney’s fees, and the balance – after payment is made on ‘the outstanding balance owing on the mortgage, sales commissions, and ordinary costs of sale’ – shall be distributed to Mel.

Fabiana makes her argument in the court document, informing the court that she has made ‘repeated good faith efforts to resolve this issue informally, including multiple inquiries from my counsel to Mel’s attorney regarding the status of payment and his intentions.’

However, ‘Those efforts have been met with silence. Mel has offered no explanation, no timeline, and no indication whatsoever that he intends or is even able to make the equalization payment he expressly agreed to under the terms of the Judgment.

‘Making matters worse, I recently learned that he is now at least one month delinquent on the mortgage, thereby compounding my financial exposure and placing me at further risk as a co-obligor on the loan.’

The travel group manager slams him in the court filing, saying that he has a ‘longstanding and deliberate pattern of disregard for court orders.’

Mel made his debut as the season two lead of The Golden Bachelor on Wednesday (pictured with host Jesse Palmer)

The former pro football player greeted 23 women vying for his heart 

‘Mel has previously failed to pay court-ordered child and spousal support, resulting in substantial arrears, and has twice been sanctioned by the court for refusing to comply with the discovery process,’ she added in the filing.

The issue at hand will be discussed in an upcoming hearing taking place next month. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mel and Fabiana’s attorneys for comment. In response, Mel’s attorney said, ‘This matter is still pending and, until it resolves, I will not comment further.’ 

Meanwhile, Fabiana’s attorney said, ‘It’s our firm’s policy not to comment on pending litigation.’ 

Fabiana, who has since moved on and is in a new relationship, filed for divorce in February 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. Per the divorce petition, they separated 20 days prior to Fabiana filing.

The couple got married in May 2002 and welcomed two children together: sons Lucas, 20, and Andre, 18.  

The parents 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.

He was also ordered to pay an equalization payment of $980,000, which, per the filings, was ‘deliberately structured to effectuate a comprehensive resolution on a number of financial issues’ between the former couple.

Mel met the new Golden Bachelor contestants in the Bachelor mansion

The premiere featured a Queen Mary cruise ship date and a cheerleading showdown judged by Paula Abdul. Afterward, the contestants enjoyed a pool party with shirtless Mel

In a shocking twist, Mel sent 10 ladies home by the end of the premiere episode

This amount included the equal division of community property, $165,312 in unpaid child and spousal support, previously ordered monetary sanctions, and a contribution toward Fabiana’s attorney’s fees and costs.

In Mel’s income and expense declaration form, filed December 2024, the NFL star reported that he was making $1,000 per month from his employer Namanny, Byrne & Owens. 

While it is unclear why he would only be making $1,000 per month, he did state in his filing that his assets from his checking, savings and other accounts totaled $250,000 and other real estate property totaled $2.5 million.

Season two of The Golden Bachelor premiered on September 24. Mel met 23 women at the Bachelor mansion… but by the end, he had sent 10 of those ladies home.

‘I have anxiety,’ Mel said during the premiere episode. ‘It’s sort of overwhelming. Age doesn’t matter. When they walk out, I’m not thinking age. I’m looking at feelings for connections. It’s the chemistry. I hope these women don’t judge me on what they heard, but they probably do.

‘It doesn’t matter how old you are. Falling in love never stops being magical.’

As far as how his ex feels about him going on reality TV, she previously 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.’

The former pro football player previously sparked backlash for making what some found to be ageist comments, saying he prefers women ’45 to 60′. He later apologized for the comments.