Karen Weitzul is best known as the first wife of former Los Angeles lawyer Thomas Girardi. The couple married in August 1964, near the start of his legal career, and Karen filed for divorce in October 1983. Unlike Girardi’s later wife Erika Jayne, Karen never became a television personality. She has stayed private, so reliable details about her age, career, children and current life remain limited.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Karen Weitzul |
| Also known as | Karen Weitzul Girardi |
| Known for | Being Thomas Girardi’s first wife |
| Former husband | Thomas “Tom” Girardi |
| Marriage year | 1964 |
| Divorce filed | October 1983 |
| Reported later settlement | A divorce agreement is reported to have continued into 1989 |
| Public career | Not reliably confirmed |
| Date of birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Birthplace | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | Not clearly confirmed by strong public sources |
| Reported financial dispute | Unpaid spousal support |
| Public profile | Very private |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Who Is Karen Weitzul?
Karen Weitzul is a private American woman whose name appears mainly in stories about Tom Girardi’s personal and legal history.
She was part of Girardi’s life before he became a nationally known lawyer. Their marriage began in 1964, the same year he completed his law degree at Loyola Law School.
Karen did not later build a public career in television, law or entertainment. Therefore, most people only learned her name after Girardi became connected with Erika Jayne and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Interest grew again when Girardi’s law firm collapsed and his former wife reportedly pursued unpaid spousal support.
However, Karen herself has rarely spoken publicly.
What Is the Correct Spelling of Her Name?
The correct spelling most often found in public records is:
Karen Weitzul
Some people mistakenly search for:
- Karen Weitzel
- Karen Weitzel Girardi
- Karen Girardi
- Tom Girardi’s first wife
- Erika Jayne’s husband’s first wife
The surname “Weitzul” appears in historical records connected with her family and in reports about her marriage.
An obituary for her mother also used the name Karen Weitzul Girardi. It listed Karen among four surviving children, alongside Thomas Weitzul, Patricia Weitzul Price and James Weitzul.
Why Is Karen Weitzul Famous?
Karen is not famous because of a public profession.
Instead, people search for her because she was married to Tom Girardi long before his later fame, reality television appearances and criminal case.
Girardi eventually became known as a powerful personal-injury lawyer. He worked on large legal cases and presented himself as someone who helped people harmed by major companies.
However, his public image later collapsed.
In August 2024, a federal jury found him guilty of four wire-fraud charges. Then, on June 3, 2025, a judge sentenced him to 87 months in federal prison for taking settlement money that belonged to clients.
As news outlets examined his past, they also looked at his former marriages. That attention brought Karen’s name back into public searches.
What Is Known About Karen Weitzul’s Early Life?
Very little verified information is available about Karen’s childhood.
Her exact birth date, birthplace and education have not been confirmed through a detailed public biography.
Still, one historical record gives a small look at her younger life.
A photograph dated November 17, 1959, lists Karen Weitzul as one of ten finalists in a Loyola Homecoming Queen contest. The image forms part of a historical collection connected with the University of Southern California Libraries.
This record shows that Karen took part in a Loyola social event during the late 1950s.
However, it does not confirm her age, school course or how she met Girardi.
Some articles assume they met through Loyola because both had connections with the institution. That idea may be possible, but no clear interview from Karen confirms their first meeting.
When Did Karen Weitzul Marry Tom Girardi?
Karen and Tom Girardi married in August 1964.
This was an important year for Girardi because he had just earned his law degree and was beginning his professional journey.
At that point, he had not yet become the wealthy and well-known lawyer later seen in television reports.
The marriage covered the early years of his legal rise. Karen was beside him before the major court cases, expensive lifestyle and reality-TV attention connected with his later life.
However, there is almost no trustworthy reporting about their wedding ceremony, home or daily marriage.
Those parts of their relationship remained private.
How Long Were Karen and Tom Girardi Married?
Karen filed for divorce in October 1983, about 19 years after their 1964 wedding.
Later reporting refers to a divorce settlement reached in 1989. This suggests that the financial and legal process may have continued after the first filing.
It is therefore difficult to give one simple number for the length of the full legal process.
The clearest timeline is:
- They married in August 1964.
- Karen filed for divorce in October 1983.
- Later reports connect their support agreement with a 1989 settlement.
- Financial support questions continued for decades afterward.
Why Did Karen Weitzul Divorce Tom Girardi?
The detailed reason behind their separation has not been clearly confirmed.
Karen has not given a major public interview explaining why she ended the marriage.
Many celebrity websites try to create dramatic stories about their relationship. However, those claims often lack court records, direct quotes or trustworthy reporting.
The safest statement is that Karen filed for divorce in 1983.
Anything more personal should remain private unless supported by reliable evidence.
A divorce can involve many reasons, including emotional problems, different goals, financial disagreements or a breakdown in trust. Yet none of those general possibilities should be described as Karen’s confirmed reason.
Did Karen Weitzul Receive Spousal Support?
Later reports say Karen’s divorce agreement included monthly spousal support.
In 2022, media coverage based on bankruptcy filings reported that Girardi had fallen behind on payments. Karen reportedly claimed that she was owed approximately $245,000.
The reports said the original support amount was $10,000 per month.
Karen later agreed to a reported $200,000 settlement connected with Girardi’s bankruptcy and the sale of his Pasadena property. The agreement was said to resolve her outstanding claim and future support rights.
These numbers should be explained carefully.
A $200,000 legal settlement does not mean Karen’s net worth is $200,000. It also does not show the full amount she received throughout the years.
It only represents a reported agreement connected with unpaid support claims.
Why Was Tom Girardi Unable to Pay Her?
By late 2020, Girardi and his law firm faced severe financial and legal trouble.
His law firm, Girardi Keese, entered involuntary bankruptcy. Creditors and former clients claimed that large amounts of money remained unpaid.
Federal prosecutors later proved that Girardi had taken millions of dollars from settlement funds belonging to clients.
The Justice Department said he also used law-firm money for private jets, jewellery, luxury cars, clubs and expenses connected with Erika Jayne’s entertainment company.
Therefore, Karen’s reported unpaid support claim became one small part of a much larger financial collapse.
Many people were trying to recover money from Girardi or his former law firm.
Was Karen Weitzul Involved in Tom Girardi’s Fraud?
No reliable public evidence shows that Karen took part in Girardi’s criminal activity.
She was his first wife, but she had filed for divorce decades before the period covered by his federal fraud conviction.
The Justice Department said Girardi’s proven criminal scheme ran for years while he controlled Girardi Keese. Its public case description does not identify Karen as a defendant or participant.
Her later public connection with the case involved a financial claim against him.
In other words, reports describe her as someone seeking money she believed Girardi owed her, not as someone accused of helping him take money from clients.
It would therefore be unfair to connect Karen personally with his crimes without evidence.
Did Karen Know Erika Jayne?
There is no reliable public information showing a close relationship between Karen Weitzul and Erika Jayne.
Girardi married Karen in 1964. After their marriage ended, he married Kathy Risner in 1993. That second marriage also ended.
Later, in January 2000, Girardi married singer and television personality Erika Jayne.
This means Karen and Erika belonged to very different periods of his life.
Their names became connected in later headlines because Karen’s support claim involved money and property tied to Girardi’s financial collapse.
However, this legal connection does not prove that Karen and Erika had a personal friendship or conflict.
Was Karen Weitzul on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?
Karen is not known as a cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Erika Jayne joined the show and sometimes appeared with Girardi while they were married.
Karen had already lived privately for many years by then.
She did not use the programme to tell her story or build a public image. Most viewers only heard her name later through online articles discussing Girardi’s marriages and bankruptcy.
Therefore, photographs of women appearing with Girardi should not automatically be identified as Karen.
Many websites use unrelated or wrongly labelled images.
Did Karen Weitzul and Tom Girardi Have Children?
Some online pages claim that Karen and Girardi had children together.
However, detailed and trustworthy public confirmation remains limited.
Girardi’s public biographies usually focus on his legal career, later marriages and criminal case. They do not provide a clear and reliable family list showing which children belonged to each marriage.
Because any children would be private adults, articles should avoid repeating names or personal information without strong evidence.
The safest answer is that claims exist, but Karen and Girardi’s family details have not been fully confirmed through reliable public sources.
Who Were Karen Weitzul’s Parents?
A 2007 family obituary identified Karen as a daughter of Mary DuMont.
The notice listed Karen Weitzul Girardi among Mary’s four children. It also named Thomas Weitzul, Patricia Weitzul Price and James Weitzul as Karen’s siblings.
In addition, the obituary said Mary had nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren across the wider family. It did not clearly connect each grandchild with one of the four adult children.
Therefore, the notice provides some reliable family background, but it does not support every detailed claim found on celebrity websites.
What Did Karen Weitzul Do for a Living?
Karen’s professional career has not been reliably documented.
Some online articles may describe her as a businesswoman, social figure or homemaker. However, they rarely provide evidence such as an employer, company profile, interview or professional record.
The 1959 Homecoming Queen photograph shows her involvement in a social event, not a profession.
Being married to a successful lawyer also does not tell us whether she had a separate job.
The most accurate answer is:
Karen Weitzul’s career history remains private and unconfirmed.
How Old Is Karen Weitzul?
Karen’s exact age is not publicly confirmed by a strong source.
Some websites estimate her birth year from the 1959 photograph or from online directory listings. However, estimates are not the same as verified facts.
A person may take part in a college event at different ages. In addition, online directory information can contain mistakes or refer to another person with a similar name.
Therefore, it is better not to publish a specific age without a clear birth record or direct statement.
What Is Karen Weitzul’s Net Worth?
Karen Weitzul’s net worth is unknown.
The reported $200,000 support settlement does not reveal her total wealth.
To calculate net worth, someone would need to know the value of her:
- Savings
- Property
- Investments
- Retirement funds
- Debts
- Taxes
- Legal costs
- Other financial assets
None of this information has been released publicly in a complete form.
Some biography sites give exact figures. Yet those numbers appear to be guesses.
A person can receive a settlement while having more or less wealth than the settlement amount. Therefore, no trustworthy exact total can currently be given.
Where Is Karen Weitzul Now?
Karen’s current life remains private.
Older reporting has connected her with Pasadena, California. However, this information may be old, and it would be wrong to publish a private person’s exact current address.
She does not appear to have become a regular public speaker or television guest.
Also, there is no clearly verified public social-media page where she provides personal updates.
Her low profile seems consistent with the way she has lived for many years.
Does Karen Weitzul Use Instagram?
No clearly verified public Instagram account belonging to Karen has been confirmed.
Searches may show pages that use her name, photographs of Girardi or information copied from biography websites.
However, an account is not genuine simply because it includes a familiar name.
Readers should be careful with any page claiming to represent Karen, especially if it asks for money, private details or personal contact.
Why Is Reliable Information About Karen So Limited?
Karen is a private person, not an entertainer.
Most reliable information about her comes from a few public records:
- Her marriage to Girardi
- Her divorce filing
- The 1959 Loyola photograph
- Her mother’s obituary
- Reports about unpaid spousal support
These sources do not provide enough information for a complete traditional celebrity biography.
Unfortunately, some websites fill the gaps with guesses. They may invent her career, age, children, net worth or current address.
This makes careful research especially important.
A trustworthy article should admit when information is unknown rather than turning assumptions into facts.
Why Are People Still Searching for Karen Weitzul?
Interest in Karen continues because Tom Girardi’s story remains connected with law, money, reality television and betrayal.
People often want to know who he was married to before Erika Jayne.
They also want to understand whether his earlier family relationships were affected by his financial problems.
Karen’s unpaid-support claim gave her story a direct link with Girardi’s bankruptcy.
Still, she should not be treated as part of the entertainment show surrounding him.
Her public story is mainly about an old marriage and a later financial claim—not about seeking fame.
Final Thoughts
Karen Weitzul is best known as Tom Girardi’s first wife.
She married him in August 1964, when his legal career was just beginning. Then, after nearly two decades of marriage, she filed for divorce in October 1983.
Karen stayed away from television and public celebrity life.
Years later, her name returned to the news when she reportedly pursued unpaid spousal support during Girardi’s bankruptcy. Reports said she eventually agreed to a $200,000 settlement.
However, that legal matter does not reveal her full financial life.
Her birth date, profession, children, present home and net worth remain either private or unconfirmed.
Most importantly, no reliable evidence connects Karen with Girardi’s criminal fraud.
She appears to be a private former spouse who became part of a public scandal because Girardi allegedly failed to meet an old financial duty.
The most respectful way to tell her story is to share the confirmed facts while leaving unsupported rumours out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Karen Weitzul?
Karen Weitzul is the first wife of former Los Angeles attorney Tom Girardi.
When did Karen Weitzul marry Tom Girardi?
They married in August 1964.
When did Karen file for divorce?
She filed for divorce in October 1983.
Why did Karen Weitzul divorce Tom Girardi?
The detailed personal reason has not been reliably confirmed.
Did Karen receive spousal support?
Reports say their divorce agreement included monthly support and that she later pursued unpaid payments.
How much was Karen reportedly owed?
Media reports said she claimed approximately $245,000 in unpaid support.
Did Karen receive a settlement?
Reports say she agreed to a $200,000 settlement connected with Girardi’s bankruptcy and property sale.
Was Karen involved in Tom Girardi’s crimes?
No reliable evidence shows that she was involved. She was not identified as a defendant in his federal fraud case.
Is Karen Weitzul related to Erika Jayne?
No. They were married to the same man during different periods, but they are not known to be relatives.
Was Karen on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?
No. She did not become a cast member or television personality.
Did Karen and Tom Girardi have children?
Some websites make this claim, but clear and trustworthy public confirmation remains limited.
What did Karen Weitzul do for work?
Her professional career has not been reliably confirmed.
How old is Karen Weitzul?
Her exact birth date and current age remain unconfirmed.
What is Karen Weitzul’s net worth?
Her net worth is unknown. Online figures are unsupported estimates.
Where is Karen Weitzul today?
Her current location and daily life remain private.
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