Billionaire Sid Bass Accused of 'Greed' by Ex-Girlfriend Amid $30M Penthouse Purchase

Billionaire oil tycoon Sid Bass is embroiled in a legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Oona Sperr, who alleges he promised her a $50 million lump sum payment upon their separation in September 2024, only to later claim 'cash flow issues.' The lawsuit states that Bass, 84, reneged on this alleged promise despite purchasing a $30 million penthouse in New York City just months after their decade-long relationship ended.

Sperr, 64, asserts in court papers that Bass, who has an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion, insisted he could not afford the lump sum. When Sperr questioned his decision, the Texas native reportedly cited "cash flow issues." The lawsuit claims Sperr found this explanation "impossible to credit," citing Bass's assurances throughout their relationship that his wealth far exceeded public estimates and that providing for her would never be a financial burden.

Despite these alleged financial constraints, property records indicate Bass purchased a 5,200-square-foot, two-story penthouse on the Upper East Side for $30 million. The transaction, completed through a trust in March 2025 and later transferred to his and his new wife's names, offered views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

Bass, who married society maven Althea Irene Viafora Kress in August 2025, has filed a motion to dismiss Sperr's lawsuit, accusing her of fabricating a "tabloid-ready narrative" driven by "vindictiveness and greed." His filing suggests Sperr sought at least $400 million after learning of his marriage, attempting to leverage "baseless allegations" for a settlement.

Sperr's lawsuit also alleges that Bass's new wife, Kress, influenced the breakup, spending two years "grooming" Bass, who she claims was experiencing cognitive decline due to Parkinson's disease and previous mini-strokes. Bass's legal team has called these allegations "offensive" and "unsubstantiated," pointing out that Sperr still held power of attorney and healthcare proxy for him.

Bass's motion highlights that he offered Sperr "cash and other valuable benefits," along with continued residence in his townhouse. During their relationship, Sperr allegedly received a $250,000 annual salary, lived rent-free in luxury residences, had expenses paid, and received jewelry and healthcare for herself and her mother. Althea Bass's attorneys have described Sperr's complaint as a "heart balm" claim, akin to those New York law banned nearly a century ago due to their potential for "fraud and extortion."

The legal filings reveal a complex history, including Bass's previous marriages. Sperr's suit details Bass's 1988 infidelity with his second wife, Mercedes Tavacoli Kellogg Bass, which led to a high-profile divorce from his first wife, Anne Hendricks Bass, who reportedly received between $200 million and $500 million. Sperr met Bass in 1995 while he was still married to Kellogg Bass, who allegedly received an undisclosed lump sum, annual allowances, and properties upon their 2011 divorce.

Bass's legal team argues that Sperr's claim is an attempt to disguise a "palimony" claim as a breach of contract, asserting no valid contract existed as they were not married and no written agreement for financial support was signed. Separately, Bass had filed a petition in Texas seeking clarification that he and Sperr were not in a common-law marriage, a petition he later voluntarily dismissed after Sperr filed her $400 million suit.

Bass, ranked 380th on Forbes' 2026 list of America's wealthiest people with a fortune of $4.3 billion, is contesting Sperr's allegations. He contends that Sperr's demands have become increasingly detached from reality and that her attorney allegedly threatened a "disparaging lawsuit" if financial demands were not met, including an attempt to void his current marriage by claiming a common-law status.