The 2013 divorce of NFL broadcaster and former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders from Deion Sanders wife Pilar Sanders may be old news, but the differences between the two continue to rage on. In fact, the two were back in court in November 2021, where a Texas appeals court overturned a $3 million judgement Deion had previously won in a defamation lawsuit against Pilar.
In 2013, Deion Sanders and wife Pilar Sanders were granted a divorce after 12 years of marriage. Prior to their marriage, they had a prenuptial agreement drafted that took much of the calculation work out of the divorce. The agreement was found to be valid and stated that all marital property was to be divided equally and that Deion would pay Pilar $100,000 for every year they were married. Legal custody and primary placement was also awarded to Deion with Pilar having only visitation rights.
The two headed back to court over custody issues over the years, and also regarding the defamation case the former Cowboy brought against the woman who was once Deion Sanders wife, Pilar. Deion claimed Pilar accused him of domestic violence on a national television program, as well as on social media and in online videos.
In 2015, Deion was seeking to reduce Pilar’s visitation rights claiming that her inability to control her behavior was damaging to their children. Pilar requested primary custody of the three children despite the fact that her visitation was revoked after being found in contempt of court and serving seven days in jail.
During an initial hearing, Pilar admitted to not having a job or earning any income since their divorce in 2013. She also admitted to not contributing to the medical, school or living expenses of the couple’s three children. An investigation into the abuse allegations against Deion found no evidence to suggest abuse of any kind ever took place.
While Deion was awarded full custody of his three children with Pilar (sons Shilo and Sheduer, and daughter Shelomi) at one point, and then Pilar was granted primary custody of the two youngest children in 2017, the custody drama may finally be nearing an end. The couple’s youngest children, son Shedeur born in 2002 and daughter Shelomi born in 2003, are both adults now. (Deion Sanders’s first wife Carolyn Chamber is the mother of Deion’s two oldest children, Deion Jr. and Deiondra.)
While the Sanders divorce may be done and over, the impact that a defamation case can have on the Hall of Famer could continue to be detrimental to his reputation and earning. Like the Sanders, couples with a high net worth or very public profile can make family law issues even more complex. With a team of trusted divorce attorneys, these issues can be handled in an effective and discrete manner.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, “NFL broadcaster Deion Sanders, ex-wife Pilar Sanders back in court over differences,” Valerie Wigglesworth, Oct. 28, 2015
