• Tom Girardi sentenced to seven years and three months for embezzling client funds.
• Girardi stole over $15 million in a Ponzi scheme while living a lavish lifestyle.
• He is facing fines of $35,000 and must pay over $2.3 million in restitution.
• Judge stated Girardi further victimized clients at their lowest points in life.
• Girardi's estranged wife, Erika Jayne, did not face charges despite his fraudulent activities.

Tom Girardi, a former prominent attorney known for his role on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for embezzling over $15 million from his clients. U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton also imposed a fine of $35,000 and ordered Girardi to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution, conveying that Girardi had "used the settlements of catastrophically injured clients to underwrite a lifestyle of 'private jets and country clubs'" for himself and his estranged wife, Erika Jayne, according to latimes and CBS News.

During the court proceedings, Girardi, now 86 years old, was notably found guilty of four counts of wire fraud in August 2024, with the judge emphasizing that he "further victimized these people and did so at the lowest point in their lives." This sentiment was echoed by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who remarked that Girardi was a "thief and a liar" who misled his clients while presenting himself as a champion for justice, as reported by Business Insider and Reuters.

Girardi's actions included diverting settlement funds to sustain his extravagant lifestyle, which has come under scrutiny in light of the financial distress he caused to clients, many of whom had experienced severe injuries or loss. His conviction follows a history of deceit, including accusations of running a "textbook Ponzi scheme" and using stolen client funds to pay off other settlements while neglecting payments owed to injured clients, according to CBS News, Business Insider, and Reuters.

Girardi's estranged wife, Erika Jayne, while not charged with any wrongdoing, remains a significant figure in the entertainment spotlight linked to Girardi's fraudulent schemes and their impact. Girardi's life of luxury became the subject of skepticism amidst his legal challenges, leading his firm to involuntary bankruptcy in late 2020 and earning him disbarment in July 2022, as noted by latimes and CBS News.