Jefferies Says George Weiss Bankruptcy Deal With Wife Is a Ploy

Hedge fund manager George Allen Weiss’ request to approve an $8 million settlement with his wife over prenuptial claims is an “insider deal” meant to divert value from creditors, Jefferies Financial Group said.

Weiss asked a court to approve the deal after failing to pay his wife $800,000 each year on their anniversary, including a missed payment this June, pursuant to a 2007 agreement. Jefferies, one of his largest creditors, filed an objection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday, calling the request “unprecedented” and arguing it doesn’t meet settlement requirements.

Weiss filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June, months after a federal judge ruled that he’s liable for more than $100 million in debt his firm owes to Jefferies.

Jefferies said Weiss didn’t disclose the prenuptial agreement to the court or creditors and that the deal wasn’t negotiated or reviewed by an independent fiduciary. Weiss argued in his motion that the parties “entered into good faith discussions through counsel.”

“The fact that the debtor and his wife are still married, and still living together, demonstrates the debtor’s inherent conflict here,” Jefferies said in its objection. “This is an insider deal.”

The hedge fund manager said in court papers that his wife, Patricia Bravo-Weiss, has historically relied on his financial support for her “maintenance and well-being,” and that the proposed settlement offers a “responsible and compassionate resolution” that is also in the best interests of the estate and creditors.

Weiss provided no copy of the prenuptial agreement, no payment history, and no basis to treat the claims as priority “domestic support obligations” under the US bankruptcy code, Jefferies said. She also didn’t file a proof of claim with the prenuptial agreement, it said.

The motion fails to show the settlement is fair, equitable, and in the best interests of the estate, Jefferies said. It doesn’t demonstrate how the deal avoids costly litigation or cite precedent for treating claims between married, cohabiting spouses as “domestic support obligations.”

“The motion contains no allegations of any facts that would show that the settlement of Mrs. Bravo-Weiss’ claim at 100 cents on the dollar is in the best interests of all creditors,” Jefferies said.

The investment bank also questioned that his wife didn’t try to enforce the agreement before despite the alleged “breaches.”

The court will hold a prehearing conference on the motion on Sept. 30, according to court papers.

Weiss is represented by Venable LLP. Jefferies is represented by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (US) LLP and Meland Budwick PA.

The case is George Allen Weiss, Bankr. S.D. Fla., No. 25-16349, objection 8/27/25.