Introduction
Have you heard the name Karen Weitzul and wondered why people look her up? Her name keeps coming back for one big reason. She was the first wife of Tom Girardi, the once-famous Los Angeles lawyer whose career later fell apart.
Karen Weitzul is best known as the first wife of attorney Tom Girardi. She married him in August 1964 and divorced him in 1983, after nearly twenty years of marriage. This was decades before Girardi’s name got tied to fraud, bankruptcy, and his later wife, Erika Jayne from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
In this article, we will look at her early life, her family, her years with Tom Girardi, and where she is now. We will also see why her name came back into the news during Girardi’s legal troubles, even though she had nothing to do with what he did wrong.
Quick Facts: Karen Weitzul
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Karen Weitzul (later Karen Weitzul Girardi) |
| Born | Around 1941, Wisconsin, United States |
| Father | Edward A. Weitzul, civil engineer |
| Mother | Mary R. Weitzul (later Mary R. DuMont) |
| Siblings | Thomas, Patricia, and James Weitzul |
| Education | Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles |
| Spouse | Thomas “Tom” Girardi (married 1964, divorced 1983) |
| Children | None publicly known |
| Known For | First wife of disbarred lawyer Tom Girardi |
| Current Status | Lives a private life, said to be in Pasadena, California |
Who Is Karen Weitzul?
Karen Weitzul is mostly known as the woman who married Tom Girardi before he became one of the most famous trial lawyers in America. She stood by him in his early years, long before his big wins and his later fall. She never built a public career or sought attention.
Her name came back into the news after Girardi’s legal troubles made headlines in the early 2020s. Court papers tied to his bankruptcy mentioned an old spousal-support claim linked to Karen. This pulled her name into public view again, after decades out of sight.
Karen is not a celebrity in the usual sense. She has shown that some of the most interesting stories belong to people who never asked to be in the news.
Karen Weitzul’s Early Life
Karen Weitzul was born around 1941 in Wisconsin, in the United States. She grew up in a Midwestern home that valued discipline, school, and hard work. Her family lived a steady, simple life, which was common back then.
Her father, Edward A. Weitzul, worked as a civil engineer. He helped build roads and other public projects. Her mother, Mary R. Weitzul, later remarried and became known as Mary R. DuMont. Karen grew up with three siblings: Thomas, Patricia, and James.
As the oldest child, Karen took on extra duties from a young age. She helped guide her younger brothers and sister, which shaped her calm, steady nature for life. In the early 1950s, the Weitzul family moved from Wisconsin to Southern California. This was a time when California’s population and jobs were growing fast after World War II.
Karen Weitzul’s Education
Karen Weitzul went to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. While there, she joined campus life and made a strong group of friends. People knew her for her warmth and her quiet, calm manner.
In November 1959, the school named Karen a finalist for Homecoming Queen. This honor showed that people liked and respected her. It placed her right in the middle of the school’s social world at that time.
Her full school record is not widely known today. But her college years connected her to people who would shape her future, including a young law student named Tom Girardi.
How Karen Weitzul Met Tom Girardi
Karen Weitzul met Thomas Girardi through college social groups in Los Angeles in the late 1950s. At the time, Girardi was studying law at Loyola Law School. Students from nearby schools often met at events, and this is likely how the two found each other.
People knew Girardi as driven and bold. Karen, on the other hand, had a calm and caring nature that matched his energy well. Their personalities fit together, and as their friendship grew deeper, it slowly became something more serious.
Karen Weitzul’s Marriage to Tom Girardi
Karen Weitzul married Thomas Vincent Girardi in August 1964. At that point, Girardi was still a new lawyer just getting started. No one could have guessed how big his name would later get in the legal world.
The couple lived in Pasadena, California, a town known for its quiet, settled streets. Karen ran their home life while Girardi worked on growing his law practice. Over time, he became famous as a strong trial lawyer and later started the law firm Girardi Keese.
He won big legal cases, including ones tied to harm caused by pollution. One of his most famous cases even helped inspire the movie Erin Brockovich. Karen, meanwhile, kept their marriage mostly out of the public eye, even as Girardi’s name spread across California.
Karen Weitzul and Tom Girardi’s Divorce
After almost twenty years of marriage, Karen Weitzul and Tom Girardi divorced in 1983. The real reasons behind their split were never shared in public. Like many private couples, they kept the details of their breakup away from the news.
As part of the divorce deal, Karen reportedly received spousal support payments, around $10,000 a month at the time. This deal showed how much Girardi’s wealth had grown during their marriage. For years afterward, this agreement stayed a quiet, private matter.
This calm ending stood in sharp contrast to what happened decades later, when Girardi’s career fell apart in full public view.
Why Karen Weitzul’s Name Resurfaced
Tom Girardi’s legal troubles became one of the biggest law scandals in the country in recent years. He faced claims of misusing client money, many lawsuits, and finally bankruptcy. In 2022, he lost his law license, and a court later found him guilty of fraud.
During the bankruptcy case, old money records came under review. Karen Weitzul’s name showed up in court papers as someone owed money from their decades-old divorce deal. Reports say a payout of around $200,000 was later agreed on to settle this claim.
It helps to be clear about one thing. Karen had no part in what Girardi did wrong. Public records always keep her financial claim separate from the fraud charges against Girardi and his law firm.
Karen Weitzul’s Family Life
Public records show no children from Karen Weitzul’s marriage to Tom Girardi. Most sources agree the couple did not have kids during their nearly twenty years together.
Beyond her marriage, Karen’s known family includes her parents, Edward and Mary, and her three siblings. A later family notice listed her as one of Mary DuMont’s children, along with other relatives. This suggests she stayed close to her family even decades after her divorce.
Karen Weitzul’s Net Worth
There is no confirmed public number for Karen Weitzul’s own net worth. Most of what we know about her finances comes from her divorce deal with Tom Girardi, which included monthly spousal support.
Unlike Girardi, who built a large legal career and fortune, Karen never pursued a public job or business. Her financial story is really one about patience. She held onto an old legal claim for decades, and that claim only mattered again once Girardi’s finances collapsed in public.
Where Is Karen Weitzul Now in 2026?
As of 2026, Karen Weitzul continues to live a quiet life. Reports suggest she still resides in Pasadena, California, the same area where she once lived during her marriage to Girardi.
She has not appeared in interviews, documentaries, or news coverage about the Girardi scandal. Even with growing public interest in his downfall, Karen has chosen to stay completely out of the conversation, and that steady silence reflects who she has always been.
Final Thoughts
Karen Weitzul’s story is not loud, but it still matters. She stood beside Tom Girardi during the quiet years before his fame, and she walked away long before his public collapse. Her life shows that not every story connected to scandal needs to be filled with drama.
Sometimes, the strongest answer to chaos is simply staying calm and private. Karen Weitzul chose dignity over attention, even when her name reappeared in headlines she never asked for. That choice says a lot about who she really is.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Karen Weitzul?
Karen Weitzul is the first wife of lawyer Thomas Girardi. She married him in 1964 and divorced him in 1983, long before his public legal scandal.
2. Did Karen Weitzul have children with Tom Girardi?
No public records confirm any children from their marriage. Most sources agree the couple did not have kids together.
3. Why did Karen Weitzul’s name appear in the news again?
Her name resurfaced during Tom Girardi’s bankruptcy case. Court filings showed an old spousal-support claim tied to their 1983 divorce deal.
4. Was Karen Weitzul involved in Tom Girardi’s fraud case?
No. Public records clearly separate her financial claim from the fraud allegations against Girardi. She had no role in his misconduct.
5. Where does Karen Weitzul live now?
Reports suggest she still lives privately in Pasadena, California, the same city where she lived during her marriage.
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