What you need to know
Thea’s estranged husband, Daniel Bernado, is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in spousal support.
In March, the “Chandelier” artist, 49, filed for divorce from Bernad, 47, with whom she shares an 18-month-old son, Somersault, after marrying in 2022. The petition was filed in Los Angeles on October 9th, asking for $250,856 in monthly spousal support, as well as $300,000 in attorney fees and $200,000 in forensic fees. According to the court, accounting fees documents obtained by people.
Mr Barnado, a former radiation oncologist, claims he has lost income since quitting his job as a doctor in 2021 to co-open a ketamine treatment clinic with Mr Thea. It also alleges that she knew her medical license would eventually be revoked as a result of her career change.
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The two founded a company called Modern Medicine in 2022, but documents show Mr. Shea stopped funding the business in March 2025 and Mr. Barnardo has not received a salary since then, despite an alleged agreement to continue the business until July.
Barnado’s filing said the couple lived a “luxury, upper-class lifestyle” with monthly expenses of more than $400,000 on private jets, vacations, high-end restaurants and several full-time staff. “We never had to monitor our cost of living,” he writes.
“We ask the court to order Mr. Thea to pay temporary spousal support in the amount of $250,856 per month,” Barnado said in court documents. “The order is necessary at this time because I am financially dependent on Thea, who is the breadwinner in our marriage. I have no income and Thea has stopped all funding for modern medical care. Thea has the ability to pay spousal support to maintain our financial situation.”
“Before you can renew your certification and practice radiation oncology again, you need to complete several years of training and pass several rigorous exams,” Barnado said.
Mr. Barnard argues that his request for attorney’s fees and forensic accounting fees “levels the playing field” with Mr. Shea.
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According to Barnado, around the time Thea filed for divorce in March, Barnado paid Thea to live in a hotel until July 2025. Barnado later moved into his current home, paying more than $100,000 in one year’s rent, but asked Thea to repay him, but she refused, documents say.
A representative for Sia did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The former couple welcomed Somersault in March 2024 in a small ceremony in Portofino, Italy.
The Australian singer-songwriter was previously married to film director Eric Anders Lang from 2014 to 2016 before dating Bernad. Three years later, she adopted two teenage boys.
