You know, when people talk about a Denise Richards ex husband, they usually mean Charlie Sheen. It makes sense. Their marriage was a tabloid firestorm that basically redefined what "messy" meant for Hollywood in the early 2000s. But fast forward to 2026, and things have changed in ways nobody saw coming back when Two and a Half Men was the biggest thing on TV.
Lately, though, the conversation isn’t just about Charlie. Denise’s second marriage to Aaron Phypers, which felt like a "happily ever after" on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has completely imploded.
Honestly, it's a lot to keep track of. You’ve got one ex-husband undergoing a massive "sober reset" and a second one currently facing a five-year restraining order.
The Charlie Sheen Era: More Than Just Winning
Let's look back at the most famous Denise Richards ex husband—Charlie Sheen. They met on the set of Good Advice in 2000, but the sparks didn't really fly until Denise guest-starred on Spin City. They were the "it" couple. Glamorous. High profile.
They married in 2002. By 2005, while Denise was six months pregnant with their second daughter, Lola, she filed for divorce. It wasn’t just a simple split. She filed for a restraining order then, too, alleging threats and erratic behavior.
For years, they were at each other's throats. There were lawsuits over trust funds, social media rants, and a very public battle over child support. At one point, Charlie was famously ordered to pay "zero dollars" because he claimed he had no income and the girls were living with him.
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A Shocking 2026 Reunion
But here is the twist. In late 2025 and heading into 2026, the vibe changed. Charlie Sheen turned 60 and released his memoir, The Book of Sheen, and a Netflix documentary called aka Charlie Sheen.
Guess who was right there on the red carpet with him? Denise.
They’ve moved into what she calls "parenting" rather than "co-parenting." It’s a nuanced distinction. They aren't a couple, but they are allies. Charlie even filmed for her new reality show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, to support their daughters, Sami and Lola, as they start their own adult lives.
- Charlie’s Status: Sober since 2017.
- Net Worth: Estimated around $1 million in 2026—a far cry from his $150 million peak, but he's working again.
- Relationship: Warm, supportive, and remarkably stable compared to the past.
The Aaron Phypers Split: A Different Kind of Drama
While things with Charlie settled down, Denise’s marriage to her second husband, Aaron Phypers, took a dark turn. They married in 2018 in a whirlwind ceremony shown on RHOBH. For a while, he was the supportive husband who helped her through the "Puppygate" drama.
That changed in 2025.
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Aaron filed for divorce in July 2024, but the fallout has stretched well into 2026. This isn't just about "irreconcilable differences." Denise was granted a five-year restraining order against Aaron in November 2025.
The allegations are heavy. She testified about physical abuse and claimed she suffered multiple concussions during the relationship. It’s a jarring contrast to the calm, healing "frequency medicine" persona Aaron projected on television.
Legal and Financial Messes
It’s not just the restraining order. The pair was recently evicted from their Los Angeles home after failing to pay rent for months. A judge signed off on the eviction in late 2025.
Denise has been leaning on her Real Housewives friends, specifically Sutton Stracke and even Erika Jayne, to get through what she called "one of the most painful years" of her life.
Why the Media Got Denise Wrong
For a long time, Denise was painted as the villain. When she divorced Charlie in 2005, he was the "lovable rogue" on the #1 sitcom in the world. She recently admitted on The Skinny Confidential podcast that she couldn't get a job for years because the industry saw her as "difficult" for walking away from him.
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People thought she was "greedy" or "crazy."
In reality, she was often the one holding the pieces together. She even took temporary custody of Charlie’s twin boys (with his other ex, Brooke Mueller) when they were in a bad situation. She has spent decades being the "fixer" for the men in her life, often at the expense of her own reputation.
What This Means for Denise in 2026
If you’re following the Denise Richards ex husband saga, the takeaway is resilience. She’s navigating a fresh, traumatic divorce from Aaron while maintaining a surprising, healthy friendship with Charlie.
What to keep an eye on:
- The Reality Show: Denise Richards & Her Wild Things is where most of this is playing out. It's her way of finally controlling the narrative.
- The Divorce Settlement: The proceedings with Aaron Phypers are still ongoing and likely won't be fully settled until later in 2026.
- Charlie’s "Reset": If Charlie continues his sobriety and lands more acting roles (like his recent work with Chuck Lorre on Bookie), the financial dynamic between him and Denise might shift again.
The lesson here? Hollywood marriages are rarely what they seem on a red carpet. Sometimes the person you fought with the most becomes your biggest supporter, and the person who seemed the "safest" turns out to be the most volatile. Denise is proof that you can survive the tabloids and still come out the other side with your head held high.
If you are looking to stay updated on the latest developments in Denise Richards' legal proceedings or Charlie Sheen's career "reset," make sure to follow verified entertainment news outlets. Avoid speculative gossip blogs that don't cite court documents, especially regarding the ongoing restraining order cases. Check the California Superior Court records for the most accurate updates on the Richards-Phypers divorce filings.