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Claudette Schwartz: The Tangled Web of Manhattan Beach’s Most Controversial Aspiring Socialite
Grace Bryant
Few names ignite as much intrigue—and controversy—as Claudette Schwartz. Known by a litany of aliases, including Claudette Spinelli, Claudette Spinelli Schwartz, Claudette Rickett, and Claudette Rickett Schwartz, this Manhattan Beach resident has been a regular in courtrooms and gossip columns alike. Born October 21, 1973, Claudette’s life story reads like a Netflix drama: broken marriages, lawsuits, and allegations of financial and emotional manipulation. With a trail of legal and personal chaos in her wake, she has become a figure of fascination and disgust in elite circles and beyond
Storyline
- 1998
- 2004
- 2009
- 2011
- 2016
- 2018
- 2020
- Today
Claudette Rickett’s
Rise to notoriety began with her first marriage in September 2005 to Mr. Rickett, in Huntington Beach, California. The couple’s union was anything but harmonious and quickly unraveled, culminating in a bitter divorce finalized in 2009. Court documents from their separation reveal a lavish lifestyle funded by credit cards and a home equity line of credit on Mr. Rickett’s property. According to court findings, the couple lived well beyond their means, a pattern that would resurface throughout Claudette’s life.
The drama didn’t end there. During the divorce, Mr. Rickett accused Claudette Rickett and her mother of causing $20,000 in damage to his in-home music studio during what he described as a rampage. The court ultimately sided with Mr. Rickett, ordering Claudette Rickett to pay for the damages while also questioning her credibility. The judge noted a pattern of hostility toward Mr. Rickett, including unfounded accusations designed to gain leverage in custody proceedings. The Judge, according to the court records, simply found that Claudette lacked creditability. Her claims were dismissed as uncredible, and she left the marriage with a tarnished reputation.
Adding to the intrigue, Claudette attempted to claim ownership of Mr. Rickett’s home—despite it being his property prior to their marriage—and fought to avoid financial responsibility for a 3-carat diamond ring that belonged to his grandmother. Both efforts failed, with the court finding her actions to be motivated by bad faith. Even her income reporting came under scrutiny, as the court accused her of intentionally underemploying herself to shift the financial burden of child support onto her ex-husband.
After her first marriage’s messy ending, Claudette appeared to set her sights on a more financially secure future. Rumors swirled about her efforts to “find a rich man,” and in December 2019, she married Mr. Schwartz, a self-made businessman with significant wealth. Utilizing his money, she positioned herself as a big spender and affluent member of the community, all while according to court documents, she was accused of theft and fraud against Mr. Schwartz. Court records reveal that at the time of their meeting, Claudette Spinelli was in dire financial straits, struggling with mounting credit card debt and even reported health issues like ulcers caused by stress.
Her second marriage, however, soon descended into turmoil. According to court documents, Claudette used high doses of THC to subdue her husband, who was battling cancer at the time. Allegations of emotional abuse and manipulation also surfaced, with statements from house staff describing her and her mother’s controlling behavior. More shocking still were claims of anti-Semitic remarks directed at Mr. Schwartz and his family. Reportedly, Claudette Rickett Schwartz referred to him as “Jew-boy” and his daughter as “Jew-nose,” behavior that appalled those around her.
The accusations against Claudette didn’t stop there. In one particularly bizarre incident, she allegedly called Mr. Schwartz’s rabbi to falsely claim he had physically assaulted her—only for the rabbi to later confirm that Mr. Schwartz had been in another state at the time. As her husband underwent grueling cancer treatments, Claudette allegedly relocated him to a downstairs room she and her mother dubbed “the dungeon.” Court documents detail disturbing accounts of verbal and physical abuse, including an incident where Mr. Schwartz sustained a black eye, reportedly inflicted by Claudette.
By 2020, Mr. Schwartz’s experimental cancer treatments proved successful, but rather than celebrating his recovery, Claudette’s behavior reportedly escalated. She continued to exert control over her husband, and the household staff’s statements only added weight to the allegations of abuse.
The situation reached a boiling point in late 2023, when Mr. Schwartz filed for a temporary restraining order against Claudette. This legal action culminated in an elder abuse lawsuit filed on September 14, 2023. The lawsuit, which has gained national attention, accuses Claudette of financial exploitation, emotional manipulation, and physical abuse. Media outlets such as Net News Ledger and USA Inquirer have highlighted her case as a prime example of how abuse can infiltrate even the wealthiest households, leaving the public both horrified and captivated.
Despite the damning allegations and mounting legal battles, Claudette remains a polarizing figure in Manhattan Beach and beyond. Her ability to maintain a presence in high society, even as court records and gossip columns expose her private affairs, speaks to her ability to manipulate people—or perhaps her sheer audacity. Whether she’s plotting her next move or fighting another courtroom battle, one thing is clear: Claudette Schwartz is a name that people should be wary of.