From Feud to Family: The Surprising Harmony Behind Salma Hayek, Linda Evangelista, and François-Henri Pinault's Blended Family

SHOCKING CELEBRITY FEUDS AND RECONCILIATIONS: LINDA EVANGELISTA AND HER BILLIONAIRE EX FRANCOIS-HENRI PINAULT

In a stunning display of love and harmony, supermodel Linda Evangelista and her billionaire ex-boyfriend Francois-Henri Pinault were beaming with pride as they posed for photos at their son's high school graduation this week. The happy family moment marked a stark contrast to the bitter child support battle that saw them locked in court 13 years ago.

Francois, 63, is the heir to the luxury retailing giant PPR (now known as Kering), which owns Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta. He has four children with three different women, including Valentina, his daughter with actress Salma Hayek. Augustin, 18, is Francois' son with Linda, whom he dated briefly in the early 2000s.

But it wasn't always smooth sailing for this blended family. In a shocking revelation, Francois admitted in court that he didn't even know Linda when she became pregnant with their son four months into their relationship. The billionaire claimed he was "shocked" and thought the baby was not his. The drama reached new heights as Linda's lawyer accused Francois of demanding she have an abortion because he didn't want the child.

Fast forward to 2012, the couple engaged in a very public and bitter court battle over child support for Augustin. Linda's lawyer, William Beslow, claimed that their son deserved a lifestyle similar to that of Valentina, who was born just months after Augustin. Francois was earning an estimated $5 million per year as CEO of PPR at the time.

The drama unfolded in court as Francois revealed he spent a staggering $260,000 on gifts for himself in 2010, but couldn't remember what he had bought his son or how much he had spent on him. He also accused Linda of making "outlandish demands" for child support, claiming she was asking for $46,000 per month for their son's care.

The court battle took a surprising turn when the couple reached an agreement over the phone three days into the trial. However, it remains unclear whether Linda won the hefty sum she expected Francois to pay for Augustin's care.

But what's even more shocking is how far this family has come since then. Today, Augustin appears to be living his best life as part of a loving blended family with both parents and step-mother Salma. The happy family was spotted together at the high school graduation, with Linda looking every inch the proud mother as she posed with her lookalike son.

In one sweet snap, the graduate hugged his stepmother Salma, 58, and mother Linda as they posed alongside his father. 'Then this happened. ♥️✨I’m one proud momma,' Linda wrote on Instagram. 'Blessed blessed blessed…'

But it's not just Augustin who seems to have a close relationship with both parents. In an interview with The Scholarly Note, Linda revealed that she spends time with Salma and Francois during the holiday season, including Thanksgiving. She even shared a hilarious anecdote about how Salma made her favorite Mexican chicken with truffled potatoes for dinner when she was too sick to cook.

The supermodel also opened up about wanting to give Augustin a "normal upbringing" despite their celebrity status. She revealed that they sit in the nosebleed seats at events, just like regular fans, rather than enjoying the luxury of front row seats.

But it seems Linda and Francois have put their differences aside for the sake of their son. When asked about their relationship with Salma, Linda replied, "We get along famously. We're a loving family."

And it looks like Salma agrees! In a 2023 Instagram post, she gushed about Linda's new book, calling her a "pillar of strength" in her life. She even posted a video featuring the two women laughing and hugging each other.

The drama may be over, but this blended family is certainly still going strong. As they celebrate Augustin's milestone graduation, it's clear that love has conquered all - even for these two former lovers who were once locked in a bitter battle over child support.