Olympic gold doesn’t come with a manual for real life—and for Ryan Lochte, the reality off the podium is proving to be far more tangled than anything he’s faced in the pool.
As Lochte’s high-profile divorce from wife Kayla Reid unfolds, the couple is not only battling over custody and finances but also facing nearly $270,000 in debts, including a hefty sum owed to the IRS.
A Marriage Declared “Broken”
It was back in March when Kayla Reid—former Playboy playmate and mother to their three young children—filed for divorce in Florida.
In the filing, she claimed the marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
That alone might have been enough to grab headlines, but what followed turned things into a full-blown legal and financial mess.
Ryan Lochte responded the next month, pushing back hard against Kayla’s claims—especially when it came to their kids: Caiden Zane (7), Liv Rae (5), and Georgia June (1).
He disputed her request for primary custody, arguing that the children aren’t currently mostly under her care and that she shouldn’t have sole parental responsibility.
The Fight Over Custody and Support
Kayla’s legal request paints a picture of a mom seeking the majority of the parenting time, claiming that a 50/50 custody arrangement would hurt the children.
She also asked for a court-approved parenting plan that gives her more time and support.
Ryan, however, is calling that into question.
While he agrees that child support obligations should be legally clarified, he pushed back on the idea that Kayla doesn’t make enough money to provide for the kids.
According to her, she also needs financial help to go back to school or get training so she can earn more in the future.
Who Gets the House?
Another flashpoint? Their marital home in Gainesville, Florida.
Kayla wants the exclusive right to stay in the house with their children.
Lochte, however, doesn’t think that’s necessary and is asking the court to deny that request.
Interestingly, Lochte no longer lives there. Real estate records show that he moved out in March and is now renting a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house in nearby Newberry for $3,000 a month.
That Gainesville property, by the way, was purchased for just under $548,000 in 2021.
The Money Woes Stack Up
If you’re wondering why money seems to be such a big factor in this split, just look at the couple’s growing debt.
According to court documents, Lochte and Kayla owe close to $270,000 in total.
That includes a nearly $100,000 federal tax debt to the IRS.
The breakdown? Their unpaid 2021 taxes total $48,182.76, and for 2022, they owe another $51,513.33. A tax lien was officially filed in November 2024—and it’s still unpaid.
Medical Bills and Legal Friction
There’s more. Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics hit the couple with two separate liens for unpaid medical bills tied to Ryan’s treatment—one for $127,977.73 in December 2023, and another for $39,720.15 in February 2024.
And in December 2024, yet another claim was filed—this one for $2,231.76—related to unpaid costs tied to their marital home.
Things are also getting tense between Lochte and Kayla’s legal team.
He’s reportedly upset over an arrangement Kayla made with their law firm, which would require him to cover her attorney’s fees if he’s found to be dragging out litigation or filing frivolous motions.
A Car Crash That May Have Set It All in Motion
It’s worth noting that all this financial stress came not long after a car accident involving Lochte in 2023.
According to the report, a car suddenly swerved in front of him, leaving him no time to react before crashing into a GFL garbage truck that was allegedly stopped illegally in the same lane.
His 2022 Ford F150 suffered damage, and though he blamed the situation on the truck and sudden traffic change, a judge still found him guilty of careless driving in March 2024.
He was ordered to pay a fine of just $159 and complete driving school—but the fallout from the crash might’ve contributed to the mounting pressure at home.
What’s Next for Ryan and Kayla?
As the court battle continues, it’s clear this isn’t just a straightforward celebrity divorce.
With money woes piling up, a custody tug-of-war in progress, and rising legal tension, both Ryan Lochte and Kayla Reid seem to be fighting for more than just personal closure.
They’re trying to hold their financial lives—and their family—together amid one of the most public breakups in recent sports history.