Jan Koller and Hedvika Koller: The Calm Divorce and Life in Monaco

Jan Koller and Hedvika Kollerová went to Monaco together for many years and eventually bought their own apartment on the Cote d’Azur. “When we first came to Monaco, about fifteen years ago, we only had a rented apartment at the beginning, because we didn’t know if we would stay here. We lived in the principality only intermittently, depending on where Honza was playing. And in the end, because of his they settled down to work in Monaco and later bought this villa in Vence for weekends with the kids and also as an investment for rentals. Today I don’t have it at all for personal pleasure, but to be able to rent it out and make a living. We had the property divided for a long time , so my husband and I bought half of the property, and thanks to that, our divorce two years ago was relatively trouble-free,” Kollerová confided in an interview for lightning and added that in the end she had to pay off her husband in order to stay in Monaco permanently with the children.

“Five years ago, Honza moved to the Czech Republic and I decided to raise the girls in Monaco. In order to stay there in our one-hundred-meter apartment with a view of the sea, I had to pay him half of the apartment, so I gave up child benefits . That’s why I only pay the mandatory minimum. I decided to stay here for the sake of the children, their good education, languages, life prospects and safety. It was my decision, the best thing I could do for them. Honza wanted to return to the Czech Republic . But that’s not why we broke up. He belongs to Smetana’s Lhota and it’s better to be a happy dad four times a year than an unhappy one every day. When he has time, he’ll come,” recalled Hedvika, who certainly surprised everyone with her statement about the mandatory minimum. But they have a good relationship with Koller and everything is as it should be.

The mother of two is said to be definitely not bored, as life in Monaco is very financially expensive. “There is not a day that I don’t have something to do. Sometimes during the week I go to Vence and work as a maintenance worker. They told me, for example, that painting the shutters would cost me 5,800 euros, about 136,000 crowns, so I preferred to buy paint and gradually paint everything myself . Twice a week I paint a couple of shutters, I go to pick up Duck from school in Monaco and sometimes I have work meetings with clients for whom I arrange rentals and various services in Monaco. Sometimes I go to show luxury cars for example. This is a great job, because such a Ferrari or Bentley is not allowed to stand in the garage for a long time. So when their owners are not here, from time to time they ask me to drive them so that their engine does not rust! I am not a rentier and I have to do more things to earn my bills, at least 8 thousand euros a month (approx. 190 000 CZK). Sometimes I tell the children in the morning: In Monaco, you only have to breathe, and it already costs money, so breathe slowly,” laughs Kollerová.

I have been living alone for seven years

“I’ve been living here alone for seven years, I don’t have any family here, and yet I feel great here. And that has nothing to do with the fact that I’m some kind of Koller. That doesn’t mean anything here, I’m a complete zero here. Of course, I miss my family and The Czech Republic, which I love, but today I consider Monaco to be home and the mentality here suits me better. People are nice to each other, everyone likes to stop and talk to you. There is decency, respect and tolerance, and that’s what I wanted to raise my daughters in. And it’s not it’s about the fact that there are only rich and educated people here. There are also poor people who come to Monaco to work from the neighborhood. On the other hand, it is difficult to raise children here with healthy values ​​so that they value things,” admits Hedvika Kollerová and adds, that despite living in luxury, she tries to explain to her daughters that similar standards are not common.

“The point is that they realize that such a life as in Monaco is not the rule. In terms of square meter, the most millionaires in the world live here, which can also be seen in the children here. Some of my girls’ classmates have 1,500 euros in pocket money a week and I give them 150 euros a month. And children in the normal world are not normally driven to school by a livery driver, right? Sometimes I wonder if their childhood in the principality might lead to a somewhat distorted view of the world,” says the mother of two.

Although several years have passed since the divorce of the Kollers, a new man has not yet entered Hedvice’s life. “I don’t have any and I only rely on myself. I don’t plan any serious relationship until Katka grows up. Honestly, I can’t imagine some strange guy having breakfast with us before Kačenka goes to school, really not! I like spending time with my children and I’ll enjoy them until they leave the nest. I’ve never had a lady to babysit or clean. That’s why I’m really fixated on them. And it’s always been that way, even before when the family was whole. When Hedvika left last September, it took a lot out of me. I took it really bad,” she explained.

“I’m not saying, sometimes I enjoy summer romances like that, but I’ve never brought anyone home. I’ve only been in love once since my breakup, and it still didn’t go well. I don’t even know if I want to get married again. When both kids go to college, I definitely don’t want to be here sitting alone. But I still have plenty of time to do it, age has no limits. I’m hyperactive and in my approaching 50s I’ll still be the same shot, if not even bigger. So I’m not worried about not finding someone. It’s more about to put up with me,” Kollerová concluded.

Hedvika Kollerová lives with her daughters in Monaco