Adam Dell has won his bitter battle with “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi over their daughter, Krishna. The wealthy venture capitalist has succeeded in being recognized as Krishna’s father, and now the 2-year-old child will carry his famous last name.
Sources said after settling their fight over the baby, the tot will now be known as Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell. And Adam — brother of computer king Michael Dell — has also secured extra custody and visitation rights to the baby girl.
Adam Dell & Padma Lakshmi's daughter Krishna
Dell sued Lakshmi in Manhattan Supreme Court last year, claiming she had refused to put his name on the birth certificate, and had cruelly told him she hoped her late partner, billionaire Teddy Forstmann, “was the child’s biological father.”
A source told us, “Their dispute was settled privately, out of court. Dell got improved visitation and custody rights. He had wanted full custody, but they came to a compromise. Padma maintains the same rights she always had.”
Another source told us that Dell “adores this little girl more than anything else, and just wanted to make sure he could be a huge part of her life.” IMG boss Forstmann died last November, leaving an undisclosed sum in trust to Krishna.
A rep for Lakshmi told us, “Officially we have no comment, but as Krishna’s mother, Padma asks that her child’s privacy be respected and the media shift their attention elsewhere.” Dell’s lawyer, William Zabel, declined to comment.
KRISHNA’S TRUST FUND
Despite DNA tests proving that Dell is the biological father of Krishna, her mother’s late boyfriend Teddy Forstmann set up a trust fund for her before his death.
It is uncertain how much the trust fund is for, yet Forstmann was worth $1.8 billion at the time of his death from brain cancer last year.
The details of the fund have not been made public after a request from his lawyers. But it could run into the millions and be used to pay for education or to make Krishna financially secure for the rest of her life.
Forstmann made his fortune as one of the founding partners of private equity firm Forstmann Little & Company, and chairman and CEO of IMG, an international sports, fashion and media company.
The financier, who was also romantically linked to Princess Diana, dated Krishna’s mother Padma Lakshmi for several years, including at the time of the birth.
