Sheen's Million Dollar Birthday Joke Lands with Ex Denise Richards

Charlie Sheen once executed a costly jest at the expense of his former spouse, Denise Richards.

"On her birthday, I issued a check to Denise for one million dollars, intending it as a humorous gesture, but she chose to view it quite seriously," the 60-year-old Sheen disclosed on Tuesday, October 21, during an appearance on Kevin Clancy’s "KFC Radio" podcast. "Subsequently, approximately a month later, she went ahead and deposited it."

Sheen was unsure if he and Richards, 54, were still marital partners at that point, while Clancy, 41, mused whether it would be "more amusing" if the couple had been separated or together when the incident transpired.

"Indeed, what scenario would inflict greater vexation?" Sheen inquired. "However, one must admit, if I were in her position, I would likely have presented that check for payment."

The former star of Two and a Half Men quipped that Richards "might have informed him" beforehand of her intention to deposit the check.

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"'Hello, it appears you're heading somewhere specific,'" he recounted, envisioning their potential dialogue. "'Yes, to the financial institution, in fact!' Yet, I suppose a measure of relief exists that the account held sufficient funds to prevent the check from being returned."

Clancy remarked, "One must be in a rather favorable financial state if unintentionally bestowing a million dollars upon individuals is possible."

Sheen initially encountered Richards during the filming of Good Advice in 2000, with their romantic relationship commencing a year later following their reconnection on Spin City. Their engagement occurred in December 2001, and they exchanged vows in June 2002. The erstwhile couple subsequently welcomed their daughters, Sami, 21, in March 2004, and Lola, 20, in June 2005. (Sheen additionally has a daughter, Cassandra, 40, with his former partner Paula Profit, and twin sons, Bob and Max, 17, with his previous wife Brooke Mueller.)

Richards initiated divorce proceedings against Sheen in March 2005, during which time she was six months pregnant with Lola. Their contentious divorce process, which involved a temporary restraining order following allegations that Sheen had menaced Richards' life, concluded in November 2006.

Richards discussed her union with Sheen and the repercussions of his substance misuse on their dynamic within his docuseries, a.k.a. Charlie Sheen, which premiered on Netflix in September.

"Considering what he subjected me to, I honestly question how I persevered," she conceded. "I believe the sole method to navigate the hardships I endured was to possess a strong sense of humor, as the situation was profoundly challenging … I am aware that external observers might consider us irrational, jesting about things like, 'Recall when you destroyed all the televisions with a baseball bat?' … I contend that had I not been resilient, I would have succumbed to a profoundly bleak path merely to cope with these immense difficulties."

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Becoming visibly emotional, Richards further elaborated, "In truth, I perceive my journey with Charlie as comprising three distinct phases: the period when we first met and wed, followed by our separation, and then the subsequent repercussions. I apologize for becoming so deeply emotional regarding it, as it was a significant ordeal, and I have been compelled to maintain composure."

Notwithstanding their protracted difficulties over the years, Richards demonstrated solidarity with Sheen at the Hollywood debut of his documentary on September 4.

"Upon the red carpet, we exchanged glances and simply shared a laugh," Richards penned alongside photographs from the occasion. "Charlie inquired, 'Is this 2002?' and I replied, 'It certainly has that feeling.' Who could have foreseen such an outcome? What an odyssey we have shared — filled with numerous triumphs and adversities. Yet, when faced with life's arduous moments, at our core, we both understand our mutual reliance. I am profoundly proud of him, and genuinely privileged that he invited me to contribute to his narrative. Congratulations, Charles."