Heir is paying ex-wife $1m-a-year after his alleged affair ended their marriage... but now she has infuriated him by 'meddling' in his golden goose artisanal jigsaw business. So, whose side are YOU on?

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:34, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 01:35, 22 August 2026 A political heir is paying his ex-wife $1 million a year after an alleged affair ended their marriage, with the couple now at war over what he says is her meddling in his successful artisanal jigsaw business.  Chris Wirth, 58, says he has paid former spouse Sage $3.17 million since their 2022 divorce from the profits of Liberty Puzzles, the upscale jigsaw brand he founded in 2005, he claims in court papers.  Wirth and his business partner each earned $6.3 million over the same period, the same court papers show. The Wirths, who wed in 2000 and who have three sons, split in early 2022 after Sage caught Chris cheating with his business partner John Eldridge's sister-in-law, according to a lawsuit filed by Sage. His response makes no mention of his alleged infidelity. Chris, whose father is retired former US Senator for Colorado Tim Wirth, had been sharing a stunning $3.7 million home in Boulder, Colorado, with Sage prior to their split. Sage shared a breathtaking photo of the cozy property surrounded by huge snowbanks on New Year's Day 2022, before her marriage fell apart.   Sadly, the Wirths now find themselves locked in an ugly battle after Sage sued Chris late last month over claims he is not properly recognizing her as a shareholder of Liberty Puzzles.  She also claimed to have been underpaid for her efforts and accused her husband and his business partner of a dirty tricks campaign.   Sage Wirth, pictured, opposed her husband and his business partner from opening a puzzle store at Denver Airport. She has in court filings accused the two men of seeking to undermine her stake in the business - a claim they have denied Chris Wirth and his ex-wife Sage are pictured with their son. In court, Sage accused Chris of cheating in 2022, prompting an ongoing and ugly battle over their artisanal jigsaw business  The family's stunning $3.7 million home in Boulder, Colorado is pictured here Chris has filed a legal response to those allegations accusing Sage of meddling in the business that he created and continues to run for no good reason.  Liberty Puzzles, which is known for its whimsical wooden jigsaws that retail for between $100 and $400, has made more than $200 million in revenue since its inception in 2005, including $50 million in profits, according to Chris.  Chris owned 60 percent of the business prior to his divorce, with Eldridge holding 40 percent of its shares.  After Chris and Sage split, he gave her 20 percent of Liberty Puzzles as part of their settlement, leaving him with a 40 percent stake in the business.  Sage has now sued and claims her stake in the business should confer voting rights and managerial control. Chris and Eldridge have filed a response saying that while they are happy to pay Sage her share of any profits, she was never offered any kind of managerial control.  They also allege in court papers that Sage's attempts to insert herself into the upscale business has only caused problems, saying: 'Sage created friction at Liberty and demonstrated that she was not fit for an expanded role.  'As Sage attempted to take on more responsibility, she alienated our long-standing employees and undermined the company culture Jeff and I had built over twenty years.'  Liberty Puzzles, whose business boomed during the Covid pandemic, has one retail store in the Wirths' hometown of Boulder. One of the main points of contention between the Wirths was Chris and John's desire to open a second storefront in bustling Denver International Airport.  According to court papers, Sage is said to have told her ex-husband and business partner in an email sent in March 2026: 'I don't see how this would do anything for me, so I'm against it.'  Sage (left) and Chris (right) are pictured with Chris's business partner Jeff Eldridge (center) outside their jigsaw store in Boulder, Colorado Chris Eldridge and Jeff Wirth are pictured in 2005. Their puzzle business boomed during the Covid pandemic - but now they've been accused of dirty tricks by Chris's ex wife in a lawsuit, which they deny  Former US Senator Tim Wirth, father of Chris, is seen here speaking at the Democratic National Convention in 1992  The proposal then foundered, even though Liberty Puzzle said the outlet would have generated a 'meaningful' increase in revenue.    Sage's own lawsuit mentions the Denver Airport incident and does not give any reason why she refused to back its opening.  She is also accused of nixing a promotion and pay raise for a worker in January, with Chris allegedly emailing her to say: 'This is a perfect example of the 20% minority owner with minimal business experience tail wagging the dog, preventing us from moving forward with operations.'  Her lawsuit, which was first reported by BusinessDen, was filed after Chris and Eldridge allegedly put forward a draft operating agreement that would have given them sole control of all decision making at Liberty Puzzles. It would also have allowed the two men to buy out Sage's 20 percent stake in the business, at a discount, any time they chose, according to Sage's filing.   Chris and Eldridge have denied allegations made against them by Sage in her lawsuit.  Their filing responding to Sage's lawsuit claims she meddled in the workings of Liberty Puzzle just for the sake of it.  The papers, submitted to court on Wednesday, accused Sage of fostering an 'environment of sustained disruption.'  The upscale jigsaw brand was founded in 2005, one of their puzzles is seen here Sage shared a breathtaking photo of their property surrounded by huge snowbanks on New Year's Day 2022, before her marriage fell apart  Prices for their work range retail from anywhere between $100 and $400 It continued: 'The motion is merely a play to gain leverage so that [Sage] can demand that the Companies transform her undisputed, fully honored, minority economic interest into voting and managerial control.' Sage's lawsuit seeks to have Liberty Puzzles put into receivership until her suit is settled, but Chris and Eldridge pushed back against such a suggestion, saying the business was 'flourishing.'   Their response also alleged that any issues with the firm mentioned in her suit were 'caused entirely by [Sage's] own efforts to exercise operational authority she does not hold.' It added: '[Sage] has repeatedly caused disruption and strife among long-tenured, senior employees. 'In her Motion, [Sage] now appears to utilize these disruptions - induced completely by her own actions - as evidence of Liberty’s purported mismanagement, when they actually evidence her own overreach', the response claimed.  It continued: '[Sage's] Motion is not premised on a real concern about the future of Liberty, but on her disappointment that she was not granted veto power over all business decisions.  'But no operating agreement afforded [Sage] managerial authority or voting rights in the Companies. And, for that matter, neither did the Separation Agreement or Divorce Decree. 'For these reasons, and because Liberty has honored and will continue to honor Plaintiff’s undisputed 20% economic interest, Liberty requests that the Court deny Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Receiver.' Liberty's attorney Matt Cooper told the Daily Mail: 'The Companies and Individual Defendants deny Ms. Wirth’s allegations and believe the lawsuit is without merit. It is an attempt to obtain rights she was never entitled to and never held.'  Sage, Chris and Jeff were approached for comment by the Daily Mail. Attorneys for Sage did not respond to an email from the Daily Mail.