Son of Virginia bowling billionaire wins bid to seal bitter divorce case

The son of a Virginia bowling billionaire embroiled in a bitter divorce worth tens of millions won a bid to seal his divorce case ahead of a courthouse showdown next week with his estranged psychologist wife.

Race car-loving scion Peter Goodwin was granted his request by an Albermarle County Circuit Court judge Monday to have the entire divorce case sealed, stretching back to when he first filed to split from wife and mother of his four children Cara Goodwin in January, court records show.

The sealing order means that all of the court papers in the case will no longer be publicly accessible, including Cara’s accusations that Peter dumped her on Christmas Day 2023 as she held their 4-month-old baby and his papers admitting to having an affair with their former nanny Annette Lombard.

The estranged couple, both 40, are slated to face each other in court in Charlottesville on Aug. 27 in a hearing that is currently slated to be open to the public, court records show.

Peter, whose dad is uber-successful entrepreneur William Goodwin, proceeded to spend the months after he announcement cavorting with Lombard, 27, and engaging “in adulterous acts” with her at fancy hotels like the Four Seasons in Surfside, Fla. and at a ski resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo, court papers alleged.

Lombard initially began working for the couple around 2019 when she was 21 and an undergrad at the University of Virginia — which William sat on the board of four years after being appointed by former Gov. George Allen and again by ex-Gov. Bob McDonnell.

By 2020, Lombard started working at Peter’s office and was eventually promoted to vice president of the company, Cara alleged in court papers.

One text exchange revealed the extent of hostilities between the separated duo, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

“Did your family find out what really happened and that you were lying to them too?” Cara wrote.

“I offered you $45 million and a lot of custody for years of marriage,” Peter replied. “You trounce around your palace with 2 housekeepers and nanny and still think I owe you more. You can’t even engage in conversation unless it’s 100% what you want.”

“I am far from perfect and have surely made some mistakes,” Peter continued. “I felt I didn’t like the way you treated me or made me feel. People get divorced because of anger and resentment, not for some one-time thrill.”

“You have no idea how to coparent… instead you threaten me about the schedule. Disparage me. Restrict my time with the kids… stomp on my boundaries,” Peter said.

William Goodwin had his hand in a slew of businesses including co-owning the AMF Bowling chain and running investment entities CCA Industries and the Riverstone Group — which has interests in everything from Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina to the tony Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va.

William has donated tens of millions of dollars to help fund education and cancer research.

A rep for Peter declined to comment. Cara’s lawyer didn’t immediately return a request for comment.