DM: I have already been in touch with various gedolim and rabbonim on this issue. (I mentioned one earlier. There are others including on the MO side.)
Sam: According to Pew Research, nationally middle class income starts at $31,000 a year (for an individual). In Manhattan, middle class income starts at $45,000 a year for an individual. According to the US Census, the national median income is $36,000 for an individual and $52,000 for households (i.e. two incomes). In NYS, the household (i.e. two incomes) median income is $57,000. Upper middle class, nationally, starts at $62,500 per household (two incomes).
[And it should be again pointed out that mezonos obligations are not to provide a middle income lifestyle but rather only to meet basic living expenses.]
And under the prenup a) the wife keeps her own income (even though halachicly it belongs to him if he gives her mezonos) – this is effectively doubling the money she is getting b) if he is obligated on her mezonos, he only owes it to her as an individual (i.e. single person) c) his child support obligations are separate, enforceable separately, and the prenup payments to her are specifically not counted towards child support d) most people do not earn an $80,000 a year salary even pre-taxes and most people would be very happy with such a salary. $80,000 post Federal, State and City taxes is $60K-something a year. The prenup costs $55,000/year + inflation for all the years from the wedding date until the separation date. e) So on his $60K-something post-tax income he has to give her over $55K (probably $60K-something and maybe more) once the prenup termed mandatory inflation adjustment is added. Now after he gave her all his income, he has to pay his rent or mortgage, his kids tuition, food for him and his kids, miscellaneous expenses, transportation to work, car, insurance, healthcare, etc.
You know as well as I and anyone else reading this that $55,000 + inflation (post-tax money) for one person – plus her keeping her own earnings – is not any halachic or otherwise definition of “mezonos”.