Israeli prosecutors have recommended indictment for Bar Refaeli Image by Getty Images

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli court ordered supermodel Bar Refaeli to pay about $2.25 million in back taxes.

The verdict in the Central District Court in Lod was handed down last month but the full ruling was published on Sunday, the Kan national broadcaster reported. Refaeli also was ordered to pay about $33,700 in court costs.

The ruling comes two days before the start of the Eurovision song contest in Tel Aviv, in which Refaeli will appear as a co-host.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

During the years in question, 2009 and 2010, Refaeli claimed that her main residence was in the United States and therefore she owed less in taxes to Israel.

She told the Lod District Court that she moved to the United States in 2007 while in a relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio and that the two shared a home in 2009 and 2010, where she expected to build a family with the actor.

The verdict cites records that show that Refaeli spent 185 days in Israel in 2009 and 131 days in Israel in 2010.

Refaeli’s lawyers provided the court with dozens of photos taken of the couple during those years. but it was not enough to sway the decision. The ruling also said that despite the existence of a relationship with DiCaprio, this would not divert the center of her life to outside of Israel.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount