Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider has spent years fighting his ex-wife over spousal support. Now, in a surprising turn, the 66-year-old actor admits he owes her millions of dollars but says he doesn’t have the money to pay.

According to new court documents obtained by TMZ, Schneider acknowledges owing his former wife, Elvira “Elly” Castle, approximately $3.7 million in unpaid spousal support. The admission comes after years of legal disputes and months after the actor publicly questioned why his ex-wife continued pursuing financial support more than a decade after their separation.

Schneider and Castle married in 1993 and separated in 2014 after 21 years together. Their divorce was finalized in 2019, with Schneider ordered to pay $25,000 a month in spousal support.

The former couple has been battling over those payments ever since.

In the latest filings, Schneider explained that he initially questioned the validity of the support order because divorce proceedings had been filed in both California and Louisiana. He now acknowledges that the money is owed but maintains that he cannot afford to pay the outstanding balance.

The actor is also fighting an effort to collect half of his Social Security benefits to help satisfy the debt.

According to the documents, Schneider is not “financially capable of satisfying the accumulated arrearages,” arguing that losing half his benefits would significantly affect his ability to cover everyday expenses.

The latest development marks a shift from Schneider’s position earlier this year, when he expressed frustration over the ongoing legal battle.

During a July interview with Fox News Digital, the actor questioned why someone who had “threw away” their marriage would want to “continue to be part of your life in any regard, let alone financially.”

“I don’t understand where the integrity is in that,” he said.

Still, Schneider suggested he was hopeful the dispute could finally be resolved.

“But we’re working it out. It’s a negotiation. Everything’s a negotiation,” he explained.

He also reflected on just how long the legal battle has dragged on.

“I mean, this divorce was — she filed for divorce in 2014. My God, that’s been 12 years. So, I don’t understand it, but you know, cooler heads will prevail, and we’ll get through it.”

Schneider’s financial troubles have made headlines before. In 2018, he was sentenced to three days in jail for failing to pay spousal support, although he served only a few hours because of overcrowding.

At the time, the actor defended his work ethic and criticized the financial expectations placed on him.

“I’ve worked seven days a week, 80 hours a week, at least since 1978,” he told Fox News. “I have, as every working person has, a mountain of debt that was attached to my dream.”

Schneider, best known for playing Bo Duke on the hit television series The Dukes of Hazzard, has also faced personal heartbreak in recent years. His third wife, Alicia Allain, died of breast cancer in 2023.

Now, more than 12 years after his separation from Castle, Schneider finds himself still dealing with the financial fallout of their marriage.

Although he has acknowledged the debt, the question remains whether the former couple can reach an agreement on how the millions will be paid.