Denise Richards voluntarily had her child support payments from Charlie Sheen reduced.

Denise Richards

Denise Richards

The 'World is Not Enough' actress currently receives $20,000 a month for their daughters Sam, 14, and Lola, 13, which is significantly less than the $55,000 a month another ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, is given by the 'Young Guns' actor to support their twin sons Bob and Max, nine, and it has now been revealed Denise agreed to the lower sum two years ago.

According to The Blast, the two women used to both receive $55,000 a month for the children, but the 47-year-old actress agreed to have her money cut two years ago in order to help her ex-husband with his "rocky" financial situation without going through the courts.

The revelation comes after the 52-year-old actor - who in 2010 was the highest-paid star on TV, receiving $1.8 million per episode of 'Two and a Half Men' but now claims to earn just $2,426 a month - recently stated he is in a "dire financial crisis" and applied to have payments to both women reduced.

He said in court documents: "I have been unable to find steady work, and have been blacklisted from many aspects of the entertainment industry."

Charlie - who also has a 33-year-old daughter, Cassandra, from a previous relationship - claims to have less than $10 million left to his name.

And Denise recently signed up to 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills', so could soon possibly be earning more than her former spouse.

As well as his child support bills, the 'Anger Management' actor also owes millions to his lawyers, the IRS and in mortgage payments.

A hearing has been scheduled for September.