A legal expert tells Page Six Baldoni’s team likely chose that massive amount to message he “will fight to the death to defend his name and bring Lively and Reynolds down.”

"He has already lost jobs including the podcast and he was dropped by his agent. Prior to this he was flourishing."

A New York court has also set a March 2026 trial date and intends to consolidate the crisscrossing lawsuits between Lively and her director and co-star, who is suing both Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds.