Before saying yes to a marriage proposal, it may be prudent to read about 11 most expensive divorce settlements in the world. After all, they also thought it will last forever before the whole thing took a nasty turn and ended in tears and a lot of money changing hands. One other thing these 11 couples have in common is that none of them had a pre-nap agreement.
Divorce is usually a very messy business, especially when children and a lot of money are involved. Somehow, in these high profile settlements, the accent is always on the money and not so much on the children, who usually stay with their mothers. To be honest, media are more to blame for this. Few things tickle their attention more than a nice multimillion divorce settlement. There are other examples as well, though. For instance, When Michael Jordan divorced his wife Juanita, they walked out of the courtroom hand in hand and went to watch their son’s basketball game together.
One of the biggest shockers in history of divorce settlements was delivered by a Genève court in 2014 when they ordered Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev to pay staggering $4.5 billion settlement to his, now former, wife Elena. A collective tremor shook rich men around the globe upon hearing about the judge’s decision. Fortunately for Rybolovlev, his lawyers managed to reduce the sum to a mere $562 million after the appeal. The proceedings are still not over, so Mr. and Mrs. Rybolovlev aren’t included in our list, but for a moment there, it seems that they would set a record that would be very hard to beat. Once the settlements papers have been signed, this divorce would surely have its place among the most expensive ones in the world.
Others on our list weren’t so lucky, judged by the sums they had to pay to their ex-spouses. Expensive divorce settlements measured in hundreds of millions have left them reeling. Truth be told, some of them had it coming, due to their extra marital activities. Others were cheated upon, and some had the misfortune of their wives reading our list of the best colleges to find a good husband. Regardless of the reason, huge amounts of money they paid in their divorce settlements have earned them a spot on our list.
11. Roman Abramovich – Irina Abramovich (née Malandina )
Settlement: $300 million
We start with Chelsea FC owner, Roman Abramovich and his former wife Irina. The sum of $300 million Irina got in a settlement may sound like a lot of money and it is, but considering that Roman’s fortune, valued at over $18 billion, was built entirely during their marriage, he got away rather lightly. The sum represented less than 2% of his net worth, far less than the usual 50% Russian courts give to the wife. The reasons behind this decision are unclear, with some sources suggesting existence of a prenuptial agreement, while others say that the fact the divorce was handled in Russia, specifically Chukotka region, of which Roman Abramovich was governor at the time, had a lot to do with the sum awarded to the former stewardess.
10. Robert Johnson – Sheila Johnson
Settlement: $400 million
Founder of Black Entertainment Television Robert Johnson sold his TV to Viacom for $3 billion in 1999. Three years later, he divorced his wife Sheila after 33 years of marriage and paid her $400 million in the divorce settlement. Later, Sheila stated that the reason for the divorce was his numerous extramarital affairs. In an interesting turn of events, she later married William T. Newman, Arlington County Circuit Court Chief Judge, who handled her divorce. The two met 30 years before while acting in a play together.
9. Mel Gibson – Robyn Gibson (née Moore)
Settlement: $425 million
One of the most famous (and wealthiest) Hollywood actors, Mel Gibson, divorced from his wife Robyn in 2011. The judge awarded her with exactly one-half of Mel’s $850 million fortune. The couple was separated since 2006, after the infamous DUI and alleged racial slurs got Mel in a spot of bother with the media. However, the straw that broke the camel’s back was the picture released in 2009 of Mel hugging the Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he had a child later that year. The marriage ended after 28 years and 7 children. Gibson’s relationship with Oksana also ended badly, after both of them filed for restraining orders against each other in 2010.
8. Craig McCaw – Wendy McCaw (née Petrak)
Settlement: $460 million
It took more than 2 years of courtroom battle to decide who gets to keep what of McCaws’ $1.3 billion fortune. When the dust settled, Wendy McCaw walked away with $460 million of it and she used some of it to purchase Santa Barbara News-Press. Reportedly, one of the biggest stumbling blocks during the divorce was the settlement regarding the use of their two private jets, Gulfstream IV and Citation. They both wanted the Gulfstream and finally agreed that Craig can have it, while Wendy kept the house. However, for 5 days a month, Craig gets to use the house, while Wendy can fly in Gulfstream. Sometimes, tough compromises have to be made.
7. Chris Cooper-Hohn – Jamie Cooper-Hohn (née Cooper)
Settlement: $530 million
One of the most successful hedge fund managers in Britain Chris Hohn met his wife Jamie Cooper in Harvard, where both of them attended. The couple married in 1995, took each other’s surnames and had 4 children (triplets included). Sir Chris, Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, managed to increase the family wealth through investments, only to lose half of it in the second most expensive divorce settlement in British history.
6. Stephen Wynn – Elaine Wynn (née Pascal)
Settlement: $741 million
One of the most famous America’s power couples divorced amicably in 2010, dividing their fortune down the middle. The fact that Stephen and Elaine were already divorced once in 1986, only to get remarried 5 years later, probably helped their friendly attitude during their second attempt. They even continued to work together, with Steve serving as CEO of Wynn Resorts LTD (NASDAQ:WYNN) and Elaine on the board of directors. However, they got into a little dispute over stock selling, which resulted in her being kicked off the board in 2015.
5. Adnan Khashoggi – Soraya Khashoggi (Sandra Patricia Jarvis-Daly)
Settlement: $874 million
At the time it was announced Adnan Khashoggi’s divorce from Soraya was the most expensive divorce settlement in the world. The astonishing sum of $874 million has been previously unheard of and Soraya (formerly Sandra Patricia Jarvis-Daly before she married Adnan and converted to Islam) became one of the richest women on the planet over night. Khashoggi’s wealth, created through arms dealing and investments, was divided in a courtroom battle that took 4 years to finalize.
4. Harold Hamm – Sue Ann Hamm (née Arnall)
Settlement: $975 million
A single check, made out to the amount $974,790,317 and 77 cents, marked the most expensive divorce settlement in the United States ever. Sue Ann Hamm cashed it in April of 2015. We can only imagine the look at the bank teller’s face when they received it. Harold and Sue Ann split up after 26 years of marriage. Harold Hamm, the CEO of Continental Resources, is worth about $17 billion, so he was lucky to escape higher position on this list. He may even had a shot at the first spot.
3. Bernie Ecclestone – Slavica Ecclestone (née Radic )
Settlement: $1.2 billion
When Bernie Ecclestone met Slavica Radic, Armani’s model from Croatia and 28 years his junior he was swept off his feet. Bernie allegedly completely lost his head over 6 feet 2 inches beauty and sparred no effort in trying to get her attention and didn’t let little things like age or height difference (Bernie is a foot shorter than Slavica) or the fact that they didn’t speak common language (she spoke Croatian and Italian and Bernie only English) stand in his way. It took him three years, but he managed to win her over and the couple married in 1985. 23 years later, he lost something else over her, namely $1.2 billion in a divorce settlement.
2. Rupert Murdoch – Anna Murdoch (née Torv )
Settlement: $1.7 billion
CEO of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ:FOX) and one of the richest media magnates in the world Rupert Murdoch divorced his wife Anna in 1999, after 32 years of marriage. The divorce cost him $1.2 billion. Just 17 days later, he married his third wife Wendi Deng, 37 years his junior. This marriage lasted 13 years and the couple split over the allegations of Wendi having an affair with Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the UK and the godfather of Grace, their older daughter. Rupert played it safe this time and had Wendy sign a prenuptial agreement. Although, he did sell The Morning Glory, the yacht they were married on immediately after the divorce.
1. Alec N. Wildenstein – Jocelyne Wildenstein (née Périsset)
Settlement: $2.5 billion
Alec N. Wildenstein split with Jocelyne in what has become the most expensive divorce settlement in the world. One of the most famous art dealers in the world inherited half of his father’s, Daniel Wildenstein, $10 billion business (the other half going to his younger brother, Guy), which is the most successful art dealing empire in the history. The heirloom included the largest private art collection on the planet. Jocelyne’s fondness for plastic surgery has become her trademark. Fortunately for her, with $2.5 billion she can afford to buy her own clinic.
