Expensive Celebrity Divorces That Cost More Than $100 Million

Celebrity divorces often involve staggering sums of money that capture the attention of the public and the financial world. When high net worth individuals end their marriages the resulting settlements can reach into the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. These legal agreements frequently involve the division of vast real estate holdings, massive corporate stakes, and complex investment portfolios. The following list explores some of the most expensive separations in history where the cost of parting ways exceeded one hundred million dollars. Each case highlights the unique financial challenges that arise when a high profile union comes to an end.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates finalized their divorce in twenty twenty one after twenty seven years of marriage. The settlement involved the transfer of massive amounts of stock in various companies to Melinda which were worth billions of dollars. Because the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement the assets were divided into nearly equal portions. Their combined wealth was estimated at one hundred fifty two billion dollars at the time of the split. They continue to collaborate on their global health and education initiatives through their private foundation despite the end of their legal partnership.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott announced their separation in twenty nineteen following a long term marriage. MacKenzie received a four percent stake in Amazon which was valued at approximately thirty eight billion dollars at that time. This settlement immediately made her one of the wealthiest women in the world. Jeff retained voting control over her shares to ensure the stability of his company. MacKenzie has since become a prominent philanthropist by donating billions of dollars to various charitable organizations.

Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch ended his thirty two year marriage to Anna Mann in nineteen ninety nine with a significant financial settlement. Anna reportedly received one point seven billion dollars as part of the legal agreement. The media mogul married his third wife only seventeen days after the divorce was finalized. This case highlighted the financial complexities of managing a global media empire during a domestic split. The settlement included cash and various assets accumulated during their three decades together.

Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Ecclestone settled their divorce in two thousand nine after twenty four years of marriage. Slavica received a settlement estimated at one point two billion dollars from the Formula One executive. Interestingly the payment structure involved Slavica paying Bernie installments over several years due to the way their assets were held in trust. This unusual arrangement made the legal proceedings a major topic in financial news circles. The couple had two daughters together before their high profile separation.

Steve Wynn

Steve Wynn and Elaine Wynn have divorced each other twice with the second split in twenty ten being the most expensive. Elaine received eleven million shares of Wynn Resorts stock which was valued at around one billion dollars. This settlement represented a major shift in the ownership structure of the casino giant. The legal battle continued for years as they fought over voting rights and the ability to sell shares. They were foundational figures in the development of the modern Las Vegas Strip and the luxury resort industry.

Adnan Khashoggi

Adnan Khashoggi and Soraya Khashoggi reached a divorce settlement in nineteen eighty two that cost the billionaire arms dealer eight hundred seventy four million dollars. This figure set a world record for the most expensive divorce at the time. The couple had been married for twenty years before their high profile legal battle began. Soraya sought half of his fortune but eventually agreed to the multimillion dollar sum. Their lifestyle was often characterized by extreme luxury and global political connections.

Dmitry Rybolovlev

Dmitry Rybolovlev and Elena Rybolovleva ended their marriage with a settlement that was originally ordered to be over four billion dollars. A Swiss court eventually reduced the amount to approximately six hundred four million dollars following an appeal. The legal proceedings lasted for six years as the couple disputed the valuation of assets and property. Elena also received two luxury homes in Switzerland as part of the final agreement. This case is frequently cited in discussions regarding international asset protection and divorce law.

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore finalized their divorce in twenty eleven after nearly thirty years of marriage. Since they did not have a prenuptial agreement Robyn was entitled to half of everything the actor earned during their union. The settlement was estimated at four hundred twenty five million dollars which represented half of his net worth at the time. Mel is well known for his roles in films like ‘Braveheart’ and ‘Lethal Weapon’ which contributed to his massive wealth. The couple had seven children together before their legal separation was completed.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver officially settled their divorce in twenty twenty one a decade after they first separated. The couple did not have a prenuptial agreement which led to an even split of their estimated four hundred million dollar fortune. Their assets included a significant real estate portfolio and various investment accounts. Arnold is a world famous actor known for ‘The Terminator’ and a former governor of California. The long delay in finalizing the divorce was attributed to the complexity of their financial holdings.

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson and Sheila Johnson were married for thirty three years before their divorce in two thousand two. As co founders of Black Entertainment Television they built a massive media empire together. Sheila received a four hundred million dollar settlement following the sale of the network to Viacom. This divorce was one of the most expensive in the history of the entertainment industry at the time. Sheila later became the first African American woman to have a net worth of at least one billion dollars.

Roman Abramovich

Roman Abramovich and Irina Vyacheslavovna Malandina divorced in Russia in two thousand seven after sixteen years of marriage. Irina received a settlement that was reported to be around three hundred million dollars. The agreement included cash and several luxury properties located in the United Kingdom and Russia. Despite the high cost the settlement was considered relatively modest compared to the multi billion dollar net worth of the businessman. The couple reached the agreement quickly to avoid a lengthy and public court battle.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy settled their divorce in two thousand six after seventeen years of marriage. Juanita received a one hundred sixty eight million dollar settlement along with their marital home in Chicago. The couple had previously filed for divorce in two thousand two but attempted a reconciliation before the final split. Michael earned the majority of his wealth through his legendary basketball career and various endorsement deals. This settlement stood as one of the largest for a professional athlete for many years.

Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey divorced in nineteen ninety five after twenty five years of marriage. The singer reportedly paid his former wife one hundred fifty million dollars as part of the legal settlement. Neil later stated that she was worth every penny for the support she provided during the early years of his career. He is famous for his hit songs and his role in the nineteen eighty film ‘The Jazz Singer’ which contributed to his earnings. The couple had two sons together during their long term relationship.

Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt finalized their divorce in twenty eleven following a very public legal battle. The settlement required Frank to pay Jamie one hundred thirty one million dollars and allowed him to retain ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jamie had previously served as the chief executive officer of the baseball team during their marriage. The dispute over the team ownership was a central part of the lengthy court proceedings. They eventually reached this agreement to settle all outstanding claims against each other.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl ended their marriage in two thousand one with a settlement totaling one hundred twenty five million dollars. The country music star and his college sweetheart were married for fifteen years before their split. Garth is one of the best selling music artists of all time which allowed for the massive payout. Despite the divorce the two have remained on good terms and co parented their three daughters. Sandy has since become known for her work in wildlife rehabilitation.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison ended their eighteen year marriage in two thousand four with a significant settlement. Melissa received a payment estimated between eighty five million and one hundred eighteen million dollars. The agreement also included a portion of future earnings from films Harrison made while they were married. Melissa was an accomplished screenwriter known for ‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’ which was released in nineteen eighty two. The couple maintained a private relationship throughout their years in the Hollywood spotlight.

Greg Norman

Greg Norman and Laura Andrassy reached a divorce settlement in two thousand seven after twenty five years of marriage. The professional golfer paid his former wife one hundred three million dollars to conclude their legal separation. Greg is a world renowned athlete who spent many weeks as the top ranked golfer in the world. The settlement was one of the largest in the sports world at that time. He married his second wife shortly after the divorce from Laura was finalized.

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