Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Madonna and Guy Ritchie

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:03:15 GMT

The material girl and her husband, director Guy Ritchie, are divorcing after seven years of marriage and two children. Since Madonna is said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, there is huge money at stake if the couple decides to fight it out in court. They reportedly have not reached a settlement yet.

Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:38:24 GMT

This high-profile couple just finalized their divorce. In court documents, Cynthia accused A-Rod of cheating. The baseball star was linked to several women, including Madonna. Cynthia asked for custody of the couple’s three-year-old daughter, Natasha, and five-month-old daughter, Ella. She also wanted to keep their multi-million dollar Miami home. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:57 GMT

Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who developed News Corp, was married for 32 years but ended up paying his ex $1.7 billion in assets and $110 million to complete the divorce. He married one of his employees 17 days later.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:57 GMT

Saudi mogul Adnan made his money as an arms dealer. He later expanded into banks, hotels and real estate all over the world. After 25 years of marriage to his wife Soraya—and many rumors of adultery on both sides—they divorced in 1982. He reportedly paid her $874 million.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Craig and Wendy McCaw

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:57 GMT

Craig McCaw made $12 billion by selling his cellular phone licenses to AT&T. They divorced in 1995 after 21 years of marriage. Wendy got $460 million—mostly in Nextel stock—to help support her $200,000 per month spending.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

The basketball giant was married to Juanita in September 1989. They filed for divorce in January 2002 and she was paid $168 million—only amounting to one-third of his total fortune.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphy

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

In his 40-year plus career, Diamond has sold more than 100 million records. $150 million from those sales ended up going to Marcia after she filed for divorce after 25 years, following rumors of extramarital affairs. Diamond said she was “worth every penny.”

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Ron Perelman and Claudia Cohen

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

Before fourth wife actress Ellen Barkin, Revlon billionaire Ron Perelman had to pay his first wife, Faith Golding, $8 million; his second wife, Claudia Cohen, $80 million; and had a messy split with third wife, Patricia Duff. (The courts sealed the amount of the payout.) Barkin’s payout has been said to be in the range of $20 to $60 million. In 1997 Cohen died of ovarian cancer.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

The actress (Carrie) and director married in 1985—but in 1989, their love faded and after having one son together, the couple split. She was awarded $100 million.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

During their 21-year marriage, Ford was commanding more than $20 million a movie. In 2004, Melissa was awarded an estimated $85 million and some of Ford’s future earnings.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

They met in college in 1978 and after 16 years of marriage and many starring roles for Costner, they divorced. She was awarded approximately $80 million.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Phil Collins and Orianne Cevey

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

After six years of marriage and two children together, former Genesis and solo star Phil Collins had to give his ex $46.76 million. He had to give his previous wife $34 million in 1994, totaling one-third of his fortune.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Kenny Rogers and Marianne Gordon

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

With a net worth of $250 million, Kenny Rogers met his fourth wife in 1977. When they divorced in 1993, he willingly gave her $60 million, claiming she deserved it.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

The couple’s divorce was finalized earlier this year after a long and public battle. Mills is said to be getting $45.37 million from the Beatle.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Michael Douglas and Diandra Luker

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

Michael Douglas married Diandra in 1977 when she was 19 years old and he was in his 30s. After their 21 years of marriage ended, she was awarded $45 million. He went on to marry Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is 25 years younger than him.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Ted Danson and Casey Coates

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

Danson met his first wife in 1976—and when she gave birth to their first child in 1979, she had a paralyzing stroke. In spite of their hardships, they remained married for 15 years until Danson started (famously) seeing Whoopi Goldberg. In 1992, Casey was awarded $30 million.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

The rocker and the model met in 1977 and had two children before marriage and two after they were married in 1990. After years of infidelity rumors and a child from another woman, Hall filed for divorce. She is estimated to have received $25 million from his (supposed) $325 million fortune.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces

Lionel and Diane Richie

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:29:56 GMT

In 1996, Lionel Richie married his second wife and had two children with her. (He adopted daughter Nicole with his first wife.) In 2004, Diane’s divorce petition asked for a $15,000 monthly allowance for clothes, $5000 a month for massages and manicures, and $20,000 a year for plastic surgery. In the end, she was awarded $20 million.

Return to Most Infamous Expensive Divorces