When a couple gets a divorce, typically the entire world knows nothing about it. However when you live life in the spotlight, there is no chance of keeping your private life…private. As a result, we compiled some of THE most expensive divorce settlements of all time. Some which left us with our jaws on the floor.
Heidi Klum & Seal – $70 Million
Engaged in 2004, married in 2005, and every year on their wedding anniversary, Heidi Klum and Seal renewed their vows in front of friends and family. Seven years of marriage, three biological children together while Seal even adopted Heidi’s daughter from her previous marriage; all of that wasn’t enough to keep this beautiful couple together. Only in 2015 was the divorce finalized, boy did each divorce attorney work extremely hard.
Heidi Klum & Seal – $70 Million
Paul McCartney & Heather Mills – $48.6 Million
After saying “I do” in an elaborate ceremony at Castle Leslie in Ireland, neither Paul McCartney or Heather Mills imagined consulting a divorce attorney after six years of marriage. Mills even represented herself in the divorce proceedings, which McCartney said “took guts.”
Paul McCartney & Heather Mills – $48.6 Million
Madonna & Guy Ritchie – $92 Million
November 1998 is when Madonna met director Guy Ritchie, just two years later and he became her second husband. Furthermore, they marred at Skibo Castle in Scotland and later that year, they welcomed their son, Rocco. By 2006, they even adopted a Malawian baby boy, David. However by 2008, Madonna filed for divorce and the marriage was dissolved by decree nisi. Moreover they reached a compromise agreement for Rocco and David.
Madonna and Guy Ritchie – 92 Million
Neil Diamond & Marcia Murphey – $150 million
For 25 years, Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey, a production assistant, were married! Together, they have two sons, Jesse and Micah. However Murphey claimed that Diamond was unfaithful numerous times so as a result the marriage ended.
Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey – 150 Million
Demi Moore & Bruce Willis – $90 Million
Now here’s a divorced couple that really needs no introduction. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis were married for 11 years and have three daughters together. Although in 2000, they divorced and Willis said, “he had failed as a father and husband.”
Bruce Willis And Demi Moore
Michael & Diandra Douglas – $45 Million
Back in March 1977, Michael Douglas, who was 32 years old then, married Diandra Luker, the 19-year-old daughter of an Austrian diplomat. Together they have one son, Cameron, who was born a year after they married. However in 1995, Diandra filed for divorce and was subsequently awarded $45 million for the divorce settlement.
Michael and Diandra Douglas – 45 Million
Dr. Phil McGraw & Debbie Higgins – Approx. $1 Million
Dr. Phil McGraw married Debbie Higgins McCall, his first wife, an ex-cheerleader and homecoming queen, back in 1970, when he was just 20 years old. Higgins has stated that McGraw was domineering. In 1973, their marriage was annulled.
Dr. Phil McGraw and Debbie Higgins – Approx. 1 Million
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt – $400 Million
Now here’s a Hollywood couple that most believed would stand the test of time! “Brangelina” were together from 2006, married in 2014, have six children together and three they even adopted internationally. Just last year in 2016, they announced their separation. Currently it’s reported their divorce will cost some $400 million.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt – 400 Million
Garth Brooks & Sandy Mahl – $125 Million
Garth Brooks married his college sweetheart, the songwriter Sandy Mahl, back in May 1986. Their marriage brought them three wonderful daughters but by 1999, they separated and their divorce was finalized in 2001.
Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl – 125 Million
Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux – Undisclosed
May 2011 is when Jennifer Aniston’s fairytale love story with Justin Theroux (actor, director, and screenwriter) began. And the world rejoiced! Our girl Aniston deserved some happiness! While at their Bel-Air estate in 2015, this duo exchanged vows! However everyone was shocked on February 15, 2018 when it became news that Aniston and Theroux are splitting. Their combined net worth is $220 million and the rumor is that they signed a prenup so anything goes when it comes to their final settlement.
Jennifer Aniston Justin Theroux
Rupert Murdoch & Anna Maria Torv – $1.2 Billion
Anna Maria Torv was Rupert Murdoch’s second wife and together they have three children. For 32 years they were married until their eventual divorce in 1999.
Rupert Murdoch and Anna Maria Torv – 1.2 Billion
Rupert Murdoch & Wendi Deng – $1.8 Million
Just 17 days after Murdoch divorced Anna Maria Torv, he married wife number three, Wendi Deng. Moreover, they have two daughters together and overall Murdoch has six children and has been married four times. Murdoch and Deng divorced in 2013 after 14 years of marriage.
Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng – 1.8 Million
Bernie & Slavica Ecclestone – $1 Billion
British businessman extraordinaire, Bernie, and Croatia born international fashion model, Slavica, were married for 23 years. Regardless of their 28-year age difference, the language barrier in the beginning, and their height difference, these lovebirds were madly in love. After two children together, they eventually divorced in 2009.
Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone – 1 Billion
Alec & Jocelyn Wildenstein – $2.5 Billion
When both Alec and Jocelyn were in their 30’s, they got hitched! Although most everyone seems to remember the couple’s extensive cosmetic surgeries, especially Jocelyn who created more “catlike” features to please Alec. Although after 21 years together, they divorced and Jocelyn received $2.5 billion in the divorce settlement with an additional $100 million each year for 13 years. Most noteworthy, the judge ruled that she could not use any of her alimony for further cosmetic surgery.
Alec and Jocelyn Wildenstein – 2.5 Billion
Harrison Ford & Melissa Mathison – $118 Million
Harrison Ford married his second wife, Melissa Mathison, a screenwriter, back in 1983. Moreover two children and 17 years of marriage later, the pair divorced.
Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison – 118 Million
Dmitry & Elena Rybolovleva – $4.5 Billion
Often regarded as the “most expensive in history,” Dmitry and Elena Rybolovleva called it quits after 26 years of marriage. For six years, the divorce attorney for both parties battled it out until eventually the Russian billionaire and Elena reached an agreement.
Dmitry and Elena Rybolovleva – 4.5 Billion
Craig McCaw & Wendy Petrak – $450 Million
Craig McCaw is the founder of McCaw Cellular who then sold his company for more than $12 billion to AT&T. For 21 years, McCaw was married to Wendy Petrak, but in 1995, they divorced. We’re pretty sure that Petrak had a brilliant divorce attorney when she left with a divorce settlement of $450 million.
Craig McCaw and Wendy Petrak – 450 Million
Donald & Ivana Trump – $25 Million
When Donald Trump was 30, he married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková, his first wife, on April 7, 1977. Together, as you should know, they have three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. However after Trump had an affair with the actress Marla Maples, Donald and Ivana got a divorce in 1992.
Donald and Ivana Trump – 25 Million
Robert & Sheila Johnson – $400 million
Meet the founders of BET (Black Entertainment Television), who after 33 years of marriage, got a divorce. We should note that the Johnson’s sold BET to Viacom in 1999. Following their divorce in 2002, Shelia’s net worth was estimated at $670 million.
Robert and Sheila Johnson – 400 Million
Johnny Depp & Amber Heard – $7 million (For Now)
Having begun dating in 2012, it took only two years for the pair to become engaged, and a further one to actually marry. This was 2015. By 2016, Heard filed for divorce? So what exactly went wrong for the pair? A lot, evidently. What began as a simple $7 Million property settlement has blown into a fully fledged mutual defamation trial, with Depp suing Heard for $50 Million and Heard suing Depp for $100 Million. The trial is ongoing…
Johnny Depp & Amber Heard – $$7 million (For Now)
Lionel Richie & Diane Richie – $25 Million
So back in 1986, while Lionel Richie was still married to his first wife Brenda Harvey, Richie started a relationship with Diane Alexander. Richie and Harvey then got a divorce in 1993, after nearly 18 years of marriage. Two years later and Lionel marries Diane, with whom he has a son and daughter with. Unfortunately in 2003, they got a divorce.
Lionel Richie and Diane Richie – 25 Million
Mel Gibson & Robyn Moore – $425 Million
Picture this, it’s the late 70’s and Mel Gibson is just starting out his career when he meets Robyn, a dental nurse. Then in 1980, Mel and Robyn get married and have a daughter and six sons together! 26 years of marriage later, and they get a divorce. Only in 2011 did Gibson admit their divorce was fueled by his drunk driving arrest in Malibu.
Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore – 425 Million
Frank & Jamie McCourt – $130 Million
Just in case you didn’t know Frank McCourt is the owner of Dodgers Stadium and Fox Entertainment Group. In 1979, Frank married Jamie McCourt, his college sweetheart, with whom he has four sons with. However their divorce in 2011 was a messy one that had the divorce attorney for both parties really duke it out.
Frank and Jamie McCourt – 130 Million
Harold Hamm & Sue Ann Arnall – $975 Million
Meet Harold Hamm, one of the biggest entrepreneurs in the gas and oil industry. In 1988, Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall, an economist and lawyer, were married and have two daughters together. Apparently they separated in 2005 and Sue filed for divorce in 2012. Let’s just say Sue’s divorce attorney made his money’s worth when she cashed a $975 Million settlement check.
Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall – 975 Million
Jennifer Lopez & Chris Judd – $14 Million
Our girl Jennifer Lopez began a relationship with the former back-up dancer Cris Judd after her split from record producer and rapper Sean Combs. Lopez and Judd were married from September 2001 to June 2002.
Jennifer Lopez and Chris Judd – 14 Million
Ron Perelman & Ellen Barkin – $20 Million
Meet America’s 36th richest man, Ron Perelman! In 1999, Perelman met his fourth wife, the actress Ellen Barkin, at a Vanity Fair Oscar after-party. Less than a year later and the got hitched. For five years, they were husband and wife, although many claim it was not an easy marriage whatsoever. Furthermore sources say her divorce settlement was between $20 million to $65 million.
Ron Perelman and Ellen Barkin – 20 Million
Greg Norman & Laura Andrassy – $103 Million
Greg Norman, an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur, was married to Laura Andrassy from 1981 to 2007. However he left Andrassy for fellow tennis star Chris Evert, whom he also left after just a year.
Greg Norman and Laura Andrassy – 103 Million
Kenny & Marianne Rogers – $60 Million
Country music king Kenny Rogers was married to actress Marianne Gordon from October 1977 to 1993. Together they have a son, Christopher. However after 15 years, a divorce attorney was called up and that was that.
Kenny and Marianne Rogers – 60 Million
Johnny Carson & Joanna Holland – $20 Million
Johnny Carson, the talk show host and comedian, was married four times in his life. Although he announced his third marriage to former model Joanna Holland on his Carson Tonight Show‘s 10th-anniversary party, taking all his friends and collegues by surprise. See they had secretly gotten married that afternoon! They divorce was final in 1985.
Johnny Carson and Joanna Holland – 20 Million
Kelsey & Camille Grammer – $30 Million
After Kelsey and Camille met on a blind date in 1996, they were in love! The following year, they got married and have two children together. 2010 then rolled around and their divorce was announced.
Kelsey Grammer, Camille Grammer
Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren – $750 Million
During the 2001 Open Championship, Tiger Woods was introduced to Elin Nordegren, and the rest as they say is history. Together they have two children and as you know, in 2010 they got a divorce following Tiger’s very public infidelity issues.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
Prince Charles & Princess Diana – $23 Million
There was no bigger, brighter love story than that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Furthermore there was no bigger, more tragic heartbreak than that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. February 1981 is when the world learned of Princess Diana’s engagement to Prince Charles. As you know, together they have two sons, the Princes William and Harry. Moreover you should know that they got divorced in August 1996 and both lived their lives under the microscope for many, many years. A year after their divorce, Princess Diana tragically passed away in a car crash.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana 23 Million
Alec Baldwin & Kim Basinger – Approx. $3 Million
After playing lovers in the 1990 film The Marrying Man, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger fell in love. By 1993, they said “I do” and have a daughter, Ireland, together. No doubt you also know that they got a divorce in 2002.
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger – Approx. 3 Million
Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale – $2.5 Million
Mid 1995 is when Gwen Stefani met Gavin Rossdale, guitarist and lead singer for Bush. 2002 is when they got married and together they have three sons. However their divorce was finalized in 2016.
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale – 2.5 Million
Hilary Duff & Mike Comrie – $2.5 Million
Ugh, we will forever love you Hilary Duff! So when news hit in 2010 that Duff married former professional hockey player Mike Comrie, the world rejoiced! Together they have a son, Luca. Six years later and they got a divorce.
Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie – 2.5 Million
Teddy Landau & Michelle Branch – Approx. $300 000
Michelle Branch, singer, songwriter and actress, married the bass player Teddy Landau in 2004. Their daughter, Owen, was born a year later. But by 2015, their divorce was official.
Teddy Landau and Michelle Branch – Approx. 300 000
Steve & Elaine Wynn – $741 million
To begin, we’re here to discuss Steve and Elaine’s second marriage and divorce in 2010. As a result of the divorce, Steve publicly split his stake in Wynn Resorts with Elaine who secured over $750 million in Wynn stock during the settlement battle. Steve carried on as CEO while Elaine carried on as a board director.
Steve and Elaine Wynn – 741 Million