Ah, divorce. The process that brings out your inner demons, drains your bank account, and takes seemingly forever to wrap up. It’s like a never-ending nightmare where you get to divide assets and finances – what fun! Well, take a deep breath, folks, because we’ve put together the crème de la crème of this bitter cake: the world’s 20 most expensive and headline-grabbing divorces! So, let’s dive into this ocean of pricey separations, shall we?
Most Expensive Divorces In the World
Our facts and figures are backed by the likes of Business Insider, CNC, and Insider, so you know this list is the real deal. Alright, buckle up because here are the world’s 20 priciest splits:
20. Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva – $80 Million
Kicking things off, we’ve got Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva. Married since 1976, these lovebirds decided to part ways in 1994. Word on the street is, Costner had a penchant for wandering, and his wife wasn’t too fond of his racier film roles. After reaching a peaceful settlement, Costner ended up forking over $80 million. Ouch!
19. Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison – $85 Million
Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison crossed paths on the set of “Apocalypse Now” back in ’79. They tied the knot in ’83 and enjoyed 17 years of marital bliss before calling it quits. Thanks to the lack of a prenup, Mathison managed to score a sweet $118 million from the divorce. Score one for love!
18. Madonna and Guy Ritchie – $92 Million
The seven-year love saga of Madonna and Guy Ritchie hit a brick wall in 2008. The Queen of Pop mentioned that their spark fizzled out, while Ritchie claimed he felt like he’d walked into a daytime drama. Well, it wasn’t all bad – Ritchie ended up pocketing a cool $92 million in the divorce settlement.
17. Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving – $100 Million
Steven and Amy Spielberg’s marriage sadly didn’t last more than three and a half years. Amy hinted that their careers played a part in the split. When they got divorced in 1985, it ended up being one of the priciest break-ups of the era with a settlement of $100 million!
16. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren – $110 Million
Tiger Woods’ marriage to Elin Nordegren took a turn for the worse in 2010 when he admitted to infidelity. Although they had a prenuptial agreement, the couple renegotiated due to Tiger’s misbehavior. Nordegren ended up with an estimated $110 million in her divorce settlement. Now that’s what I call a hole-in-one!
15. Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey – $150 Million
We’ve got Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphy who wrapped up their 25-year long relationship in ’95. Interestingly, Marcia Murphy Neil Diamond’s high-profile marriage was often the talk of the town. Word is, Neil wasn’t exactly faithful. Reflecting on the split, he took the blame for most of it. Marcia, however, took the money – all $150 million of it.
14. Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy – $168 Million
Remember when Michael Jordan tied the knot with Juanita Vanoy back in ’89, in the middle of his Chicago Bulls glory days? Well, they decided to bench their marriage for good in 2016. Their split was amicable, and Juanita scored a $168 million payout, their seven-acre mansion, and custody of the kids. Talk about a three-pointer!
13. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver – $250 Million
After 25 years together, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver’s fairy tale ended abruptly in 2011, courtesy of Arnold’s extramarital fling with the housekeeper. With no prenup in place, Maria walked off with $250 million and custody of the kids. Lesson learned, Arn?
12. Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt – $400 Million
Who didn’t think Brangelina was forever, right? Alas, they announced their split in 2016, and then came the colossal task of divvying up their $500 million empire – everything from multiple properties to a vast collection of jewellery, fine art, cars, and vintage motorbikes. This one is the thirteenth largest divorce worldwide!
11. Robert Johnson and Sheila Crump Johnson – $400 Million
Robert and Sheila Johnson were together for an impressive 33 years. The co-founders of Black Entertainment Television (BET) became the first African-American billionaires in 2000. Fast forward two years, they divorced, and Sheila strolled away with a neat $400 million.
10. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore – $425 Million
Then there’s Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore Gibson. Their divorce in 2011 after 26 years together made headlines, especially given the significant net worth Robyn Moore Gibson would claim in the settlement. With no prenup, the settlement almost halved Mel’s net worth! Talk about a ‘Braveheart’ moment.
9. Craig and Wendy McCaw – $460 Million
Last on this list, but not least, is Craig McCaw, founder of Cellular and Clearwire Corp, who parted ways with Wendy McCaw in ’98. Just a few years prior, Craig sold his company to AT&T for about $11 – $12 billion. Wendy walked away from their 21-year marriage with a staggering $460 million.
8. Dmitry Rybolovlev and Elena Rybolovlev – $604 Million
First, we’ve got Dmitry and Elena Rybolovlev, who hung up their couple status in 2008 after a 26-year run. Initially, Dmitry was slapped with a whopping $4.8 billion bill, but following negotiations, Elena settled for a cool $600 million.
7. Steven and Elaine Wynn – $741 Million
Casino kingpin, Steve Wynn, cut ties with Elaine in 2010. This was their second rodeo—they had previously been hitched from 1963-1986. Steve had to cough up an estimated $741 million, making this a record-breaking costly uncoupling.
6. Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi – $874 Million
Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi once made headlines as one of the wealthiest men on Earth. However, in 1982, he paid his ex-wife a towering $874 million divorce settlement. These high-flyers owned three planes, three yachts, and seventeen homes at the height of their wealth. Talk about living large!
5. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall – $1 Billion at $975 Million
In 2012, oil tycoon Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Hamm ended their 24-year marriage. Harold penned a whopping $974.8 million check, around 5% of his total net worth, to wrap up the proceedings. Interestingly, Sue didn’t cash the check until 2015, hinting at a potential quest for an even bigger slice of the Hamm empire.
4. Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Radić – $1.2 Billion
Next up, we have Bernie Ecclestone’s split from Slavica Radić in 2009, which crossed the $1 billion mark. Post-split, Slavica turned her $1.2 billion payout into a whopping $1.6 billion investment portfolio. How’s that for a savvy rebound?
3. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv – $1.7 Billion
After a 31-year-long marriage, media titan Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv called it quits in 1999. Mere weeks later, Rupert tied the knot with Wendi Deng, who’s 38 years his junior. Talk about a quick turnaround!
2. Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Wildenstein – $3.8 Billion
Alec Wildenstein, a French-American businessman and art dealer, split with wife Jocelyn in 1999 after 21 years. The total cost? A mind-boggling $3.8 billion. Now that’s one costly uncoupling!
1. Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos – $68 Billion
And, finally, we’ve arrived at the apex of high-stakes splits: the Bezos divorce. The Amazon CEO’s breakup led to a record-shattering $68 billion settlement. That’s more money than most nations’ GDP!
To Summarize
There you have it, folks – the 20 most extravagant divorces in the world. From Marcia Murphy Neil Diamond’s significant settlement to the massive net worth Robyn Moore Gibson secured, these divorces shook the world in more ways than one.
- 1. Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos – $68 Billion
- 2. Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Wildenstein – $3.8 Billion
- 3. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv – $1.7 Billion
- 4. Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Radić – $1.2 Billion
- 5. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall – $975 Million
- 6. Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi – $874 Million
- 7. Steven and Elaine Wynn – $741 Million
- 8. Dmitry Rybolovlev and Elena Rybolovlev – $604 Million
- 9. Craig and Wendy McCaw – $460 Million
- 10. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore – $425 Million
- 11. Robert Johnson and Sheila Crump Johnson – $400 Million
- 12. Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt – $400 Million
- 13. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver – $250 Million
- 14. Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy – $168 Million
- 15. Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey – $150 Million
- 16. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren – $110 Million
- 17. Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving – $100 Million
- 18. Madonna and Guy Ritchie – $92 Million
- 19. Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison – $85 Million
- 20. Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva – $80 Million
What can I say, folks? Love is a battlefield, especially when you’re a billionaire. So, which of these costly splits left your jaw on the floor? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and remember – love might be priceless, but divorce sure ain’t!
Well, that’s all for now. Stay tuned for more juicy and perplexing tales of love, money, and breakups from the world of the uber-wealthy. Remember, as they say, the course of true love never did run smooth. Now, that’s especially true when there are billions at stake.
Stay safe out there in the wild world of romance, folks. Keep your love strong, your prenups stronger, and your sense of humor strongest. Until next time!
Frequently asked questions:
Who has the most expensive divorce in history?
Biggest wallet hits in the divorce game:
• Bill Gates splitting with Melinda in 2021 tops the list. Melinda secured a cool $76 billion.
• Jeff Bezos parting ways with MacKenzie in 2019 takes the second spot. MacKenzie walked away with a hefty $38 billion (and that’s $43.5 billion with the inflation glow-up).
What is the highest divorce in the world?
the Maldives ain’t just about those pretty beaches. They held the title for the most breakups in 2021 and, get this, for the highest divorce rate EVER. They even snagged a Guinness World Record back in 2002, clocking in 10.97 splits per 1,000 peeps.
Hello, my name is Idammah, and I am the founder of Wolfionaire.com, a personal development, and finance blog focused on motivation, success, and wealth. I am obsessed with studying the world's wealthiest individuals and learning about their path to success. I believe anyone can achieve their financial goals with the right mindset and strategies, and I hope to inspire and empower my readers to pursue their own path to success.
