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What are the biggest divorce settlements ever?

The divorces of celebrities and other wealthy people are much like the divorces of the great majority of the population, except that the numbers regarding property division are typically much larger. Listed below are some of the biggest divorce settlements ever. Keep in mind that the figures date from the year of the divorce; the numbers aren’t adjusted for inflation.

  • $25 million: Actor Clint Eastwood to his wife of 31 years, Maggie (1984)
  • $48.7 million: Singer/Beatle Paul McCartney to Heather Mills (2008)
  • $60 million: Singer Kenny Rogers to fourth wife Marianne (1993)
  • $80 million: Actor Kevin Costner to Cindy, his wife of 16 years (1994)
  • $100 million: Director Steven Spielberg to Amy Irving after their 34-month marriage (1989)
  • $150 million: Singer Neil Diamond to Marcia Murphey (1994)
  • $150 million: Athlete Michael Jordan to his wife of 17 years, Juanita (2007)
  • $460+ million: Telecommunications magnate Craig McCaw to Wendy McCaw (1995)
  • $874 million: Saudi businessman Adnan Khashoggi to Soraya Khashoggi (1982)
  • $1.7 billion: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch to his wife of 30+ years, Anna (1999)

Wealthy Men Usually Recover

The good news may be that all of the persons listed above who agreed to these whopping settlements for their ex-spouses are all still doing alright financially; for example, although Steven Spielberg gave half his wealth to his wife of less than three years in 1989, he’s now estimated to be worth about $3 billion.

It’s Not Always the Husband Who Pays

It’s not always the case that a mega-money settlement is from the husband to the wife. Several wealthy female celebrities have agreed to settlements to spouses who made less income. In the most recent example, former model Christie Brinkley’s settlement with husband Peter Cook in 2008 gave him $2.1 million.

Talk to an Experienced Divorce Attorney about Settlement

If you’re considering a divorce, it’s in your best interest to discuss all aspects of your marriage and potential divorce with a qualified, competent divorce lawyer in your area.

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