When it comes to divorce, it is never a walk in the park, especially when there is a lot of money involved. The world of celebrities is no exception, and unfortunately, we have seen many high-profile breakups that have left a substantial dent in their bank accounts.
From Hollywood A-listers to professional athletes, let’s take a look at the top 7 most expensive celebrity divorces of all time.
Jeff Bezos and McKenzie Scott
Founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos and his estranged wife McKenzie Scott made headlines when they announced their divorce in early 2019. The settlement was estimated at $38 billion, making McKenzie the third-richest woman in the world.
Despite the massive settlement, Jeff still retains 75% of their shared Amazon stock. Thus, his net worth remains unchanged.
Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy
Finally, Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy were married for nearly 17 years before they filed for divorce in 2002. The settlement was estimated to be around $168 million, which included their shared assets and child support.
At the time, the divorce was highly publicized in the media due to Jordan’s status as one of the most popular professional basketball players of all time. So, divorce is an emotional and difficult process for anyone. But when it comes to celebrity divorces, the stakes are much higher.
Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv
First up: Rupert Murdoch is a media mogul who has built an empire over the years. The divorce from journalist Anna Torv made headlines when she was awarded a settlement of $1.7 billion, including a $100 million cash payout.
The divorce was finalized in 1999, and Anna was awarded a substantial amount of money from Rupert’s vast media holdings.
Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Perisset
French businessman Alec Wildenstein and his former wife Jocelyn Perisset divorced in 1999 after 21 years of marriage. The settlement was estimated at around $2.5 billion, with Jocelyn receiving $100 million in cash and $2.4 billion in assets.
The pricey divorce was due to Alec’s vast wealth and his family’s possession of one of the largest art collections in the world.
Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore
Next up: Mel Gibson’s divorce from his former wife Robyn Moore was finalized in 2011, leaving a substantial dent in his bank account.
Robyn received an estimated $425 million settlement, which this was reported to be more than half of Mel’s net worth at the time of the divorce. The settlement was rumored to be one of the most substantial divorce payouts in Hollywood history.
Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Radic
British businessman Bernie Ecclestone, who was the CEO of Formula One for many years, divorced his wife Slavica Radic in 2009. The settlement was estimated at $1.2 billion, with Slavica receiving a large portion of its shared assets.
However, the divorce was a surprise. Why? Well, the couple had been married for over 23 years and had often been seen together in the public eye.
Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving
One of the most famous celebrity divorces of all time was between Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving. The divorce happened in 1989 and was estimated to have a settlement of $100 million.
Although Steven and Amy had a prenuptial agreement in place, it was later ruled invalid in court, with Amy being awarded a substantial amount of money.