10 most expensive divorces of all time
A broken marriage causes enough heartache as is, but when you throw hundreds of millions of dollars (or even billions), it becomes even more complicated. Join us as we count down the 10 most expensive divorces of all time.
10. Roman Abramovich and Irina Malandina – estimated US$300 million
In 2006, Russian business magnate Abramovich was slapped with divorce papers from his wife of 15 years, former air hostess Irina Malandina. She sought half of his fortune, which would have given her $6 billion, but was awarded just $300 million. Poor gal.
9. Robert and Sheila Johnson – estimated US$400 million
Co-founders of US TV network BET, the Johnsons divorced in 2002 after 33 years and two children together, with Robert leaving Sheila just a fraction of his billionaire fortune.
8. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore – estimated US$425 million
Before he was a Hollywood star, Gibson was married to dental nurse Robyn Moore. They were married for 29 years and had seven children together, before divorcing in 2009 and Moore was left with half of Gibson’s fortune.
7. Craig and Wendy McCaw – estimated US$460 million
Craig McCaw made his fortune after selling his mobile phone company to US giant AT&T for a reported $11.5 billion in the 90s. When he split from wife Wendy in 1997, he lost $460 million in the settlement.
6. Steve and Elaine Wynn – estimated US$740
The second divorce for this couple set Steve Wynn, real estate tycoon and CEO of Wynn Resorts, back $741 million worth of shares.
5. Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi – estimated US$850 million
The late Saudi Arabian billionaire businessman was married to Soraya Khashoggi (née Sandra Daly) for 21 years between 1961 and 1982. If adjusted for inflation, the settlement would exceed $2 billion.
4. Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone – estimated US$1.2 billion
Bernie, president and CEO of Formula One racing, lost a staggering $1.2 billion after his wife of 23 years and mother of two of his children filed for divorce in 2009.
3. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Mann (née Torv) – estimated US$1.7 billion
In his first appearance on this list, the media mogul was forced to hand over $1.7 billion after splitting from Anna, his wife of 32 years, in 1999. $100 million of that sum was in cash.
2. Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng – estimated US$1.8 billion
The pair married just 17 days after Murdoch’s divorce from Anna was finalised, but divorced 13 years and two children later, citing “irreconcilable differences”.
1. Alec and Jocelyn Wildenstein – estimated US$2.5 billion
The most expensive divorce in history was the settlement between late businessman Alec Wildenstein and wife Jocelyn, who received $2.5 billion and $100 million every year for 13 years after, after walking in on her husband with his secret 19-year-old lover.