The Most Expensive Divorces In History
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, $250 million-plus
In 2012 Hollywood star and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver,
split after it was revealed that the actor had fathered a child with a staff member.
Roman and Irina Abramovich, $300 million
The owner of Chelsea FC and Russian oligarch Abramovich divorced wife Irina in 2007. The settlement was reportedly
worth less than 2% of Roman's massive $18.7 billion net worth.
Robert and Sheila Johnson, $400 million
American businessman Robert Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and is known as America's
first African-American billionaire. In 2000 he split from his wife after more than 30 years of marriage.
Mel and Robyn Gibson, $425 million
Another Hollywood divorce and another massive payout saw Mel Gibson reportedly handed over half of his $850m
fortune when he split from Robyn, his wife of 31 years, in 2011.
Craig and Wendy McCaw, $460 million
US businessman and founder of McCaw Cellular, Craig McCaw and his wife Wendy split up in 1998. Just a few years
earlier AT&T bought McCaw Cellular for around $12bn.
Steve and Elaine Wynn, $740 million
When Steve Wynn divorced his wife Elaine in 2010 the CEO of the casino empire, Wynn Resorts, lost ownership of about
half of his stock in the company. This was part of the $750m divorce settlement, according to reports at the time.
Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi, $874 million
After divorcing his wife, Soraya, in 1974 the Saudi billionaire entrepreneur and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, pictured here
with his second wife Lamia, held the record for the most expensive divorce settlement for nearly 20 years.
Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone, $1.2 billion
The Formula One CEO divorced his wife, a former Armani model, in 2009 for an estimated $1bn to $1.2bn.
Rupert and Anna Murdoch, $1.7 billion
Murdoch divorced his second wife of 31 years, Anna, with a $1.7bn settlement in 1999. He married Wendi Deng shortly
after, but recently the media mogul once again filed for divorce. Analysts predict that this third divorce could cost Murdoch
significantly more than his second despite a pre-nuptial agreement.
Alec and Jocelyn Wildenstein, $3.8 billion
Although Murdoch's combined divorces may end up costing him more than this one, for now the 'honour' of the most
expensive divorce in history goes to US art dealer Alec Wildenstein and his wife Jocelyn. The settlement included $2.5bn
plus $100m a year for 13 years.
Harold and Sue Ann Hamm
Although the settlement has not yet been finalised the divorce of oil tycoon Harold Hamm and his wife of 25 years, Sue
Ann, could become the most expensive in history. With no pre-nup in place Sue Ann is in line to take a sizeable chunk of
her husband's $11bn fortune.
