The most expensive celebrity divorces of all time

Celebrity divorces often captivate the public’s attention, especially when exorbitant sums of money are involved. Curious about the most expensive settlements in history, we delved into celebrity net worth pages and scoured various online resources to compile a list of these jaw-dropping financial agreements.

These high-profile splits showcase the staggering amounts that were at stake when love turned sour. Get ready to be amazed as we unveil the most expensive celebrity divorce settlements ever recorded.

10. Robert Johnson and Sheila Johnson

Settlement: around $400 million

When Robert Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), divorced his wife, Sheila Johnson, in 2002 received a settlement of around $400 million. After 30 years of marriage, the divorce was described as amicable, and it was one of the largest divorce settlements in history at the time. In a surprising turn of events in 2005, Sheila married William T. Newman Jr., the judge who had presided over her original divorce case.

9. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore

Settlement: approximately $425 million

After 28 years of marriage, actor Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore Gibson parted ways in 2011.

The couple first met in the late 1970s in Australia, where Moore worked as a dental nurse. During their marriage, they had seven children together, with one of them still being a minor, when the couple eventually decided to separate. Due to an absence of a prenuptial agreement, Gibson, who had a net worth of $850 million during the divorce, agreed to pay his wife a substantial sum of $425 million. The divorce settlement is considered one of the most expensive in Hollywood history.

8. Wendy McCaw and Craig McCaw

Settlement: around $460 million

Craig McCaw, a cell phone industry pioneer, and Wendy McCaw, a newspaper publisher, divorced in 1997. Craig had accumulated a fortune surpassing $1.3 billion, a substantial portion of which was acquired during their 30-year marriage. This led to an extensive and costly legal dispute in Washington State, where marital partners are entitled to half of the earnings generated throughout the marriage.

In an attempt to retain the majority of his wealth, Craig and his legal team contended that his fortune should not be considered community property. They argued that a significant portion of his wealth originated from investments stemming from family inheritances, which are not subject to the same laws governing community property. Wendy walked away with $460 million.

7. Elena Rybolovleva and Dmitry Rybolovlev

Settlement:$604 million

Dimitry Rybolovlev, a prominent Russian billionaire, and his ex-wife Elena found themselves embroiled in a high-profile divorce that captured international attention. The split, initiated by Elena due to allegations of serial adultery, set the stage for a lengthy and contentious legal battle over Dimitry’s staggering $8.5 billion fortune.

Over the course of six years, the estranged couple clashed in and out of court, with the proceedings shedding light on the complexities of their relationship and the immense wealth at stake. In a remarkable turn of events, Elena was ultimately awarded a monumental $4.5 billion judgment, potentially the largest divorce settlement of its time. However, her victory was tempered by the fact that she ultimately received a significantly smaller amount—just under $600 million.

6. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Hamm

Settlement: around $975 million

A titan of the oil industry, Harold Hamm’s divorce from Sue Ann Hamm ended with Sue Ann receiving a settlement check of $974.8 million. After 24 years of marriage, this divorce was notable for its public nature and the controversy over how much Sue Ann was entitled to from Harold’s oil fortune.

5. Steve Wynn and Elaine Wynn

Settlement: approximately $1 billion

Casino magnate Steve Wynn and his wife Elaine divorced for the second time in 2010. After 26 years of marriage, Elaine walked away with a $741 million settlement, a considerable slice of the couple’s joint stake in Wynn Resorts.

4.Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Ecclestone

Settlement: around $1.2 billion

In 2008, after 23 years, former Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone and his wife, Slavica, a former Armani model, called it quits. The couple’s divorce made headlines as an unconventional case where Slavica, Bernie’s ex-wife, was ordered to pay him a substantial settlement. Despite Bernie’s role as a Formula One executive, Slavica, a former model, was obligated to make annual payments of $100 million, stemming from a trust set up in her name. This atypical arrangement defied the usual dynamic of the higher-earning spouse providing financial support, highlighting the unique circumstances surrounding their high-profile split.

3. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Murdoch

Settlement: around $1.7 billion

In 1999, media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his ex-wife Anna Murdoch divorced after a 32-year marriage. The divorce settlement cost Murdoch a staggering $1.7 billion, $110 million of which was in cash. The ink was barely dry on the divorce papers when Rupert married Wendi Deng 17 days later, which “shockingly,” he divorced two years later.

2. Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Wildenstein

Settlement: $2.5 billion

Known as one of the messiest and most expensive divorces in history, Alec Wildenstein, a French billionaire art dealer, and Swiss socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein divorced in 1999 after 21 years of marriage. Jocelyn received a settlement of $2.5 billion, which included cash and property.

1. Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott

Settlement: approximately $38 billion

In 2019, the world’s richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and his wife, MacKenzie Bezos, decided to part ways after 25 years of marriage. The divorce settlement of $35 billion still stands as the most expensive in history. MacKenzie retained a 4% stake in Amazon and has since made her mark as a philanthropist, donating billions to various charities. MacKenzie became one of the wealthiest women in the world overnight.

This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.

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Alex Andonovska

Alex Andonovska is a staff writer at Cheapism and MediaFeed, based in Porto, Portugal. With 12 years of writing and editing at places like TheVintageNews.com, she’s your go-to for all things travel, food, and lifestyle. Alex specializes in turning “shower thoughts” into well-researched articles and sharing fun facts that are mostly useless but sure to bring a smile to your face. When she's not working, you'll find her exploring second-hand shops, antique stores, and flea markets.