Ten Most Expensive Celebrity Divorce Settlements

Marriage is a union of two people, vowing to be together “for better or worse”, “till death do us part”. However, when it come to celebrity marriages, once the camera lens stops clicking and noise of raving paparazzi outside goes away, “for better” seems to take a quick change to “for worse” and “till death” changes into “see you in the court room”. Here is the list of 10 most expensive celebrity divorce settlements.

1. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

The # 1 golf player Tiger Woods and his Swedish wife Elin Nordegren finalized their divorce in August of 2010 after a torrid love affair separated a family with two toddlers. The whole scandal erupted when a car accident involving Woods fuelled media interest over his supposed infidelities with a nightclub manager. Soon two more women stepped up and claimed to have had affairs with Woods, including one who was sleeping with him since 2006. In February 2010 Tiger Woods officially announced his separation from his wife Elin after been caught cheating.   Many companies such as AT&T and Accenture refused to support and endorse Tiger Woods. All in all, Woods was able to reach a divorce settlement worth $750 million dollars in exchange for Nordegren’s silence.

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

In 2011 Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced their intent to separate. A number of days later Schwarzenegger’s infidelities with a house worker came to light in the media.  Further reports added that Mildred Paena (the former house worker) gave birth to a son which Paena previously claimed as her ex-husband’s. Maria Shriver has moved out of then mansion and there have been reports that Schwarzenegger has consulted a divorce attorney, Bob Kaufman who handled divorces for Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Paena’s ex-husband now alleges that the birth certificate of Schwarzenegger’s ‘son’ was falsified and is suing both Paena and Schwarzenegger as a result. All in all, this divorce could cost Schwarzenegger $200 million dollars. What a mess.

3. Michael Jordan & Juanita Vanoy

The legendary basketball player and Chicago bank officer met in 1989, the sparks flew and Michel quickly made Juanita Mrs. Jordan. After 18 years of marriage, three kids and his earned income of 350 million dollars, Juanita was granted a divorce settlement of 168 million dollars making it the largest divorce settlement in Hollywood history.

4. Neil Diamond & Marcia Murphey

Jewish Elvis and a television production assistant married in 1969, but after 27 years of marriage and two sons, Diamond paid his respect to his “soon-to-be ex wife in a form of 150 million dollars settlement. He then set the record straight by “saying she is the most wonderful woman, who stood by me through rough times, so she deserves every penny of it”.

5. Steven Spielberg & Amy Irving

Famous filmmaker and aspiring actress married in 1985, four years after Amy walked out with their only son and 100 million dollars divorce settlement. Although Spielberg tried to fight for his assets, the judge ruled that the prenuptial agreement written on a napkin was not legally authorized and there was no legal representation to witness it.

6. Rupert and Anne Murdoch

This is the most expensive divorce settlement in the world. After 32 years of marriage and 3 children, Murdoch and his wife decided to hit splitsville. The cost of the divorce was 1.2 billion dollars for this Australian media mogul.

7. Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore

This couple has been married for almost 6 years. Demi Moore is 48 and Ashton Kutcher is 33. Some people just do not grow up, as Kutcher was allegedly found cheating with a university student. This was not the first time, but was the final straw in this marriage. This divorce is one bitter $290 million case. Kutcher himself is worth $140 million US.

8. Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony

In June of 2011, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony announced their decision to end their marriage. Both are accomplished singers and actors and have sung duets, which included No Me Ames.It was rumoured that Lopez had to pay $215 million of her fortune and Anthony was ordered to pay $13,000/month for child support. He also received ownership of the two houses the couple owned, which are in the millions. What a mess.

9. James Cameron & Linda Hamilton

When Titanic director married Terminator ac-tress, Hollywood was expecting a fairy tale, their 18 months marriage produced one child and rocky relationship. In 1999, Linda got her divorce settlement in a half of Titanic’s profit- 50 million dollars.

10. Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Sir Paul met one legged former model and charity campaigner, she reminded him of his late wife and he was her childhood idol. Their four-year marriage ended in ugly accusations, media frenzy and custody battle for their only child. The Beetle had his heart broken and Mills limped away with 38.5 million dollars in divorce settlement plus 70 thousand dollars yearly for child support.