One of a person’s most memorable experiences is often the time spent preparing for marriage. Some people spend a huge amount of money on this special occasion to symbolize the couple’s union. However, if the marriage is not meant to last, the repercussions are significantly more costly and not worth spending money on.
For some couples, the divorce process can be pleasant for both parties or altogether unpleasant. Divorce can be highly challenging, celebrity or not. Many famous people have been on some unacceptable finish of an exorbitant separation settlement.
The 10 Divorces That Cost The Most Money In Legal History
1. Bill Gates and Melinda Gates: $73 Billion
After 27 years of marriage, the charitable couple announced their unexpected divorce on May 3, 2021. Court records show the two had an intimate partition understanding set up. Yet, not a prenuptial arrangement — and since they shared such a great deal of their expert coexistence, unwinding their resources could be complex.
They own several properties, including a brand-new $43 million home in Del Mar, California, and a $130.88 million waterfront mansion in Medina, Washington. Forbes estimated Bill’s worth at $130.5 billion.
One of the most influential non-profit organizations in the world, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spends $5 billion annually to combat poverty, disease, and inequality worldwide. The couple runs the foundation.
Mrs. Gates is estimated to be worth $73 billion if they split their wealth equally, making the divorce the most expensive in history.
2. Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott: $38 Billion
Given that Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, was named the wealthiest person in the world in June 2018, it was expensive for him to divorce his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Scot, in 2019.
Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the richest man in the world with a $197 billion fortune, paid $38 billion to end their 26-year marriage.
Bezos said he would keep 75% of the company’s shares, and his ex-wife would get 4% of Amazon.
3. Alec and Jocelyn Wildenstein: $3.8 Billion
French-American finance manager and artistry vendor Alec Wildenstein separated from his significant other of 21 years, Jocelyn Wildenstein, in 1999.
Mrs. Wildenstein received $2.5 billion and $100 million annually for the next 13 years due to the divorce proceedings, totalling $3.8 billion.
4. Steve and Elaine Wynn: $1 Billion
Steve and Elaine Wynn, casino tycoons in Las Vegas, were married twice, once in 1963 and the other in 1991.
Their second divorce resulted in a $1 billion settlement for Mrs. Wynn, which also included stock in the company they founded called Wynn Resorts worth $741 million.
5. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv Mann: $1.7 Billion
Rupert Murdoch, a media mogul, and Anna Torv Mann, a former journalist, were married for more than 30 years and had three children together. In 1998, the couple agreed to separate.
The precise amount of the settlement varies, but Torv Mann reportedly received $1.7 billion, primarily in shares of Murdoch’s News Corporation.
6. Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica: $1.2 Billion
The couple divorced in 2009 after a long marriage that lasted 24 years. Bernie paid $1.2 billion to Slavica in the separation settlement. As a result, it evolved into one of the most costly divorces ever.
7. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall: $975 Million
In 2014, the divorce between oil magnate Harold Hamm and his wife, Sue Ann Arnall, was finalized, and Hamm gave Sue Ann Arnall a check for $974.8 million.
Arnall fought for a larger settlement in court and didn’t cash the check immediately; instead, he deposited it in 2015.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Hamm founded Continental Resources in 1967 and is now worth $8.69 billion.
8. Adnan and Soraya Khashoggi: $874 Million
In 1982, the late Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi paid $874 million to his ex-wife as part of a divorce settlement. When they were wealthier, the couple owned 17 homes worldwide, three planes, and three yachts.
9. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren: $710 Million
In August 2010, Tiger Woods divorced Elin Nordegren after five or six years of marriage. In the months following the divorce, numerous breathless reports suggested that Nordegren would receive anywhere from $500 million to $750 million.
10. Dmitry Rybolovlev and Elena Rybolovlev: $604 Million
In 2008, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and his wife Elena ended their 26-year marriage.
A Swiss court ordered Rybolovlev to pay $4.5 billion to his ex-wife several years later. However, the final payment was reduced to slightly more than $600 million following negotiations.
At the moment, Rybolovlev is worth $10.8 billion.
Undoubtedly, marriage is a great deal of money, either binding it or breaking it. So this was the list of the 10 most expensive divorces in history.
