Mind Blowing Assets these Celebrities Lost in their Ugly Divorces

Trista - October 22, 2022
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Mind Blowing Assets these Celebrities Lost in their Ugly Divorces
Photo: Elle

Divorce is one of those things in life that can happen to any celeb. They live a fast lifestyle with beautiful (needy and greedy) people around them. Heck, some get paid to make out with their co-workers (as trained actors). Sadly, not everyone who walks down the aisle will experience happily ever after, especially when it comes to celebrities. They often have lavish, expensive weddings, followed by equally expensive divorce proceedings. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the high-stakes media attention and a hefty payday for one of the famous spouses. At least, that’s true during these celebrity divorces.

Sure, some hooked up before the spotlight, but it didn’t help. Others met well after the fame and still couldn’t make it work. These famous exes had to duke it out in court and pay handsomely as a result. Furthermore, it was all under the watchful public eye. Check out this list of celebrity marriages and the jaw-droppingly high cost of divorce that resulted long after swapping “I do’s.”

The Times

Phil Collins and Orianne Bates

What went wrong: This pair called it quits not only once but twice. When famous singer Phil Collins and Orianne Bates (then Cevey) split in 2006 after seven years of marriage, their $46.68 million settlement was the biggest in British legal history at the time. The couple, who share two teenage sons, found their way back to each other in 2016 — only to split again acrimoniously at the end of 2020.

The end result: After the singer discovered that his ex-wife married Thomas Bates while still living in their $40 million Miami mansion, Collins served his ex-wife an eviction notice. She contested the eviction by claiming that Collins “refused to shower.” Plus, she said had a “stench that became so pervasive that he became a hermit.” (Collins’ lawyers refuted the claims. He described them as “immaterial and impertinent” to the case and categorized Bates’ allegations as a means of “extortion.”) Bates and her new husband moved out of the Miami home in mid-January 2021, but she is now auctioning off Collins’ records and awards while awaiting the judge’s decision on her claim that she’s entitled to half of the home’s proceeds once it sells.

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TMZ

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin

What went wrong: Sometimes, it can take a while before you realize it’s just not working out. In August 2022, actor Sylvester Stallone’s wife, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, filed for divorce from the “Rocky” star after 25 years of marriage. Fox News reported that the former model seeks complete ownership of their $35 million Florida home. The news outlet added that Sylvester is worth $400 million.

The end result: While this one is still ongoing, the ending payout should be astronomical – if it ever gets there. “Sylvester was wealthy when they married but amassed a fortune during their marriage,” divorce attorney Christopher Melcher told Fox News. “If there is no premarital agreement, Jennifer should receive an enormous sum.” On October 9, 2022, a report detailed that the pair had decided to halt all proceedings and reconcile. However, both parties must reactivate the complaint if they see fit.

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Elle

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

What went wrong: A-list actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie once made Hollywood’s most recognizable couples. They were together for a long time before Jolie filed for divorce shortly after their second wedding anniversary in 2016. Things quickly got ugly as the FBI and police investigated Pitt for child abuse allegations after a private plane incident, for which the judge did not prosecute.

The end result: In 2018, Jolie accused Pitt of not fulfilling his child support obligations. According to documents obtained by CNN, an attorney for Pitt rebuked the claims, stating he had given the “Maleficent” star $1.3 million in “bills” for her and the children since the split. He claims he even had loaned Jolie $8 million to buy a home. Jolie also recently stirred up more allegations of abuse from her ex, and the two are currently sparring words in the media to this day.

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TooFab

Shannon and David Beador

What went wrong: Things were looking up for the Real Housewives of Orange County stars after David threw a surprise birthday and vow renewal ceremony for Shannon to celebrate their 16 years of marriage. The grand gesture was extra emotional considering the couple’s work repairing their marriage after David’s affair. Sadly, it wasn’t enough to keep the duo together. Shannon filed for divorce from David in December 2017.

The end result: David agreed to pay Shannon $1.4 million “to equalize the division of community property,” according to court documents obtained by The Blast. The former couple are parents to Sophie and teen twins Stella and Adeline. They have agreed to joint legal and physical custody of their daughters. David will also pay Shannon $10,000 a month for spousal and child support.

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Getty

Rupert Murdock and Anna Torv Mann (and Wendi Deng)

What went wrong: Rupert Murdoch made headlines when he went through not one expensive divorce story, but two! After 32 years of marriage, the Murdochs called it quits in 1999. Murdoch’s second wife, journalist Anna Torv stated that Murdoch was “ruthless” and “determined to go through it.” After the split, Rupert was married just 17 days later to 30-year-old Wendi Deng, whom he met while married to Torv.

The end result: Of the $1.7 billion in assets Rupert gave to Torv, $110 million was in cash, according to ABC News. Despite moving on quickly, the next match did not last either. Murdoch filed for divorce from Deng in June 2013. “I think that Rupert’s affair with Wendi Deng – it’s not an original plot – was the end of the marriage,” Torv told Australian Women’s Weekly in 2001. “His determination to continue with that. I thought we had a wonderful, happy marriage. Obviously, we didn’t.” We can’t find much about the settlement with Murdoch’s third wife, Deng. It is likely it cost a some pretty pennies, although he probably had a prenup this time around.

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Getty

Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore

What went wrong: The falling out between Mel Gibson and his ex-Robyn Moore is believed to be one of the biggest payouts in Hollywood history. Mel Gibson told Deadline the pair separated in 2006, the day after his arrest in Malibu for an investigation of driving under the influence, which infamously led to Gibson’s expletive-ridden anti-Semetic tirade. Moore filed for divorce in April 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. A month earlier, Gibson was spotted with singer-songwriter Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he had a child in October of that year.

The end result: The couple’s prenup reportedly entitled Moore to half of everything Gibson earned from their marriage starting in 1980, according to People. Reports estimate that Moore received about $425 million. The pair, married for nearly 30 years, have seven children together. Gibson has never remarried, even a decade after this nasty divorce.

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Panda

Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey

What went wrong: Singer, Neil Diamond and then-wife, Marcia Murphy, celebrated a quarter century of marriage before filing for divorce in 1996. This probably means good time never seemed so good to this Sweet Caroline singer. The famous musician had amassed quite a fortune during that time. Forbes had reported that they divided Diamond’s $300 million estate evenly, and Murphy was poised to take half in the dissolution.

The end result: In 1996, Diamond said he blamed himself for the destruction and aftermath of his marriage failing.” I assume a lot of responsibility for what went wrong. However, I was taken aback by how many friends dropped me,” he told People. Years later, Diamond admitted that his ex-wife received less than $150 million from the settlement.” She got enough to live on for the rest of her life,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.

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REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Rupert Murdoch (Again!) and Jerry Hall

What went wrong: Wedding bells were just as costly for Rupert Murdoch the fourth time around as they were for every other trip down the aisle. The Guardian reported that media mogul and billionaire Rupert Murdoch and his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, finalized their divorce settlement in August 2022 after six years of marriage.

The end result: Hall will reportedly receive a multi-million-pound settlement. Under terms of the payment, the former model will get a Georgian country home and another estate in the south of France. Murdoch is worth $19 billion. Their attorney attests that the exes remain great friends and “want the best for each other.”

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The Mirror

John Cleese and Alice Fay Eichelberger

What went wrong: John Cleese married his wife – an American psychotherapist Alice Fay Eichelberger – in 1992. They lived together for more than a decade and had two sons before their divorce proceedings began in 2008.

The end result: The Monty Python star and his wife divorced in 2009, and reportedly Cleese’s wife became richer than him after he handed her $19.7 million and $13 million in assets, including a New York apartment, a home in London, and a beach house in Santa Barbara. Cleese reportedly said that in 2022, he had paid all of his alimony, and it had taken seven years of work to be able to afford it. “I was comfortably well off before I got divorced,” he said, describing the process as “feeding the beast.”

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Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Scurtis

What went wrong: Cynthia Scurtis and baseball player Alex Rodriguez were not always on the best of terms. Scurtis filed for divorce from the Yankees slugger in 2008 after being together for six years, claiming “emotional abandonment.” Rumors flew that Rodriguez reportedly cheated with strippers and pop superstar Madonna.

The end result: According to People, she asked to keep their $12 million mansion in Florida and for a cut of his $28 million earnings that season. The official settlement documents have yet to be released. However, we can assume that if she had kept the house and taken half of his earnings, Scurtis would have walked away with $26 million. Regardless, she got a lot of money from their settlement. Rodriguez was then engaged to singer-actress, Jennifer Lopez, before they called it quits in 2021.

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RadarOnline

Adele and Simon Konecki

What went wrong: The singer began dating Konecki in 2011, and they married in a secret ceremony five years later. It seemed for a while that Adele had finally gotten her happily ever after. The singer didn’t confirm their marriage until 2017 during an acceptance speech, “Grammys, I appreciate it. The Academy, I love you. My manager, my husband, and my son—you’re the only reason I do it.”

The end result: But the romance was short-lived. They announced the split in April 2019. Nearly a year later, the pair was in the final stages of completing their divorce. A Los Angeles court granted Adele’s request to keep everything a top secret, so the exact settlement number isn’t public knowledge. Reported the couple didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement so that Konecki may have received up to half of Adele’s fortune. According to People, Adele is worth an estimated $182 million. Adele is reportedly dating Rich Paul, a sports agent whose client list includes pro athletes LeBron James, Ben Simmons, and Anthony Davis.

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GeekWire

Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos

What went wrong: Considering Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos was named the world’s richest man in June 2018, his 2019 divorce from his wife of 25 years was bound to be expensive. There was also the matter of the $23 million Washington DC mansion. They purchased the property together in October 2016. The Amazon couple also acquired a Beverly Hills mansion for $24 million. Washington, where Bezos resides, is a community property state. All assets and debts accrued during the marriage are owned equally by both spouses unless a prenuptial agreement states otherwise.

The end result: However, the former couple worked out terms privately, and in April 2019, announced they’d finalized their divorce, with Mackenzie walking away with around $36 billion — making her one of the wealthiest women in the world. (By June 2020, she had already given $1.7 billion away to charity and continues making large donations to non-profits nationwide.) She remarried a science teacher, but they are getting divorced as well.

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Perez Hilton

Sergey Brin and Nicole Shanahan

What went wrong: While Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s divorce from Nicole Shanahan is not final as of August 2022, people anticipate the settlement to be eye-popping. Brin is worth $94 billion and ranks as the sixth richest person in the world. People reported that he filed for divorce in January after three years of marriage.

The end result: “All issues as to the property rights or obligations of the parties will be determined by confidential binding arbitration in accordance with a written agreement between the parties,” according to court documents obtained by the magazine. Some speculate that Elon Musk has something to do with this divorce. However, both Musk and Shanahan deny any funny business.

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Rex

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum and Princess Haya bint al-Hussein

What went wrong: It may not be quite a surprise that Dubai royals live in the lap of luxury. But it turns out that separation can make for a rich payout at the end of the relationship. In 2021, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum had to pay $728 million to his ex, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein.

The end result: This ended a years-long ugly divorce battle that swapped several allegations of affairs, threats, and other misbehaviors. The Princess had to hide out in London because of accusations against her. The judgment was to cover Princess Haya’s security costs “for the rest of her life” as well as additional costs involved in raising the couple’s two children.

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Rock Celebrities

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

What went wrong: No, this isn’t the lady that broke up the band … that’s a different lady. However, many people still don’t like this one, either. Beatle Paul McCartney and his ex-wife, former model Heather Mills, were married from 2002 to 2008 before calling it quits. He reportedly did not sign a prenuptial agreement before heading down the aisle.

The end result: Mills didn’t get exactly what she wanted in the divorce settlement. According to CNN, she initially asked for $250 million and was awarded $48.6 million instead. The two share a daughter Beatrice McCartney together. McCartney is to pay $70,000 in child support plus tuition fees, and Mills received two houses in the settlement. “I’m so glad it’s over, and it was an incredible result, in the end, to secure my and my daughter’s future, and that of all the charities that I obviously plan on helping,” said Mills per the outlet at the time. Since the split, McCartney’s net worth has skyrocketed to over $1 billion.

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NailBuzz

Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy

What went wrong: A legendary name in sports is also a record holder for a whole other reason. The Chicago Bulls star married Juanita Vancoy during his second season in 1989. There was a rumor in 2002 that the two would split, but they decided to work through things.

The end result: Their relationship survived for four more years until they officially decided to divorce in 2006. Juanita walked away with a staggering $168 million, which was considered the most expensive divorce settlement at the time (it would calculate to more than $246 million today). She also received a seven-acre mansion in Chicago as part of the agreement. You could say they left on good terms, as they reportedly attended their son’s basketball game together right after their divorce was final.

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Evening Standard

Kim Bassinger and Alec Baldwin

What went wrong: Actors Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin shared nine years together before they fell into some serious divorce drama. The battle lasted for four years, primarily due to a custody battle over their daughter, Ireland. Their split was also full of name-calling; some of the insults thrown out included “black widow” and “tin pot tyrant.”

The end result: Basinger also said that she dreamt about Baldwin’s death. The pair eventually settled for around $3 million when the divorce was final in 2002. Things have improved since 2002, though: she told Net-A-Porter’s The Edit that the two are “cool now.” Of course, Alec Baldwin would go on to remarry and have many children with his new wife.

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The Spun

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

What went wrong: Golf superstar Tiger Woods seemed like he was at one time at the top of the world. He was the sport’s wealthiest star. Woods married his Swedish model wife in 2004. Things seemed to be on the up and up until 2009, after a car crash when Woods crashed the Escalade into a tree outside their home. A domestic dispute between the couple reportedly caused the accident. Tiger Woods allegedly cheated on Elin Nordegren with a club worker and other affairs, and she blew up at him. Court documents confirmed the split soon after, stating that the marriage was “irretrievably broken.”

The end result: Woods had to pay for his transgressions in more ways than one. She filed the divorce paperwork a short time later. Later, the judge ordered this GOAT golf star to pay out $100 million to his ex-wife. Let’s not forget how she took a golf club to his things. Do you blame her? It was just lying around, naturally!

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Hello Magazine

Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen

What went wrong: Another volatile celebrity divorce came in 2006 for Sheen and Richards. In court documents, Richards alleged that Charlie was abusive, slept with prostitutes during their marriage, and tried to prevent his daughters from receiving standard vaccinations. In released emails, Sheen called Richards a “sad jobless pig.”

The end result: They announced their plans to divorce just three years after they wed. Denise Richards was six months pregnant with their second child when she followed for divorce. And, of course, more drama ensued, including tiger blood and a diagnosis.

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Getty

Hulk Hogan and Linda Claridge

What went wrong: Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was married to his longtime love for 26 years before finding himself in a nasty courtroom battle. After reports of the professional wrestler’s affairs with Christiane Plante, Linda filed for divorce. In an interview with Us Weekly, she said, “You have single-handedly ruined our 25-year marriage and our family…my trust, my love, my future, our future family with grandchildren, holidays, weddings, our kids’ lives, homes, their ability to trust, our poor animals, friends, neighbors, your career, finances, trademarks, retirement, your legacy, your reputation, your health…even your soul. You lost it all.” Yikes!

The end result: The Bollea’s settled in 2009 when the judge ordered Linda over 70 percent of the couple’s liquid assets. She also received 40 percent ownership of Hulk Hogan’s companies. The wrestler reportedly had to pay out a $3 million property settlement.

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YouTube

Donald and Ivana Trump

What went wrong: The former president’s divorce from his first wife, Ivana, wasn’t just expensive. It was dramatic. And it finished the way it started. Donald Trump and Ivana married nine months after meeting. Trump cheated on Ivana with his eventual second wife, Marla Maples, in a scandal that claimed many a headline. Famously, Maples confronted Ivana in Aspen, where she reportedly said, “I’m Marla, and I love your husband. Do you?” according to an interview Ivana gave to Barbara Walters. Ivana said to Maples, “You b—-, leave my husband alone.”

The end result: The divorce soon followed, with an estimated settlement of $25 million. The media dubbed it “The Billion Dollar Blowup,” and Ivana also received custody of their children. Plus, she earned the Connecticut mansion as well as time at their Mar-a-Lago property. The former Mrs. Trump got spousal and child support. Ivana played herself in a cameo for the film “The First Wives Club.” In the famous clip, she told the main characters this sage advice: “Don’t get mad, get everything.”

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The Sun

Dr. Dre and Nicole Young

What went wrong: The rap mogul was the mastermind behind some of the most innovative rap voices. But Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Romelle Young, found himself on the outs with his wife Nicole, who filed for divorce and cited physical abuse. Dre vehemently denied these allegations. What would Dee Barnes think?

The end result: In 2021, a judge ruled that Nicole would receive a $100 million settlement, all of the jewelry, and four vehicles. Dr. Dre was reportedly pleased that his ex only received a fifth of his total liquid assets from their 24-year marriage and added that she would have gotten more if she had settled sooner.

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Suggest

Brendan Fraser and Afton Smith

What went wrong: “Mummy” star Brendan Fraser and his wife, Afton Smith, were married for ten years after reportedly meeting at a barbecue by a mutual friend. At the time, their publicist said that, despite the split, the former couple maintained a “loving and caring relationship.”

The end result: Fraser was forced to fork over $900,000 a year in child support for their three children. In 2013, he tried to get the support reduced. Why? The former George of the Jungle star said could no longer afford it. This was because of a decrease in work and medical problems. Smith contested, arguing that her ex had millions in film contracts that he had hidden throughout their marriage.

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LoveMoney

Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving

What went wrong: The divorce case between the famous filmmaker and his ex is a cautionary tale of ensuring all documents are in proper order. Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving were married in 1985 and had a signed prenuptial agreement written on a napkin. The legal question then became whether the romantic gesture early on in the relationship was a binding agreement when things went sour.

The end result: The marriage only lasted four years. A judge found the agreement invalid because Irving had never hired an attorney, so she walked away with a $100 million settlement.

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NYT

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

What went wrong: It seemed like the powerhouse political couple was meant for each other until rumors of infidelity started to surface. It then fell apart quickly after Kennedy family heiress, Maria Shriver, found out her former governor and movie star husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, had a child with his housekeeper.

The end result: Shriver filed for divorce in 2011 after 25 years of marriage. There was reportedly no prenuptial agreement, and media outlets indicate that Shriver likely received between $250 million and $375 million.

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Taste of Country

Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock

What went wrong: Country superstar, Reba McEntire, began her whirlwind romance with music executive Narvel Blackstock shortly after her divorce from her first husband. Reba reportedly believed she had found her person. She shook off the naysayers who started rumors about her moving on too quickly.

The end result: But after 25 years of marriage, Blackstock filed for divorce. McEntire reportedly did not want to end the relationship, but a judge ordered this country queen to pay $47.5 million in the divorce settlement. Later, the My Broken Heart singer said in an interview that she did not want to shackle anyone into a relationship. She also said that life was too short to be miserable.

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Variety


Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison

What went wrong: Actor, Harrison Ford, met his wife, Melissa Mathison, on the “Apocalypse Now” set in 1976, just before he was to star in one of his most prominent roles. Ford was still with his high school sweetheart, but they split in 1979. Ford and Mathison began dating in 1982 and married the following year.

The end result: For a long time, it seemed Ford and Mathison were happy. They were married for 18 years before divorcing. The final amount reached around $85 million. Thanks to some shrewd negotiations, Mathison also walked away with a portion of Ford’s future earnings from the Indiana Jones franchise. Harrison Ford went on to marry Calista Flockhart and live on a property with hundreds of acres. Carrie Fischer said she had an affair with a married Harrison Ford during Star Wars before she passed away.

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Country Fancast

Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl

What went wrong: Garth Brooks had to pay out a considerable amount once the dust settled after this epic divorce. And yes, we know he is a country musician. However, by his sold-out arenas and outrageous sales, he qualifies as a rock star. Arguably the biggest name in country music had to pay $9 million for each year he was married to ex Sandy Mahl. The pair met before his career really took off while they were college students.

The end result: Their 15-year marriage was over in 2001, and Brooks had to pay $125 million in the divorce settlement. This amount was one of the biggest in country music history. Of course, Garth Brooks went on to marry Trisha Yearwood, and they became a dynamic country duo everyone adores.

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Vogue

Prince Charles and Princess Diana

What went wrong: It seemed like a fairy tale came to life. Diana was just an English schoolteacher when she fell in love with Prince Charles, heir to the English throne. The media broadcast their royal wedding in 1981 for all the world to see. Nearly 1 billion tuned in to see their nuptials. The happily ever after was short-lived, and they filed for divorce in 1992 after being legally separated for four years. Any hopes for reconciliation were dashed in 1995 when Diana accused Prince Charles of having an affair with Camilla Paker-Bowles, stating that there were “three of us in this marriage.”

The end result: The highly contested divorce ended in 1996, with Diana reportedly receiving a $25 million settlement and was legally able to keep her title as the Princess of Wales as long as she gave up any rights to the throne. Tragically, Diana died one year later after a car accident.

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ET

Bill and Melinda Gates

What went wrong: Bill Gates has been one of the wealthiest people in the world for decades. As of 2022, Forbes estimated his net worth at more than $112 billion. But when the Microsoft co-founder’s divorce from his partner of nearly 30 years, Melinda French Gates, was finalized in August of 2021, it seemed that his ex could receive a hefty amount. The charitable pair announced their surprising divorce news on May 3, 2021, after 27 years of marriage. Court documents show the two had a private separation agreement in place but not a prenuptial agreement — and since they shared so much of their professional life together, untangling their assets could be complicated.

The end result: While reports did not discuss the details of how the two divided their assets in court documents, French Gates reportedly walked away with more than $6 billion in stocks alone. They have several properties, including a 66,000-square foot waterfront mansion in Medina, Washington. It is worth $130.88 million. Plus, they have a $43 million home in Del Mar, California. Individually, Forbes estimated that Bill is worth $130.5 billion. Though he stepped down as Microsoft chairman in 2014, he still owns 1.34 percent of the company. He also has stakes in several other organizations, in addition to a handful of luxury planes and cars. Together, the former couple runs their namesake foundation. It is worth more than $40 billion. In a statement, the parents to three grown children said they “will continue our work together at the foundation” … as they continue its mission of helping people around the world “lead healthy, productive lives.”

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Page 6

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline

What went wrong: Pop star, Britney Spears, has been in the spotlight ever since the “Baby One More Time” singer was a teenager. She married former backup dancer Kevin Federline in 2004. The couple was together for three years and had two sons together before splitting over irreconcilable differences.

The end result: Britney Spears lost custody of her sons, and a judge forced the pop princess to pay $20,000 per month in child support each year until the boys turned 18 years old. This was on top of a $1 million settlement to Federline. After her 13-year conservatorship ended, more details came to light recently, including that Federline requested $60,000 per month, but the judge refused his request. Britney Spears recently remarried her long-time boyfriend since her conservatorship ended.

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The Teal Mango

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock

What went wrong: The first “American Idol” winner, Kelly Clarkson, and Brandon Blackstock’s divorce was finalized in 2022. The marriage lasted less than ten years, and the “Kelly Clarkson” talk show host had to pay more than a pretty penny as a result.

The end result: The divorce settlement was $1,3 million. The judge ordered this former American Idol winner to fork over $45,000 each month in child support for their daughter and son. Plus, this singer-turned-host has to pay another $115,000 in spousal support until January 2024. They fought hotly over their Montana ranch. It ended up going to Blackstock, who would pay for the upkeep and utilities on the property.

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The Washington Post

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

What went wrong: Some loves burn so brightly that they are over as quickly as they began. Another example of high child support payments was the divorce of leading actors, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, which went swiftly and settled in only 11 days, even though the “Mission Impossible” star was reportedly blindsided by his ex-wife’s decision to split. Surprising considering how over-the-moon the couch-hopping Cruise had been about his “Dawson’s Creek” actress wife in the early days of their courtship.

The end result: Still, it ended up being very costly as Cruise was ordered to pay $400,000 each year over the course of 12 years in child support until their daughter Suri turns 18. This calculates to a cool $4.8 million at the end of the day. He also divorced the Australian beauty Nicole Kidman prior to Katie Holmes.

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Marco Secchi/Photoshot/Getty Images

Madonna and Guy Ritchie

What went wrong: Madonna was married to British film director, Guy Ritchie, for eight years before they called it quits in 2008. The couple had two sons – Rocco and David.

The end result: The reigning Queen of Pop had to fork over one of the largest divorce settlements – between $75 million and $92 million, according to reports. Both of her trips down the aisle have soured the “Material Girl” singer from ever donning a wedding dress again. Madonna told David Letterman that a year after they finalized the divorce, she would instead “get hit by a train” than get married again, and in 2022, she voiced those same sentiments calling them life decisions that were not the best idea.

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Sky News

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard

What went wrong: One of the most recent high-profile celebrity divorces, the split between actors, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was costly on several accounts. They were married for a year before Heard filed for a divorce and a restraining order against Depp amid allegations of domestic abuse. Of course, Debb denied these claims Depp.

The end result: This un-stable toxic pair settled their divorce for $7 million and Heard had promised to donate the entire amount to charity. But the animosity between these two did not stop when the ink dried on the divorce papers. In 2018, Heard wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star sued her for $50 million for defamation. After a highly publicized trial, the judge and jury ordered Heard to pay $2 million in compensatory damages and questioned by the media why she never donated her divorce settlement.

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XXL

Kim Kardashian and Kayne West

What went wrong: Hip hop artist Kanye West and his reality show personality and socialite wife Kim Kardashian had more than $2 billion in assets by the time their high-profile divorce made headlines in 2021. They were married for seven years before the split and reportedly tried counseling before calling it quits.

The end result: Kardashian even filed papers with the court to be declared legally single before reaching a final decision. “I very much desire to be divorced,” the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star said in a statement to the court. Whatever happens, in the end, it will be costly. Reports estimate that West and Kardashian share a combined $70 million in joint assets and luxurious homes. They are still in the mix of separating as of October 2022.

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