Billion-Dollar Divorces: 7 Of The Most Expensive Separations In History
Bill Gates' divorce with his wife Melinda is coming in to become the most expensive divorce in the world, estimated at US$127 billion. While weddings are expensive, separating can be just as expensive especially if you're one of the richest people in the world, owning multiple assets and properties.
Curious to find out how much other high profile divorces cost? Here, we break down some of the most expensive divorce settlements in history.
1/7 Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott
Before Gates' divorce, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his split from MacKenzie Scott in 2019 was the most expensive divorce in history. Scott received US$38 billion and currently has a net worth of US$6.1 billion, making her the third-wealthiest woman in the world. Bezos on the other hand remains the world's richest man.
The two met when Scott was working as Bezos' assistant in D.E. Shaw in 1992. They dated for three months, got married and moved to Seattle, Washington in 1994. The ex-couple have four children.
2/7 Rupert Murdoch and Anna Maria Mann
Media mogul, Rupert Murdoch and his divorce from Anna Maria Mann, a Scottish journalist and novelist in 1999 also cost a hefty sum. Mann received US$1.7 billion from the settlement and US$110 million in cash. Mann is Murdoch's second wife and they had three children.
3/7 Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
Professional golfer, Tiger Wood's divorce from Elin Nordegren after 6 years of marriage was estimated at US$710 million. The ex-couple met when Nordegren moved to work in the US from Sweden and she was introduced to Tiger Woods. They married in 2004 and separated in 2010.
4/7 Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy
Basketball player Michael Jordan and his divorce from Juanita Vanoy in 2006 cost US$168 million. The two first filed for divorce in 2002 but reconciled shortly after. In 2006, they filed for divorce again. With the amount Vanoy received, it was the largest celebrity divorce settlement on public record at that time.
5/7 Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo
The divorce of South Korean stars Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo (also known as the SongSong couple) is one of the most high profile divorces in Asia. While the ex-couple didn't split assets or settlement money, they both own assets worth US$86.5 million. The two A-listers are also among South Korea's highest-paid celebrities, no doubt thanks to the popularity of the drama they starred together in, Descendants of the Sun which further cemented them into superstar status in Asia.
Song Joong-ki has a villa worth US$2.2 million while Song Hye-kyo has three properties worth around US$17.8. The ex-couple's mansion in Itaewon was worth US$8.6 million.
See also: 5 Things To Know About Song Hye-Kyo's New Drama, "Now We Are Breaking Up"
6/7 Chey Tae-won and Roh Soh-yeong
Dubbed the "divorce of the century" by the media, the ongoing divorce of Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group and Roh Soh-yeong, an art museum director costs around US$1.6 billion. This about 42.3 per cent stake in SK Holdings Co, South Korea's third-largest conglomerate. The two come from very well-off families, Chey is groomed as the heir to SK Group while Roh is the daughter of a former army general turned president.
See also: Asia's Richest 2021: Top 10 In The Forbes World's Billionaires List
7/7 Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison
Actor Harrison Ford and late screenwriter Melissa Mathison's divorce in 2004 cost an estimated US$118 million. Mathison is Ford's second wife whom he had a son and daughter with.