Whoever said that love doesn’t cost a thing clearly wasn’t an A-list celebrity. When the world’s richest and most powerful individuals decide that enough is enough, you’d better believe there’s a price to be paid .
Not only do these divorces tend to be messy, but they’re outrageously expensive for all parties involved. To get a better idea of what I’m talking about, have a look below at the most expensive celebrity divorces ever.
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Guy Ritchie and Madonna: $74 to $92 million
The UK-born director was married to the original Queen of Pop for a little more than eight years. At first, marriage was everything Madonna had ever dreamed of. But after a while, cracks in the foundation began to show.
Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey: $150 million
Most people wouldn’t be in the mood to sing “Sweet Caroline” after dolling out $150 million ( half of his estate ). But according to Neil, his ex-wife Marcia was worth every last penny.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles: $22.5 million + $600,000 annual salary
Both Princess Diana and Princess Charles were guilty of infidelity. In their divorce settlement, Diana was paid $22.5 million upfront and was guaranteed an additional $600,000 annual salary for each year that she kept her office in Kensington Palace.
Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison: $85 to $188 million
Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison were married for 17 years. Then, in the early 2000s, they separated amid reports that Harrison was having an affair with a much younger Lara Flynn Boyle.
Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving: $100 million
Steven and Amy first met after she auditioned for his film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind . The couple had allegedly signed a prenup on a scrap piece of paper , which Amy asserted was invalid.
Bill and Melinda Gates: $50-$76 billion (estimated)
“The divorce is definitely a sad thing,” the billionaire philanthropist told TODAY . “I have responsibility for causing a lot of pain to my family. It was a tough year . I feel good that all of us are moving forward now.”
Kenny Rogers and Marianne Gordon: $60 million
Kenny Rogers had been married three times before meeting Marianne Gordon — his most expensive divorce ever! The couple was married for sixteen years and shared one child together. They divorced in 1993 and agreed on a settlement of $60 million .
Dr. Dre and Nicole Young: $100 million
Dr. Dre is both a music legend as well as a cultural icon. Allegedly, the Grammy-winning producer is said to have held a gun to his ex-wife’s head on at least two occasions, as well as used physical violence against her.
James Cameron and Linda Hamilton: $50 million
The Oscar-winning director was married to his Terminator franchise star for about a year and a half. In the end, Linda took half of James’ Titanic earnings in their divorce — which totaled roughly $50 million.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver: $250 million
Arnold and Maria were married in 1986 and had no prenup. As a result, everything they owned was split down the middle in the divorce . The settlement came to $250 million. Adjusted for inflation, that would be just under $325 million today.
Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy: $168 million
Michael Jordan’s reputation for being a womanizer proceeded him. After 17 years of looking the other way, Juanita decided enough was enough and the couple amicably parted ways. Today, the legendary NBA Champion is worth roughly $1.7 billion .
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren: $100 million
After numerous reports of illicit affairs were brought to the surface, Elin and her lawyers were out for blood. They initially were going to go after Tiger for $750 million but wound up settling on $100 million.
Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore: $425 million
When Mel and his ex-wife Robyn divorced in 2011, his net worth was an estimated $850 million. The controversial actor/director not only had to give up half his fortune but also 50% of all residual film earnings in perpetuity.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills: $48.6 million
Paul and Heather’s fairytale marriage quickly dissolved into an all-out nightmare. In the beginning, Heather was seeking $250 million from the founding Beatle. In the end, she wound up walking away with $48.6 million.
Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie Scott: $38 billion
Jeff and Mackenzie filed for divorce amid rumors that Jeff was having an affair. Since the settlement, Mackenzie has pledged a substantial sum of the settlement to charity and says that she won’t rest until the proverbial safe is empty.
