Divorce can be challenging, no matter what the reason is. It’s not easy to get out of a breakup for anyone be it us or celebrities, though time and hard work can help foster healing and the chance to love again. But the harsh reality is that if you’re in the public limelight, your divorce and all the ensuing drama that comes with it will be shouted from the rooftops. Sometimes a split can mean millions in legal bills and in at least some cases, celebrities in the spotlight have had to part with half their fortunes. So here are a few failed marriages of the rich and famous that cost them millions.
1) Ivana & Donald Trump
Donald Trump and Ivana Trump’s divorce made major headlines in 1990. After Trump’s affair with Marla Maples was discovered, it was tabloid fodder. There were rumors that the former President tried to lock Ivana out of her office at the Plaza Hotel. The couple’s divorce reportedly cost Donald $25 million.
2) Adele and Simon Konecki
British singer and songwriter Adele announced her split in 2019 from Simon Konecki. But didn’t finalize her divorce from the charity entrepreneur until 2021. The Los Angeles court granted the star’s request to keep the terms of the $171 million divorce private.
3) Johnny Depp & Amber Heard
The two were married for a mere 15 months, Amber Heard still walked away with a whopping $7 million settlement, which she said she will donate to charity. But it doesn’t end here. Amber accused Johnny of domestic violence, and he turned around and sued her for defamation. The highly publicized trial ended in Johnny being awarded $15 million in damages. Heard initially appealed the case, before settling with her ex in December 2022.
4) Princess Diana & Prince Charle
Lady Diana Spencer and Britain’s Prince Charles’s divorce was whispered about all around the world. The couple got separated in the year 1992 but finalized the split in 1996. As per the New York Times, Diana reportedly got $22.5 million in cash plus $600,000 a year for her office. Unfortunately. she died a year later in 1997.
5) Bill & Melinda Gates
Bill Gates and his wife Melinda announced they were divorcing in May 2021, which surprised the world as they were married for almost 27 years. Melinda might have been entitled to half of Bill’s estimated $130 billion fortune. The exact details of the settlement have remained private.
6) Jeff Bezos & MacKenzie Scott
Jeff Bezos and ex-MacKenzie Scott’s breakup was another billionaire breakup that shook the Internet. They two broke up just a year after Jeff Bezos was dubbed the richest man in the world in 2018. Community property laws meant that all their assets and debts were owned equally without a prenup since the couple lived in Washington. However, The two worked out an arrangement, that left Mackenzie with $36 billion after the divorce was finalized in April 2019.
7) Charlie Sheen & Denise Richards
Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards seemed like a match made in heaven when they got married in 2003, but things ended for them in divorce after 3 years of their marriage. Denise claimed that Charlie was abusive, slept with prostitutes, and used drugs, during their marriage as per the court documents. Denise filed court documents claiming Charlie owed her $450k in back child support for their daughters Lola and Sami in 2019.
8) Scooter Braun & Yael Cohen
After seven years of being married to Yael Cohen, Scooter Braun filed for divorce from her in July 2021. The divorce was settled in September 2022. As part of their divorce settlement, the court ordered Braun to pay $20 million to Yael, along with $60,000 per month in child support for their three young kids, Jagger Joseph, Levi Magnus, and Hart Violet. Yael also retained their $30 million Brentwood family home and kept her 2021 Land Rover Defender, plus some pieces of art. While Braun kept the $65 million mansion he bought in L.A., their private jet, and more than 100 pieces of classic art from artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns.
9) Michael & Juanita Jordan
After being together for 17 years the basketball superstar split from his wife Juanita in 2006. But it wasn’t the first time the couple had considered divorce and ending their 17 years long marriage. In 2002 Juanita filed for divorce from her ex-husband Michael. She ended up receiving $168 million as a settlement which is one of the biggest payouts in history.
10) Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin
Sylvester Stallone and his Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce in August 2022 after 25 years of marriage. The former model was seeking complete ownership of their $35 million Florida home that the two of them owned. The news outlet added that the ‘Rocky’ star Sylvester is worth $400 million. Divorce attorney Christopher Melcher told Fox News, “Sylvester was wealthy when they married, but amassed a fortune during their marriage.”
11) Madonna & Guy Ritchie
After their split in 2008. Madonna reportedly paid her ex-husband Ritchie between $76 million to $92 million. They were also fighting a case for custody over their son Rocco, which was eventually resolved.
Well, That is too much money.
