scorecardThe 10 most expensive divorce settlements in history
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The 10 most expensive divorce settlements in history

10. Bob Johnson and Sheila Crump Johnson, 2002 — $400 million

The 10 most expensive divorce settlements in history

9. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore, 2006 — $425 million

9. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore, 2006 — $425 million

The nearly half-a-million-dollar settlement between actor Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore remains the largest Hollywood divorce payout in history.

The settlement totaled half of the actor's net worth at the time.

8. Craig McCaw and Wendy McCaw, 1997 — $460 million

8. Craig McCaw and Wendy McCaw, 1997 — $460 million

Cell phone industry pioneer Craig McCaw and newspaper publisher Wendy McCaw amicably divorced in 1997, with the settlement estimated to exceed $460 million in Nextel stock, according to Forbes.

7. Dmitry Rybolovlev and Elena Rybolovlev, 2014 — $604 million

7. Dmitry Rybolovlev and Elena Rybolovlev, 2014 — $604 million

Elena Rybolovleva filed for divorce from Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev and cited his "serial infidelity," saying he used to "share his young conquests with his friends, and other oligarchs."

The courts initially awarded Elena a whopping $4.5 billion in the settlement in 2014, but after an appeal, she walked away with "only" $604 million.

6. Adnan Khashoggi and Soraya Khashoggi, 1980 — $874 million

6. Adnan Khashoggi and Soraya Khashoggi, 1980 — $874 million

In 1961, Saudi Arabian arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi married a 20-year-old British woman named Sandra Daly, who converted to Islam and changed her name to Soraya.

According to Time, at the height of their wealth, the couple owned 17 homes, three planes, and three yachts.

The couple divorced in 1974 and their settlement totaled a then-record $874 million dollars — equivalent to more than $2 billion today.

5. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall, 2012 — $975 million

5. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall, 2012 — $975 million

The bitter divorce proceedings between oil magnate Harold Hamm and his wife Sue Ann Arnall ended with Hamm writing her a massive $974.8 million check.

Arnall didn't immediately cash the check amid a multi-year court battle for a larger settlement, but ultimately deposited it in 2015.

4. Steve and Elaine Wynn, 2010 — $1 billion

4. Steve and Elaine Wynn, 2010 — $1 billion

Las Vegas casino bigwigs Steve and Elaine Wynn were married to each other not once but twice, from 1963 to 1986 and from 1991 to 2010.

Their second divorce is said to be one of the most expensive of all time. Although details have been kept under wraps, the settlement is estimated at $1 billion.

3. Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Radić, 2009 — $1.2 billion

3. Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica Radić, 2009 — $1.2 billion

Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone, one of the richest people in the United Kingdom, divorced Croatian model Slavica Radić in 2009.

The settlement was estimated at $1.2 billion, and although the details aren't completely clear, there appears to be an unusual twist — Radić seems to be the one paying Ecclestone.

2. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv, 1999 — $1.7 billion

2. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv, 1999 — $1.7 billion

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and journalist Maria Torv were married for 31 years and had three children together.

But the couple had diverging plans for when Murdoch would retire, and they agreed to an "amicable separation" in 1998. Details of the separation are sparse, but Torv is rumored to have received $1.7 billion.

Both parties seemed to have moved on quickly: Murdoch married Wendi Deng 17 days after the divorce, while Torv married William Mann six months after.

1. Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Wildenstein, 1999 — $3.8 billion

1. Alec Wildenstein and Jocelyn Wildenstein, 1999 — $3.8 billion

The costliest known divorce occurred in 1999, when French-American businessman and art dealer Alec Wildenstein divorced his wife of 21 years, Jocelyn Wildenstein.

The high-profile divorce proceedings resulted in Jocelyn being awarded $2.5 billion and $100 million for each of the next 13 years, according to People, for a jaw-dropping total of $3.8 billion.

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