Familiar Names Top The List Of Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

Posted April 13, 2007 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

They’re some of the biggest deals in history, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

But these aren’t exactly business agreements – they’re more like business disagreements. And instead of profits, it’s all about loss.

They’re the biggest divorce settlements in the history of showbiz and they prove that parting is not only sweet sorrow – it’s worth a lot of money.

Forbes Magazine has compiled the list of the most expensive celebrity break-ups in history. And while the pending ending of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills’ relationship (top left) makes the Top 10, it’s not actually the biggest money split.

That prize belongs to no less a name than former NBA superstar Michael Jordan.

He’s currently ending his marriage to a one time Chicago bank clerk named Juanita Vanoy and the publication that tracks the comings – and in this case the goings – of the rich and famous suggests the break-up of their 18 year marriage could be the costliest in history.

Vanoy could wind up with a settlement worth an astounding $150 million – said to be half of Jordan’s entire fortune.

So if the former Bull is at number one, who’s number two? The answer may surprise you.

Believe it or not, it’s singer Neil Diamond, who hasn’t had a big hit in decades.

His divorce from former TV production assistant Marcia Murphey set him back almost $150 million as well. The couple split up in 1996 after 27 years of marriage.

Compared to those two, the divvying up of assets for the estranged duo in third place almost seems like a bargain.

When Steven Spielberg agreed to call it quits with Amy Irving in 1989, she wound up with about $100 million. It came despite the fact that the legendary director had reportedly scribbled a prenuptial agreement on a napkin with his bride-to-be.

In fourth place: Harrison Ford, who paid $85 million to make Melissa Mathison disappear from his life.

Kevin Costner came in fifth, paying out $80 million to his ex-wife. His 16-year marriage ended when he was still one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Which brings us to the McCartney-Mills break-up. It’s still in progress, but it might have Sir Paul looking back on Yesterday. Reports indicate his estranged spouse could wind up with some $60 million from the split.

There’s a Canadian on the list, too. It’s reported director James Cameron paid out $50 million to actress Linda Hamilton when their marriage ended.

That’s said to be about half of the profit he made from the movie “Titanic”. And like the real life event on which it was based, his story ended in disaster, too.

Which just proves, as Neil Sedaka (whose name is not on the list) once observed that ‘breaking up is hard to do’.

For everyone, it seems, except the divorce lawyers.

Forbes Top 10 Most Expensive Showbiz Divorce Settlements

1) Michael Jordan: $150 million (pending)

2) Neil Diamond: $150 million

3) Steven Spielberg: $100 million

4) Harrison Ford: $85 million

5) Kevin Costner: $80 million

6) Paul McCartney: $60 million (pending)

7) James Cameron: $50 million

8) Michael Douglas: $45 million

9) Lionel Richie: $20 million