By Shina Olabisi
1. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
The high-profile divorce between actor Johnny Depp and actress Amber Heard resulted in a $7 million settlement in 2017. Heard initially vowed to donate the entire sum to charity, but this pledge became a point of controversy as she never fulfilled it.
2. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
With a combined net worth of $2.1 billion, rapper Kanye West and reality TV star Kim Kardashian ended their seven-year marriage in 2021. Their divorce became one of the most expensive, given the vast assets involved, from businesses to real estate.
3. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
After a long-standing relationship and six children, Jolie and Pitt finalized their divorce in 2018. Their divorce was riddled with public legal battles, including Jolie accusing Pitt of failing to meet child support obligations. Pitt’s lawyers countered by stating he had given $1.3 million in payments and loaned her $8 million for a home.
4. Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin
In August 2022, Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce from actor Sylvester Stallone after 25 years of marriage. She sought full ownership of their $35 million Florida mansion, while Stallone, with a reported net worth of $400 million, faced a complicated financial settlement.
5. Adele and Simon Konecki
British singer Adele’s divorce from Simon Konecki, finalized in 2021, was kept largely private following a Los Angeles court order. However, reports suggest that the settlement involved around $171 million, with Adele fiercely guarding the details of her financial arrangements.
6. Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott
The 2019 divorce between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott, after 25 years of marriage, resulted in one of the largest settlements in history. Scott received $38.3 billion in Amazon stock, instantly making her one of the wealthiest women in the world.
7. Dr. Dre and Nicole Young
In 2021, rapper and entrepreneur Dr. Dre finalized a $100 million divorce with Nicole Young after 24 years of marriage. The settlement included two payments of $50 million each, a significant sum from Dre’s Beats by Dre fortune.
8. Madonna and Guy Ritchie
When Madonna and British film director Guy Ritchie divorced in 2008 after eight years of marriage, the pop icon paid Ritchie $92 million as part of their settlement, making it one of the most expensive celebrity divorces at the time.
9. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
After their highly publicized split in 2012, Tom Cruise was ordered to pay child support for their daughter, Suri. The agreement required him to pay $400,000 annually until she turns 18 in 2024, amounting to a total of $4.8 million over the years.
These divorces highlight the immense financial stakes involved when high-profile marriages come to an end, with settlements often reaching astronomical figures due to the wealth and assets of the parties involved.
