Friday 31 December 2010

The Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

 

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills 

Celebrity divorces are big business. Tabloids voraciously cover them. Fans hungrily follow them. Lawyers and business managers protectively orchestrate them. And they certainly are common. Last year alone saw the breakups of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills
Settlement pending: Possibly more than $60 million
In 2002, the former Beatle wed Mills, a model-activist 30 years his junior. McCartney reportedly shunned Mills' offer of a prenuptial agreement. By 2006, the pair, who have one child together, split acrimoniously. She accused him of assault; he locked her out of their London home. Rumors of a settlement suggest Mills may get in excess of $60 million--McCartney's worth is an estimated $700 million.
Most expensive divorces Forbes
Steven Spielberg & Amy Irving
Estimated settlement: $100 million
The couple met when Irving auditioned for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). They married in 1985, after Spielberg had already struck it big with his first Indiana Jones flick and ET. They divorced after nearly four years of marriage. Irving successfully contested their prenuptial agreement (reportedly scribbled on a napkin) because she did not have legal representation and was awarded $100 million, roughly half of Spielberg's fortune at the time. Today, he is worth $3 billion.

Kelsey Grammer Camille Donatacci divorce
Kelsey Grammer Camille Donatacci divorce
Elin Nordegren Tiger Woods divorce
Elin Nordegren Tiger Woods divorce
Rupert Murdoch Anna Murdoch divorce
Rupert Murdoch Anna Murdoch divorce
Adnan Khashoggi Soraya Khashoggi divorce
Adnan Khashoggi Soraya Khashoggi divorce
Michael Jordan Juanita Jordan
Michael Jordan Juanita Jordan
Settlement pending: Possibly more than $150 million
The legendary basketball star married Juanita Vanoy, a Chicago bank officer, in 1989. He had already signed an eight-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. He also was earning another $30 million a year from Nike and other endorsement deals. She filed for divorce last year. Over the course of the marriage, Jordan earned more than $350 million. Should Juanita press for half of his assets, she could get more than $150 million in the settlement, making the Jordan divorce the most expensive in entertainment history.
Neil Diamond Marcia Murphey
Neil Diamond Marcia Murphey
Estimated settlement: $150 million
The crooner married Murphey, a television production assistant, in 1969, before he released his first gold record, Touching You, Touching Me. By the late '70s, Diamond was one of the most successful musicians in showbiz, grossing upward of $14 million annually. After 25 years of marriage, Murphey filed for divorce in 1994, citing irreconcilable differences. She walked away with half of Diamond's fortune--she's "worth every penny," he later said.
Harrison Ford Melissa Mathison
Harrison Ford Melissa Mathison
Estimated settlement: $85 million
The couple met in 1977 at a dinner with casting director Fred Roos (American Graffiti) and wed in 1983. Six years later, Ford became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors when he banked $7 million for Presumed Innocent. By 1995, he was making $20 million a film. The couple divorced in 2004. In addition to her divorce settlement, Mathison negotiated a piece of Ford's future earnings from films he made while married, including DVD sales of the Indiana Jones trilogy and The Fugitive.
Steven Spielberg Amy Irving
Steven Spielberg Amy Irving
Madonna & Guy Ritchie
Madonna & Guy Ritchie
Paul McCartney & Heather Mills
Paul McCartney & Heather Mills
Michael & Diandra Douglas
Michael & Diandra Douglas
Estimated settlement: $45 million
Douglas met 19-year-old Georgetown co-ed Diandra Luker in 1977 at a Jimmy Carter inauguration party. They married six weeks later. During the course of the marriage, Douglas became one of Hollywood's top earning actors, starring in classics like Fatal Attraction, Wall Street and Basic Instinct. Amid rumors of the actor's infidelities and alcohol abuse, the couple split in 1998. Diandra was awarded an estimated $45 million, plus homes in Beverly Hills and Majorca.
James Cameron Linda Hamilton
James Cameron Linda Hamilton
Estimated settlement: $50 million
The Titanic director married the Terminator actress in July 1997. They had one daughter together before the marriage tanked 18 months later. Cameron received some $100 million from Paramount for Titanic (which grossed $1.8 billion). Hamilton received half of that, an estimated $50 million, in the divorce settlement.
Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva
Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva
Estimated settlement: $80 million
The pair, who met at California State University, wed in 1978. During their 16-year marriage, Costner became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, scoring seven Oscars for Dances with Wolves and starring in iconic films like Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. Costner pocketed $50 million in 1991 alone. Because Silva was married to Costner during his peak earning years, she was awarded $80 million, a substantial piece of his net worth
Lionel & Diane Richie
 Estimated settlement: $20 million
Richie, then 36 and married, met the 18-year-old backup dancer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Richie, divorced from his first wife in 1993, married Diane by 1996. The Richies became tabloid favorites when Diane filed for divorce in 2004 and detailed their lavish lifestyle in her alimony petition. Among her claims: a monthly clothing allowance of $15,000; $50,000 a month for manicures, massages and other personal services; and a plastic surgery budget of $20,000 a year.

Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall

 
 Estimated settlement: $15 to $25 million
The Rolling Stones rocker and Texas supermodel met in 1977 and had two children together before marrying in a traditional Hindi wedding ceremony in Bali, Indonesia, in 1990. Hall filed for divorce in 1999 after learning that Jagger had fathered another woman's child. Jagger, worth an estimated $325 million at the time, successfully challenged the legality of the Balinese wedding and received an annulment. Hall walked away with between $15 and $25 million, a fraction of Jagger's estate.

Twitter celebrity death rumors

 

Twitter celebrity death rumors

Twitter celebrity death rumors
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B.B. King

Stars Turning 40 in 2011

 

Stars turning 40 in 2011

Stars Turning 40 in 2011
In 1971, Led Zeppelin released a huge hit (listen) and “Dirty Harry” was packing theaters; meanwhile, proud parents were welcoming babies like the one who would grow up to be a rapper with his own language, the one who would be the star of “Heathers” and other future famous folks. See which stars are turning 40 next year.
Stars Turning 40 in 2011

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs
Hitting 40 on Jan. 2, this easy-on-the-eyes actor found fame in the quintessential Gen X musical and in reclaiming Stella's groove. He stars on a “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off.

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul turns 40 on Jan. 11. Hailed for her pipes on Grammy-nominated hits like “No More Drama,” (watch the video) she is also an urban-chic fashion icon

Kid Rock

Kid Rock
Known for rock-rap tunes like “Cowboy,” this Detroit musician (real name: Robert Ritchie) hits 40 on Jan. 11. Remember his quickie marriage to a “Baywatch” babe?

Emmanuel Lewis

Emmanuel Lewis
It’s hard to believe that  Lewis,  who played black son to a white couple in an ’80s sitcom, hits 40 on March 9. He prefers to keep private a controversial friendship.

Johnny Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville
Is it time to grow up for Knoxville, who is best known for sophomoric stunts in a popular movie series? He turns 40 on March 11.

Sheryl Swoopes


Sheryl Swoopes
The WNBA star is often compared to His Airness.   Swoopes has won Olympic gold and MVP honors. She turns 40 on March 25.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey
Currently expecting twins by her younger husband, what multi-octave singer hits the big 4-0 on March 27

Ewan McGregor


Ewan McGregor
From indie flicks like “Trainspotting” to film phenomena like “Star Wars,” the Scottish actor who turns 40 on March 31 saw a death threat shut down his latest.

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg
His brother was a New Kid on the Block. But Mark was a Funky buncher (video evidence).  Mark (see photos of the rapper turned screen star) is winning plaudits in “The Fighter.”He turns 40 on June 5.

Koko the gorilla

Koko the gorilla
Turning 40 on July 4, this nonhuman San Francisco resident (see photos of the gorilla)  starred in a documentary about her ability to communicate. She also took care of a little critter.

Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh
This Korean-Canadian actress turns 40 on July 20.  You know her as Dr. Yang on a popular TV medical drama  She also played the good-time gal in the wine movie “Sideways.”

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon
On Aug. 4, one of NASCAR’s biggest stars  celebrates four decades. He’s made headlines for his temper and being first in his class to pass a huge cash milestone.

Thalia

Thalia
Famous in the United States as a singer   Thalia is also famous in her native Mexico as an actress, hence her self-given nickname. She turns 40 on Aug. 26. 

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler
No joke, this actress and former “SNL” star turns 40 on Sept. 16.  Now starring as a public servant on a sitcom, she’s married to (and has kids with) this funnyman.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong
Even if he weren’t the world’s most famous cyclist, who hits 40 on Sept. 18, he’d be known worldwide for his innovative cancer foundation.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen
Cohen may be less famous than his high-concept characters. He turns 40 on Oct. 13.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg
This former gangsta rapper has transitioned to family-friendly entertainer. Snoop turns 40 on Oct. 20.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder
“I’m at that age I’ve been warned my whole life about,” says Ryder, who turns 40 on Oct. 29. But she’ll always be the teen heroine of a late-’80s mean-girl movie.

Michael Strahan

Michael Strahan
With his charming gap-tooth smile  this football legend turned sportscaster holds an NFL record. He hits the big 4-0 on Nov. 21.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin
This recently-out-as-gay pop star and father of twins rose to fame as a boy-band star and rose to superstardom with hits like “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” He’s 40 on Dec. 24.

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