The Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces: Kevin Costner, Neil ...
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes' Exes Make Their Couples Red Carpet Debut One Year After Divorces
Sometimes, love does cost a thing.
While a lot of wedding ceremonies end with a vow to have and hold from that day forward 'til death do they part, some couples decide it's best to split far before then.
Although some celebrities, like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner or Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, have broken up amicably, others haven't been so easy. For some relationships, the end came with a major price tag.
Although the full details of Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates' 2021 divorce proceedings weren't publicly disclosed, the former received a multi-billion dollar settlement, including $12.5 billion for her philanthropy efforts.
"On the day I got married, I never thought I'd be divorced, never," she said of their breakup after 27 years on CBS Mornings. "It wasn't one moment or one specific thing that happened. There just came a point in time where there was enough there that I just wasn't healthy and I couldn't trust what we had."
Since her and Bill's divorce, Melinda has been focusing on her own healing while launching her nonprofit Pivotal Ventures. (She resigned from the former couple's co-founded Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2024.)
"I think I've probably gotten through the hardest times," Melinda—who shares kids Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22, with Bill—added. "I'm in a really good place and I'm really excited about my life and the work ahead."
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Other stars like Kevin Costner learned some tough lessons following his divorce from Cindy Silva—with whom he shares kids Annie, 40, Lily, 38, and Joe, 36—in 1994 after 16 years of marriage. After dishing out a whopping $80 million to his ex, he and now ex-wife Christine Baumgartner—who share kids Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 14—had signed a pre-nuptial agreement.
Christine filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage in May 2023, citing "irreconcilable differences, leading to a very contentious proceeding. As the pair navigated the split, in which Christine demanded $168,000 per month for child support, the Oscar winner's attorneys accused the mom of three of waging "relentless 'jihad' against Kevin's character." (A judge ultimately ordered the actor to pay $63,000 per month, according to February 2024 court records, per E! News.)
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And as the pair hammered out the future of their living arrangements, it was something he planned ahead for.
"I was married once before," the Yellowstone alum wrote in his June 2023 declaration, per NBC News, "and, upon separation, l found myself without a home base and unable to live in my own home. I never wanted this to happen again. Because of the nature of my work, I am frequently out of town; it is therefore particularly important to me that when I am home, I have a home to go to."
"Thus, when Christine and I began discussing marriage in 2003," he continued, "I made it clear to her that I would not marry again without clarity that my separate property residences would remain mine to live in no matter what happened in our marriage."
Now, read on for more very pricy celebrity divorces.
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Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren
The golf star's reputation was shattered when news broke about his adulterous behavior with not one, not two, but dozens of women. He and his wife, Swedish model Elin Nordegren, officially divorced in August of 2010 after being married for nearly six years and having two children together. Tiger reportedly handed over a whopping $750 million(!) in their divorce, although the final settlement was undisclosed.
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Jennifer Lopez & Cris Judd
"Love Don't Cost a Thing..." Or does it? After Cris was hired to direct this music video for J.Lo, the pair married in September of 2001. However, the singer-actress filed for divorce from her husband and former choreographer after less than a year of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Although they settled for an undisclosed amount, there are numerous reports J.Lo shelled out $14 million.
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Mel & Robyn Gibson
Oh Mel…in one of the priciest Hollywood divorces to date, Robyn Gibson, Mel's wife of 28 years reportedly received half of Mel's $850 million net worth, thanks to no prenuptial agreement. The couple had seven children together and according to E! News reports, the longtime duo spent two years ironing out their settlement.
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Madonna & Guy Ritchie
Leave it to Madge to break tradition—in this case, it was the wife dolling out cash to her ex-hubby. After seven years of marriage, Madonna and Ritchie called it quits in 2008, and lucky for Guy, the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement. The price tag? Between $72 million and $92 million, the pop icon's spokeswoman said at the time.
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Paul McCartney & Heather Mills
From the church to the courtroom…Paul McCartney and Heather Mills said their "I do's" in 2002, but called it quits just four years later in 2006. Following a slew of legal battles, Mills reportedly received nearly $48.7 million of Paul's fortune when their divorce was finalized in 2008. In addition, Heather allegedly received an addition $70,000 a month for their then 4-year-old daughter Beatrice.
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Donald & Ivana Trump
Donald and Ivana married in a lavish ceremony in 1977, but divorced in 1992 amidst rumors of his reported affair with former beauty queen Marla Maples. After three children and 15 years together, Ivana reportedly received $20 million, although the settlement remains sealed by courts.
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Kevin & Cindy Costner
Oh, the troubles of young love. College sweethearts Kevin and Cindy married in 1978 when the two were both still in school and divorced 16 years later in 1994. They had three children together, Annie, Lily and Joe. Cindy reportedly received $80 million in the settlement.
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Neil Diamond & Marcia Murphey
Neil reportedly fell in love with the TV producer while he was still married to his first wife, Jane Posner. Marcia married the singer-songwriter in 1969, had two of his children, sons Jesse and Micah, filed for divorce 25 years later, citing irreconcilable differences, and walked away with half of Neil's earnings—$150 million. However, Neil isn't bitter; he later said that "she's worth every penny."
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Michael & Juanita Jordan
After 17 years together and an attempt at reconciliation, basketball star Michael Jordan and his wife, Juanita, officially divorced in 2006. The duo tied the knot in 1989 in Las Vegas and have three children together. In a massive divorce settlement, Michael reportedly shelled out $168 million.
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Kenny Rogers & Marianne Gordon
Country crooner Kenny Rogers is no stranger to divorce—he's been married five times—but the most expensive split was with his fourth wife, Marianne Gordon. After 16 years of marriage and one child together, the couple divorced in 1993 and Rogers reportedly shelled out a cool $60 million.
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Lionel & Diane Richie
Lionel Richie and Diane Alexander, a former dancer and fashion designer, called it quits in 2003 after seven years, two kids and a slew of irreconcilable differences. In Diane's alimony petition, she reportedly claimed a monthly clothing allowance of $15,000 as well as a plastic surgery budget of $20,000 a year. The payout? An estimated $20 million from Richie.
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Ron Perelman & Ellen Barkin
The businessman married his fourth wife in June of 2000 after meeting the actress at a Vanity Fair Oscar afterparty. Their marriage ended in 2006. Ellen reportedly received an "enormous" settlement and also allegedly made more than $20 million when she sold off jewelry Ron had once given her.
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Steven Spielberg & Amy Irving
On again…off again…on again…then off again for good. The actress dated the director briefly in the late ‘70s—breaking up to momentarily date Willie Nelson, her costar in the film Honeysuckle Rose—and married Steven in 1985. Unfortunately, the flame was only rekindled for four years, and in 1989, the two divorced and Amy reportedly walked away with a $100 million settlement.
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Harrison Ford & Melissa Mathison
After 18 years together and a brief attempt at reconciliation, Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison called in quits in 2001. The couple—who have two children together—officially dissolved their marriage in 2004. After two decades together, no prenup and millions at stake, Melissa reportedly received a whopping $118 million of Harrison's cash.
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Alex Rodriguez & Cynthia Scurtis
Alex and Cynthia called it quits in 2008 after six years and two children together. The final settlement in the multi-million dollar case remains undisclosed.
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Michael Douglas & Diandra Luker
The Oscar-winning actor married the daughter of an Austrian diplomat, who was 19 at the time, in 1977, and had a son with her a year later. In 1995, Diane filed for divorce and reportedly received a $45 million settlement, as well as a share in projects related to work Michael did while they were together.
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Hulk & Linda Hogan
After 23 years of marriage and two children, daughter Brooke and son Nick, Linda filed for divorce from her husband when she heard of the professional wrestler's affair with 33-year-old Christiane Plante. Linda reportedly received an agreement worth over $30 million, including more than 70 percent of the couple's liquid assets, a handful of luxury cars, $3 million property settlement and 40 percent ownership in his companies.
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Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall
The Rolling Stones frontman married the model in 1990. Jerry filed for divorce in 1999 after she discovered Mick fathered a child with Brazilian model Luciana Morad. But after nine years together, Jerry was allegedly awarded $25 million in their divorce settlement.
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Jeff Gordon & Brooke Sealey
The Daytona 500 winner married Brooke in 1994, only to divorce eight years later in 2002. Although the former couple didn't have any children together Jeff still coughed up a hefty settlement—a reported $15 million.
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