Alex Carson
Divorce is never easy for anyone, and it can only make things more difficult when your divorce is the subject of countless news items, interviews, and conjecture. Such is the case for celebrities, who often already have their personal lives analyzed and scrutinized constantly. But when you add into the mix an expensive or messy divorce, the attention grows exponentially for them. In this video, we’re taking a look at some of the most expensive and high profile celebrity divorces. So stick around, as Facts Verse presents: His Divorce Settlement Cost Him His Entire Fortune
Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl
Garth Brooks is one of the most successful country music stars of all time, but that didn’t make him immune to struggling through a rough and highly publicized divorce. He has been married twice, and his divorce from his first wife, Sandy Mahl, was one of the most talked-about divorces in the entertainment industry. Brooks and Mahl were high school sweethearts and got married in 1986. They have three daughters together, Taylor, August, and Allie. Despite being married for over a decade, the couple faced several issues as their marriage progressed. Brooks’ music career was soaring, and he was on the road for most of the year, leaving Mahl alone with their children. The long-distance took a toll on their relationship, and the couple grew apart.
In 1999, Brooks and Mahl announced their separation, and their divorce was finalized in December of the same year. The divorce settlement was one of the most expensive in the entertainment industry, with Mahl receiving a reported $125 million in assets, including a ranch in Oklahoma and a mansion in Nashville.
The divorce was a significant blow to Brooks, who was known for his dedication to his family. In several interviews, he has spoken about how the divorce affected him emotionally and how it impacted his music.
Brooks took a break from music after the divorce and focused on raising his daughters. He married Trisha Yearwood in 2005, and they have been together ever since. Despite the difficult divorce, Brooks and Mahl have maintained a friendly relationship for the sake of their children. In an interview with Good Morning America, Brooks said, “We’re family. We’re forever going to be family, and that’s cool. It’s just that simple.”
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Divorce Settlement
The divorce of “Brangelina” has been perhaps one of the most talked about splits in Hollywood history. This is no doubt because of the star power that each of them has, as well as the amount of money potentially involved. But it is also made more complicated by the number of children they have, as well the allegations of abuse that were put forwards towards Pitt after an incident on a private plane.
Plus, the proceedings have taken so many years, it seems like it’ll never be complete. The pair were together for more than 10 years and then married for two. But they filed for divorce in 2016, and have been in a wild legal battle ever since. The two have 3 biological kids together, and another three whom they’ve adopted.
The process has no doubt put a strain on the lives of these children, and media reports have speculated that there has been pressure on them to pick sides between the famous couple. And when the abuse allegations are added in, the kids are likely torn about how to move forward. Pitt has struggled with addiction issues, though is reportedly clean and sober now. If public photos are to be believed, it seems as if both parents have made it a priority to see and help their kids move through childhood, despite not being together as a celebrity couple any longer. Estimates of the value of their assets that are being sorted through in the divorce range up to $400 million.
Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren’s Divorce Settlement
As one of the most famous and successful professional golfers of all time, Tiger Woods’ personal life was already a focus of tabloids and fans all over the world. And this only increased when in 2009, several women came forward claiming to have had affairs with him. This scandal led to the eventual dissolution of his marriage to Elin Nordegren. Woods and Nordegren were married in 2004 and had two children together. But when the broke that Woods had been involved in multiple extramarital affairs, it quickly became a major news story and was covered extensively by the media. In the wake of the scandal, Woods took a break from golf and sought treatment for sex addiction.
Meanwhile, Nordegren filed for divorce in December 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in August 2010. The terms of the divorce settlement were not disclosed, but it was reported that Nordegren received a significant amount of money. Some estimates put the settlement at around $100 million. Elin reportedly also receives monthly child support payments of around $20,000. She also kept their home in Windermere, though she ended up selling that home before too long. Since the divorce, Woods has continued to play golf at a high level, including his recent comeback from a near fatal car accident. He has also been involved in several high-profile relationships, including with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and restaurant manager Erica Herman.
Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva’s Divorce Settlement
Kevin Costner has been an A-list actor and director for over four decades. He has starred in numerous successful films, including “Dances with Wolves,” “The Bodyguard,” and “Field of Dreams.” And his recent turn as the lead in the hit show, “Yellowstone” has further solidified his star power. But Costner’s personal life has not always been smooth sailing. Costner was married to Cindy Silva, his college sweetheart, for 16 years. The couple met while studying at Cal State University, Fullerton, and got married in 1978.
They have three children together: Annie, Lily, and Joe. However, in 1994, the couple announced their separation, and their divorce was finalized in 1995. The reasons for the split were not disclosed. But it was reported that the couple had been having problems for some time. According to some reports, the divorce cost Costner somewhere in the range of $80 million.
After the divorce, Costner went on to marry his current wife, Christine Baumgartner, in 2004. They have three children together and have been married for almost 20 years. Despite the end of his first marriage, Costner has remained on good terms with Silva. In fact, he even thanked her during his acceptance speech for the Best Director Oscar for “Dances with Wolves” in 1991. He said, “I especially want to thank Cindy, who never let me quit.” So while Costner’s divorce from Cindy Silva was undoubtedly a difficult period in his life, he has since moved on and built a successful career and a happy family life.
Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving
Steven Spielberg’s epic career as a writer and director has spanned over five decades. However, his personal life has had its ups and downs, including a high-profile divorce from actress Amy Irving. Spielberg and Irving first met in the late 1970s and began dating soon after. They got married in 1985 and had a son together, Max. However, the marriage was short-lived, and the couple separated just four years later.
The divorce proceedings were highly publicized and became a major news story at the time. One of the main points of contention was a prenuptial agreement that the couple had signed before getting married. Irving challenged the validity of the agreement, arguing that it was unfair and that she had been coerced into signing it.
After a lengthy legal battle, Irving was eventually awarded a settlement of $100 million. This was one of the largest divorce settlements in Hollywood history at the time. Despite the acrimonious divorce, Spielberg and Irving have remained on good terms and have even worked together on several projects since then. For example, Irving appeared in Spielberg’s film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and provided the voice of the mother in his animated film “An American Tail.”
Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison
Perhaps given the cantankerous roles Harrison Ford plays, like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, it should come as not too much of a surprise that he would struggle through at least one relationship. In the late 1970s, he married screenwriter Melissa Mathison, with whom he had two children. However, after more than a decade of marriage, the couple divorced in 2004.
The reasons for the divorce were not made public, but it was reported that the couple had been having problems for some time. One of the main issues was said to be Ford’s reluctance to commit to the marriage and settle down in one place. Mathison was a successful screenwriter in her own right and is best known for writing the screenplay for the 1982 film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” She continued to work in the industry after the divorce and went on to write several other successful films, including “The Black Stallion” and “Kundun.” Despite the end of their marriage, Ford and Mathison remained on good terms until her death in 2015. In fact, Ford even paid tribute to her during an interview with “Entertainment Weekly” in 2015, saying, “Melissa was a remarkable person, a very talented writer. She was a friend and will be missed.”
Ford moved on and married actress Calista Flockhart, and the two have been happily married for more than a decade.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Which of these celebrity divorces did you follow when it was in the news? Do you think it’s fair for the media to give the level of attention to celebrity divorces that they do? When do you think Brad and Angelina’s divorce will be finalized? Let us know in the comments section below!
