The 5 most expensive divorces in the history of world sport

These famous and very rich athletes had to shell out a lot of money to pay off their other halves. Let’s start with cosmic sums and move on to more adequate ones. Although they are fabulous by the standards of mere mortals!

Зміст

1. Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy

Amount of payoff: $ 168 million

The first marriage of the legendary basketball player, star of the Chicago Bulls was, to put it mildly, strange. Juanita and Michael met in one of the nightclubs. The searing beauty conquered Jordan. They began to meet, and after three years of relations, the athlete made an offer.

Juanita gave her consent, but Michael backtracked. Despite the broken engagement, the couple continued to live together. A year later, Juanita announced that she was pregnant. And then Michael behaved in an unexpected way – he forced the girl to take a DNA test, doubting the paternity.

Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy

The test Juanita did and proved that Michael is the father. After the birth of his son, the basketball player finally took his bride down the aisle. For 17 years of marriage Juanita gave birth to another son and a daughter. However, the expected family idyll was not formed. Jordan’s wife had long suspected him of infidelity, but Juanita had no proof. Then the woman hired 15 private detectives!

Their work yielded results – 167 proofs of Jordan’s infidelity were in Juanita’s hands. In 1998, Vanoy nailed her unfaithful husband to the wall – either he picks himself up and becomes a model family man, or she carries all the documents to court, and scandalous divorce to be.

Apparently, Michael made a promise. But he didn’t keep it. In 2006, Juanita still filed for divorce. Interestingly, it passed without mutual insults, loud comments to publications and candid interviews. Michael honestly paid $ 168 million.

“Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17-year marriage. A judgment has been rendered today dissolving their marriage. There will be no further announcements,” – such a dry and succinct statement on behalf of the couple released a lawyer.

2. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren.

Settlement amount: $100 million

Tiger Woods – the star golfer, one of the richest athletes in the world – and Elin Nordegren – a charming Swedish model – were considered one of the strongest couples. He worked wonders on the course, winning one victory after another. She was conquering the world’s catwalk.

Tyger and Elin met in 2004. The romance between them spun very quickly. The couple got married a few months later. Luxury wedding of the famous athlete and Scandinavian beauty for a long time discussed in the press.

Elin gave Woods a daughter and a son. It seemed that this would only strengthen the family. Tiger was of a different opinion. Already at the beginning of a brilliant sports career, when the money flowed into his accounts, he was characterized by incredible affection. Woods was indefatigable and indiscriminate. The bed with the famous golfer shared waitresses, students, porn actresses, hotel maids.

One day, all the love affairs of the lover suddenly came to light. Rumors of cheating husband reached Elin, and the first suspicions of his infidelity were confirmed. It turned out that more than a hundred women had an intimate relationship with her husband.

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren.

The house of once happy spouses in an instant turned into a powder keg, ready to explode and leave ruins from the former life. And so it happened. 2009 became the blackest page in the fate of successful Tiger Woods.

After the exposure of his adventures family scandals did not stop for a single day. And Elin Nordegren filed for divorce from her husband. The Swede acted on cold reason and the advice of savvy lawyers. Elin’s task was to make her ex-husband pay for everything.

In 2010, the divorce of Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren took place. The process was hard and was marked by new scandals. For example, in the editorial offices of famous publications reigned pandemonium. Dozens of girls literally burst through the doors to tell in detail about their love affairs with “cute Tiger”.

Initially, Elin planned to sue Woods for $750 million. In the end, the court ruled – $ 100 million, a luxury home in Sweden and full custody of the children.

“I’m so ashamed that I didn’t have a single suspicion about Tiger’s cheating. After all, I was spending more time at home, taking care of the kids, the household… I went through hell. Total shock and disbelief. I felt stupid as more things were revealed. How could I not know anything? The word “betrayal” wasn’t enough. I felt like my whole world had collapsed. It felt like my world as I imagined it never existed,” Elin told People magazine a year after the divorce.

It is said that the divorce shattered the successful career of the famous athlete. After parting with Elin, he went on a spending spree. He spent half of the nearly $1 billion he earned on partying. And also on treatment for sex addiction.

In May 2017, the police detained the golfer in a state of drug intoxication. For a while Tiger had to go to the clinic. And in 2021, Woods got into a serious accident and went to the hospital with broken legs. Later, Tiger underwent three operations on the spine. Naturally, he could not return to his former sports form.

3. Mike Tyson and Robin Givins

Payoff amount: $ 10 million

This marriage became the shortest and most expensive among star athletes. The union lasted eight months, and Mike paid $ 10 million for the divorce.

Tyson at that time crushed all opponents in the ring, and from his iron fist fell into a deep knockout of the most famous champions. The 21-year-old Mike was strong and was at the peak of stardom. According to him, when he met Robin, he simply lost his head. Tyson fell in love with her without memory.

In 1988, Robin and Mike got married. Alas, the marriage lasted only a few months and spoiled a lot of blood boxer. Apparently, in vain Tyson ignored the advice of friends who told the newly minted husband about the feisty temper actress sitcoms. Later, the champion felt on his own skin how Robin cleverly siphons off his money.

Mike Tyson and Robin Givins

Once she got into a fight with Tyson’s manager, trying to self-manage her husband’s financial affairs. The first serious conflict occurred when Robin informed her husband that she had suffered a miscarriage. Mike didn’t believe his wife’s words. In his opinion, she made up the story because she didn’t want children. Offended Robin filed for divorce, and at the same time gave a scandalous interview in which she called Mike “tyrant.”

“Life with him was torture, it’s a complete hell, worse than anything I could imagine,” – so stated Robin.

Tyson later admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he didn’t expect this from his spouse:

“I couldn’t believe Robin was telling such lies about me… I was stunned. When I look back on that situation now, I can’t believe I didn’t say anything, I didn’t respond. But then again, if I had acted like a crazy person and started wrecking and freaking out, it still wouldn’t have made a difference. At that particular moment, I really wanted to hit her, but I didn’t. And now I don’t have any hard feelings left.”

According to the boxer, he was so in love with Robin that he didn’t even sign a prenuptial agreement. Despite the fact that his fortune was much more than his spouse. In the end, Tyson gave his wife $ 10 million and a mansion in New Jersey in addition.

Later it became known that Robin cheated on Mike even before the divorce proceedings. And the actress’ lover turned out to be… Brad Pitt. He was still an aspiring actor at the time.

4. Thierry Henry and Nicole Claire Merry.

Payoff: £8 million

Star footballer Thierry Henry was considered one of the top players at Arsenal London. And the coach Arsene Wenger allowed him any whims, on which the striker was capable. He even forgave Thierry’s transfer to the famous Barcelona, assuring fans that Henri gave way to young talent.

Thierry Henry and Nicole Claire Merry

And then offended fans suddenly reminded the famous footballer of his act, which did not paint the Frenchman. In the match between France and Ireland qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, he played himself a hand and gave a goal pass to a partner. In fact, Henri literally stole the rivals and deprived them of the right to get to the most prestigious competition. Later, with his inherent levity Thierry admitted: “Well, yes, there was a hand, but I’m not a judge.

The further fate of the famous footballer clearly showed how you can overnight completely lose her favor. She does not forgive human meanness …

Marriage Thierry Henri with photomodel Nicole Claire Merry from the outside looked perfect. Beautiful wife, in love with whom Thierry confessed in every interview, daughter Tee, the birth of which the footballer dedicated a goal in a match with Newcastle United. All this would have continued, without learning the wife of the footballer about his affair on the side.

The divorce process lasted more than a year. Deceived Nicole was able to sue Henri £ 8 million and full custody of his daughter.

5. Lance Armstrong and Christine Richard

Settlement amount: $14 million

The famous cyclist met Christine, a cancer center employee, during a difficult time in his life. In 1995, Lance was diagnosed with cancer. There was little hope, as metastasis had already spread to his abdomen and lungs.

Lance Armstrong and Christine Richard

Christine helped Lance recover from aggressive chemotherapy, kept him hopeful and was always there for him. After complete remission, Armstrong proposed to his beloved. In 1998, the couple played a wedding.

Christine gave her husband three children: a son Luke-Louis and twin girls Isabel and Grace. However, the five-year marriage gave a crack. It is said that the reason was Lance’s affair with singer Sheryl Crow.

Treason Christine did not forgive and filed for divorce. Armstrong admitted his guilt and satisfied all financial claims, paying $ 14 million. Simultaneously with the collapse of family life followed problems in his sports career.

Armstrong was repeatedly accused of doping. After a large investigation, the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) provided all the evidence against the cyclist. According to the agency’s decision, the once famous cyclist was disqualified for life and stripped of all the titles he had won since 1998.