Falling in love may cost nothing, but falling out can cost a fortune, as celebrities such as Neil Diamond and Michael Jordan have found out.

A league table of the most expensive celebrity divorces, published today by the American financial magazine Forbes, claims that the singer and basketball player’s divorces rate as the most costly.

Jordan, the retired legend of the National Basketball Association, is still waiting to finalise the details of his break-up with Juanita Vanoy Jordan, a bank clerk he married in 1989 when he was near the peak of his career.

Forbes estimates that the settlement will cost him more than $150 million (£75 million), less than half of the estimated $350 million he took in during their marriage. At that price, it could be the most expensive celebrity divorce ever.

Diamond, the current record-holder, has already paid out an estimated $150 million in settlement to his wife of 25 years, Marcia Murphey, after their divorce in 1994. Forbes said she took half of the fortune of the singer of hits like I Am...I Said and Solitary Man. The magazine claimed Diamond had commented that she was “worth every penny.”

Third on the list is Stephen Spielberg, the director of War of the Worlds and ET, who divorced Amy Irving in 1989, after a four year marriage, paying an estimated $100 million (£50 million). The figure was about half of his fortune then, but pales compared to his now three billion dollar net worth.

Other figures high on the list include Sir Paul McCartney and his ex-wife Heather Mills, who rate sixth based on the predicted cost of their divorce, which has not been settled yet. It is expected to cost Sir Paul around £30 million.

Kevin Costner’s split from his wife Cindy Silva, and Michael Douglas’ break from Diandra Douglas were the sixth and eighth most costly respectively. Although Mick Jagger’s divorce from Jerry Hall in 1999 may have been extraordinarily expensive by UK standards, their break-up ranks only tenth in the overall chart.

All off the top ten celebrity divorce settlements were paid by men, however, there have been some significant settlements in which women paid out too. Former Dallas star Victoria Principal paid an estimated $50 million (£25 million) to her former husband Harry Glassman, a plastic surgeon, and Jessica Simpson’s divorce from her husband of under three years, Nick Lachey, meant he kept just under half their estate. The actor Ryan Philippe may be a contender to receive a record-breaking settlement when his divorce from Reese Witherspoon, one of the most bankable women in Hollywood, is finalised.

1) Michael Jordan and his wife of seventeen years, Juanita, est’ $150 million plus.

2) Neil Diamond paid $150 million to his wife of 25 years, Marcia Murphey.

3) Stephen Spielberg divorced Amy Irving in 1989, paying $100 million (£50 million).

4) Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison separated in 2004 after 21 years together, settling for $85 million (£43 million).

5) Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva divorced in 1994 after 16 years. It cost Costner £80 million (£40 million).

6) Paul McCartney and Heather Mills’ divorce could cost £30 million ($60 million).

7) Titanic director James Cameron and his divorce from Linda Hamilton cost 50 million in 1999 after 18 months together.

8) Michael Douglas and Diandra Douglas, $45 million dollars plus two homes in 1998 after being married for 21 years.

9) Lionel Richie, the singer and his wife Diane Richie divorced in 2004 after eight years together, settling for $20 million (£10 million).

10) Sir Mick Jagger divorced supermodel Jerry Hall in 1999 with a payout of between 15 and 25 million dollars, after 22 years together.

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