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As A basketball superstar, Michael Jordan was always in a league of his own. Now he is setting a record with his divorce as he prepares to pay his former wife an unprecedented settlement of more than $168m (£80m).
Last December, when Jordan, 44, and his wife Juanita, 48, split up, the athlete balked at signing the settlement. Insiders claim that negotiations have added £20m to the final deal.
The final severance package for Juanita Jordan, which includes the couple’s seven-acre estate in Chicago and custody of their three children, is expected to be agreed before the first anniversary of their last row – which was said to be about money.
The settlement eclipses the most expensive celebrity divorce on public record, in which Neil Diamond paid his ex-wife Marcia Murphey £75m. After licking his wounds, the singer, who had married the television production assistant before he became famous, won plaudits for his chivalrous verdict. “She’s worth every penny,” he said.
It makes other high-profile divorces, such as Steven Spielberg’s £50m separation from his first wife, the actress Amy Irving, and Sir Mick Jagger’s £12m farewell to Jerry Hall, seem like bargains. Sir Paul McCartney’s pending settlement with Heather Mills has been mooted at £50m.
Legal sources close to the 6ft 5in Jordan said that after 17 years of marriage he wants to get on with his life and is willing to pay a premium for an early end to his matrimonial woes. He was already a wealthy basketball star with the Chicago Bulls when the couple met on a blind date in 1984.
He proposed a few months later but Juanita initially turned him down. A year after their marriage in Las Vegas, he signed a prenuptial agreement that entitled her to half his fortune, but she has claimed only a third.
During the marriage Jordan’s warm personality and dazzling basketball skills lifted the game to new heights of popularity. He also pioneered lucrative sponsorships deals with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Nike, which created the bestselling range of Air Jordan shoes.
The sports icon has recently been photographed with a series of young women while Juanita is involved with a banker 20 years younger than herself.
TOP FIVE CELEBRITY DIVORCES
1 Michael and Jaunita Jordan – £80m
2 Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey – £75m
3 Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving – £50m
4 Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison – £42m
5 Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva – £40m
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And for the record.....I do not like that woman
Sean Carter, London, United Kingdom
You know that ol saying "money can't buy you love". That's too bad, but at least they BOTH handled this with a lot of class.
Robert, Discovery Bay, CA
Dam I get tired of hearing all you people cry about how overpaid the sports stars are and then you go out and buy tickets for their next game.
Duhhhhhhhhhh..........stop buying the tickets stupid.
Larry, Dayton, Ohio
I think she deserves everything she received. He is in the drivers' seat- running around- While she is home and raising three of his children- She deserves it and now , he gets to dump her- she gets the children to continue to raise- while he can go out with a bunch of young hottee's and travel, party and enjoy life- So doesn't she deserve everything she can get.
I believe so! and I think he agreed- so he could do just that in his life-!
Deborah, Arlington Heights, ILL
Truthfully ,even though he is and always will be in the public eye...it is still in all their buisiness. Who cares what everyone elses opinion about it is. Ashantee made a good point about the fact that these celebrities make WAY too much money ,but the people that are truly underpaid are the ones that put their lives on the line everyday...the military.
chicquila, tacoma,
The sadness isn't about the money, it's about the continued rise of divorce in America. The children are the one's who suffer most.
Sharon, St Charles, MO
This is my point of view, I don't think she should get that much ,sure she should get something but I dont remember seeing her run up and down the court in any of the games ! was she there when they came up with the ideal for the shoes or anything else? well she did have the children and that is important, but by no means does it take that much money to raise them, people do it every day with a limited budget, she could to. I think the system is sending a message "don't get married because you'll lose your A"... Guys it's way to easy for women to take you to the bank, this could have been the plan from the get go ...hummm ,"Think first" think long guys make sure it's true love Give Dr.phil a call or maybe Dr.Ruth what ever it takes to be right because 50% or more of your worth is at stake ! I'm sure there are good one's somewhere ! and they are real sincere when they say "money doesn't mean anything to me" "I love you " Good luck with that one guys!
J., Peoria, IL.
I agree with Paulus, this goes to show how overpaid atheletes are and how underpaid those that make a difference in the world like educators, doctors, etc are underpaid. I think she deserves the money if she was with him before the fame! Not to mention, he signed the prenup so he doesnt have a problem paying her, why should anyone else care!
Ashantee, Stafford, Virginia, United States
She certainly does not deserve what she is accustomed to, because it was at is expense that she got accustomed to it.
In fact it means that if you pamper your wife she will be able to claim even more money.
She should get absolutely nothing.
Do not marry men, you will lose your house, your money and your children - remember she got custody of the children.
Rudgers, San Francisco, California
All that this really goes to shows is how absurdly overpaid Basketball Players and their ilk (British Footballers) are.
Paulus, London, UK
she only took 1/3?!! what a woman!
tess, tokyo,
I always thought that they were a beautiful couple...but, not all marriages work out. And as for the comments made about her just wanting the $$$....that is just crazy!!! She could have left him a long time ago and still had a huge check!!! She was married to MICHAEL JORDAN!!! She deserves to live they way that she has been accustomed to for almost two decades!!! And the children do as well...He is a very successful man, the divorce couldn't have hurt his pockets too much, she only took 1/3 of his assets, when it states above that she could have taken HALF!!! That shows that there is still love and respect there regardless of it ending in divorce!!! GO JUANITA!!!!!
Tinkerbell, Oakland, CA
It just goes to show you that even the greatest basketball player ever is a regular guy with regular problems. I just pray that they both pick up the pieces and do what is best for their kiddos and family. I hope they realize there will be consequences from the divorce for the rest of their lives...Man, Jordan was graceful on the court - I swear he could juke defenders in the air...
JKoesel, Longview, Texas
Michael Jordan's Divorce just goes to show that it isn't about the money, they had all the things money could buy, but Happiness doesnt cost a thing when you find your soulmate and your happy everything else falls into place. I'm happy to say that I've been married for 25years to the same man, the father of my four kids and truly my soulmate. I couldn't have ask for anything more just to be happy, and to have a someone to love and be loved, it 'spriceless.
Monica, Chicago, ILL.
Michael never had time to spend with his wife because he was on the road conducting business (you say). Obviously you are not aware of the entire issue. He, however, had time to spend with other women. I guess after trying so many times to make their marriage work, and he breaking so many promises to be faithful, she gave up.
pat, Boca Raton, Florida
I believe Michael Jordan has a lot of class and I believe he wanted this just has well as her. On her part she wanted lots of money for herself and her new or maybe old boyfriend. She could have been with this so called new guy for a while on the low. You never no. For Jordan he probably wanted it this way without him losing money. He is always on the road working and handling business and probably never had to much time to spend with his ex wife. So everything happens for a reason.
John Gerald Parks Jr., Fresno, Ca
Michael appears to be a very down to earth guy and Juanita on the other hand a no nonsense person. It is almost tragic when marriages end but i guess the values placed on love is below the bar of expection in today's society.
mbeck, Kingston, Jamaica
he has that kind of money so why not give it to someone who has been by your side when you had nothing they are not mad at one another he has class all the way around
love to read, montclair, new jersey
where is the love..MONEY!!!!!
CDAD, Pittsburgh, Pa.