Those who are considered to be extraordinarily wealthy attract more than their fair share of media attention. To that end, when a marriage ends, the ensuing high asset divorce typically draws a great deal of attention and speculation from news outlets and social media. Fortunately, for most Florida residents, their privacy will remain intact while they work through the details of their own dissolution.
A divorce is a complicated undertaking no matter the circumstances. There are many important decisions that must be resolved, and if a divorce involves minor children, then it can become even more complex. For wealthy couples who did not have a prenuptial agreement in place, the costs of obtaining a divorce could be devastating. In light of the recent divorce between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his former wife MacKensie, a list was compiled of the most expensive divorce settlements to date.
Several of the divorces that were on the list involved business owners who were at risk of losing a significant portion of their control and investments. Though the former Mrs. Bezos could have sought a 50 percent share of Amazon’s stock, she elected to retain only a quarter of the company’s stocks and relinquished any claims to some of her husband’s other ventures. Nevertheless, her settlement netted her an estimated $35.6 billion in assets. Other costly divorces have resulted in settlements that ranged between $400 million to $1.7 billion in assets.
Regardless of a couple’s financial standing, a divorce is an unsettling process. If there are significant assets at risk, then the settlement process may become even more contentious. Florida residents who are worried about how their high asset divorce will impact their current and future finances may be best served by consulting with an attorney who is skilled in drafting a settlement that protects one’s financial well-being.
