Famous Celebrity Divorces

Divorce can get dirty. When two people don't get along in a marriage, they usually can't get along during a divorce. Add celebrity ego and the whole thing becomes a public mess with every angle of the battle and each little detail blasted by the media.

Even if we aren't particularly star-struck, we can't seem to turn our eyes away as the nasty divorce proceedings between actors or rock stars unfold,and can't wait to find out who ends up cut cutting that multimillion dollar break-up check. And CBS News.com tells us in their article "Celebrity Divorce, who Gets What" that when a famous couple includes one non-celebrity who uses the media to elevate embarrassing details, "Even if there is a pre-nup, the celebrity usually pays a million or more to make it [the embarrassment] go away. Less than 10% see divorce trials."

Which celebrity divorces have become enduring headlines and media fodder? Let's check out a few.

The Most Expensive Celebrity Divorce Settlements

Money is typically the top issue in a celebrity split. So who tops the current chart for celebrity settlements? According to Forbes, "By The Numbers: The 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces" it is a tie between the pending divorce settlement between Michael Jordan and Juanita Jordan and the 1994 divorce settlement between Neil Diamond and Marsha Murphey.

During their 21 year marriage, Michael Jordan earned over $350 Million and is currently in an eight-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. Forbes estimates the pending settlement to be close to $150 Million. In 1994, Marsha Murphey netted $25 Million, which was half of Diamond's fortune at the time. And how did Diamond feel about that? Forbes reports that he said, "She's worth every penny."

Here is a recap of the top ten Celebrity settlements on Forbes list (figures are Forbes estimates):

$150 Million - Michael and Juanita Jordan
$150 Million - Neil Diamond and Marsha Murphey
$100 Million - Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving
$85 Million - Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison
$80 Million - Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva
$60 Million - Paul McCartney and Heather Mills
$50 Million - James Cameron and Linda Hamilton
$45 Million - Michael and Dianda Douglas
$20 Million - Lionel and Diane Ritchie
$15 Million to $25 Million - Mick Jaggar and Jerry Hall

Messiest Celebrity Divorces

Most celebrity divorces provide titillating media material, and much of it isn't very pretty. Currently, Tiger Woods and Sandra Bullock are riding that slippery celebrity slide that most likely will end up in divorce court.

When the ugly truth came barreling down the media highway regarding Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren's marital woes, and then his public apology and stint in an Arizona rehab center for the sexually addicted, it was hard to imagine a juicer divorce story. But those stars just don't disappoint, do they? On the heels of the Woods saga, we listen to Sandra Bullock tell the world of the love she feels for her husband, Jesse James, during her Academy Award acceptance speech. But before Sandra could even begin to bask in her accomplishment, ugly rumors surfaced about her bad boy husband, and its his affair with tattooed stripper, Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, and ugly porn found on a computer that is getting that top tabloid headline spot . Jesse's affairs haven't caught up in number to Tiger's, but the week's not done yet!

Let's test your memory about some other star-studded messy break-ups:

*Who allowed us to watch their journey toward splitsville on national television; The verbal abuse by one, the draining of an account by the other? Kate and John Goslin!

*Whose abusive nature became public knowledge during his split with Denise Richards and resurfaced with that 911 call to Aspen police by his then wife, Brooke Mueller, when he purportedly held a knife to her throat? Charlie Sheen.

*Who admitted in divorce court to oral sex with his 18-year-old assistant and his fondness for masturbating via webcam. Peter Cook, as he divorced Christie Brinkley!

*Who wrote a song in honor of his disgust for his ex-wife and her greediness during their divorce? Paul McCartney of Heather Mills!

*What pop star had a meltdown, shaved her head, and almost partied herself into nasty oblivion in front of the paparazzi during her messy 2006 divorce with Kevin Federline? Britney Spears, of course!

*What six year divorce battle included a call in 2007 to their daughter where he calls her, "a rude, thoughtless little pig"? Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger!

*What destructive marriage included multiple drug rehab trips, rumors of infidelity, a reality TV show, fights over trivial things such as who empties the dishwasher, and conflicts with law enforcement? Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown!

*What woman received $20,000 annually for her cosmetic surgery touchups in their divorce settlement? Diane Ritchie in her alimony allowance from Lionel Ritchie!

You never know what you'll end up with when famous celebrities marry, But one thing's for sure, their weddings never garner as much interest as their divorces do. We fans are jealous of all that stardom, fame and fortune, but don't wish for any of the public scandal that celebrities face when their marriage hits the rocks. But as shocking and sad as all that divorce ugliness gets for the Stars, we can't stop watching that inevitable train-wreck.

Resources:

Forbes.com

Divorce Magazine. com

TMZ.com

CBS News.com