Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola split up with his wife Cristina Serra, thus ending three decades of their union. It is reported that the couple broke up after a furious argument at Guardiola's favourite restaurant, Bodega Sepulveda. As per the Spanish journalist Laura Fa, things turned sour the moment Guardiola signed a contract extension that would see him manage Man City till 2027. The divorce settlement is yet to emerge and it's likely going to dent Guardiola's fortune.
When your favourite sportsperson is struggling in personal life, their performance on the field is often impacted too. After all, it's easy to fall in love, falling out often comes with a price—and these athletes know just how high that can be. Below, see the costliest divorces in sports history and prepare to be staggered at how much money was paid in alimony and settlements.
7 Most Expensive Divorces in Sports
Michael Jordan & Juanita Vanoy
Settlement: $168 Million (₹1,454.8 crore)
Michael Jordan, arguably the first global basketball star, amassed significant wealth through his sporting career and brand endorsements. However, his fortune took a major hit when he separated from his ex-wife Juanita Vanoy. The couple, married for 17 years, split in 2006, and Vanoy received a settlement of around $168 million, making it one of the largest divorce settlements in sports history.
Greg Norman & Laura Andrassy
Settlement: $104 million (₹900 crore)
Greg Norman reportedly paid a settlement of $104 million to his ex-wife Laura Andrassy following their divorce, with court documents revealing that the golfer surrendered assets including a beachfront home, a property in Palm Beach and jewellery, totaling $500,000. Norman, who was married to Andrassy for nearly 3 decades and shares 2 children with her, ended their marriage after falling in love with tennis champion Chris Evert. The high-profile divorce settlement reflects the financial implications of the split between the former couple.
Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren
Settlement: $100 million (₹860 crore)
Perhaps no divorce received as much public attention and scrutiny as the split between Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren did in 2010. The divorce stemmed from a series of extramarital affairs that Woods had with numerous women. Not only did Woods have to pay a hefty settlement of $100 million but he also lost his reputation and several sponsorship deals.
Andre Agassi & Brooke Shields
Settlement: $130 million (₹1,124 crore)
Andre Agassi and Brooke Shields tied the knot on April 19, 1997, only to call it quits two years later, followed by a highly publicised split that rocked the world of celebrity gossip. The duo was always considered a power couple, showcasing their romance on several covers while also putting their glamourous life on display. However, this seems like it was all a façade as rumours of Agassi’s alleged infidelity began doing the rounds soon after they got married and this ultimately led to the downfall of their union. In his tell-all autobiography, Open, Agassi confessed to having multiple transgressions during their marriage and this kicked off a tabloid frenzy. The divorce was finalized in 1999, with Shields walking away with a hefty $6.5 million settlement, while the total cost amounted to $130 million in assets.
Mike Tyson & Robin Givens
Settlement: $11 million (₹1.10 crore)
After eight short months of tying the knot in 1988, Robin Givens filed for divorce from boxer Mike Tyson citing spousal abuse as the primary reason. Tyson had acknowledged striking Givens but had denied abusing her. The divorce proceedings, which were finalised in February 1989, saw the marriage culminating in a $11 million settlement. The amount might sound a bit low but it did put a major dent in Tyson’s growing fortune back then.
Lance Armstrong & Kristin Richards
Settlement: $14 million (₹1.4 crore)
A year after he won his maiden Tour de France, Lance Armstrong and Kristin Richard got married in 1998. They had three children together, but they decided to go their separate ways in 2003. Kristin got $14 million in the settlement. But this was not the biggest blow for Armstrong, as the doping scandal of 2012 would consume his career and reputation.
Hulk Hogan & Linda Claridge
Settlement: 70% of all his assets
The major reason for the 2009 divorce between Hulk Hogan and Linda Claridge was the former's extramarital affair with Heather Clem, the wife of his best friend. Following this, Hogan had to give 70% of his assets to his ex-wife Linda. This included $7.4 million of the jointly-held $10.4 million in the bank, a 40% ownership stake in his companies, another $3 million as property settlement and a major part of his car collection which featured a Mercedes-Benz, a Cadillac Escalade, a Corvette, a Rolls-Royce and more off-road vehicles.
Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik
Settlement: ₹15 crores
It was in April 2010 when the cross-border love story between the Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik culminated in marriage at Hyderabad's Taj Krishna Hotel. Later on, the Walima was organised in Pakistan too. Everything seemed to go well until reports emerged of Malik's affair with cricket broadcaster Sana Javed. Shoaib paid a whopping $17 million as a settlement to end the marriage with Sania.
