McCartney may lose quarter of fortune in divorce (4 yrs-- WTF?)

[Last Stand]

Former Beatle Paul McCartney could lose up to a quarter of his estimated $1.56-billion fortune after separating from his second wife Heather Mills, legal experts said on Thursday.

That would equate to roughly $1.9 million for every week of their short-lived four-year marriage.

McCartney, 63, and former model Mills, 38, announced their separation on Wednesday, blaming media intrusion for the collapse of one of the most high profile showbusiness marriages.

Lawyers believe the divorce would never be allowed to degenerate into a messy court case but they said McCartney's decision not to seal a pre-nuptial deal could cost him dear in a private settlement.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060518/en_nm/mccartney_dc_9


Honestly, I know it was STUPID of McCartney not to do a pre-nup, but how does it make any sense for a woman who spent 6% of McCartney's life with him to get all that money?

[stepnw1f]

1. Sucks... But At Least He Can Afford It

men are being attcked... watch out.

[niyad]

2. Welcome to DU-- in reading the article, I don't see where it indicates

that she is asking for one-fourth of his estate, only that there has to be sufficient income to protect the child. and, as much as I admire Sir Paul for all his accomplishments, his divorce is not exactly on my list of priorities.

[LincolnMcGrath]

3. It's called the Testosterone Tax.

The revenues gathered fund the Estrogen Entitlement.

:yoiks:

[erpowers]

14. Not Fair

I know you are entitled to your opinion, but I do not think your comment is fair. All McCartney had to do was get the women to sign a pre-nuptial agreement and he would not have had to pay so much money. Noone should blame Ms. Mill for the law saying that since she did not sign a pre-nup she can get about 25% of his wealth. McCartney should have just been smart and got her to sign a pre-nup.

[LincolnMcGrath]

19. pfft

So it's his fault?

[erpowers]

143. Yes

He should have gotten her to sign a pre-nup. If she refused he should have told her he would not marry her. Yes I think she should think about his kids and refuse most of the money so that his kids from his first marriage will have something when he is gone. However, utlimately it is his fault in that it was his money and he should have pushed for the pre-nup.

[LincolnMcGrath]

145. You have obviously never asked a gal to sign one then.

[erpowers]

186. Offered to Sign One

She claims she offered to sign an pre-nup and he said he did not want one. It was his fault.

[LostinVA]

153. Yes, it is his fault

Just like it would be hers if she was the one with that much money. He has lawyers, business managers, etc. They told her the law, he choose to listen to his ego. It was a bad choice.

I agree with something I heard Judge Judy say in an interview: EVERYONE should sign a prenup, even if all they own when they enter a marriage is clothes. A relationship is a matter of the heart, a marriage is -- by law -- a business contract.

[Snivi Yllom]

22. She offered him a pre-nup before they were married, he turned it down

DUMB

ASS

[blondeatlast]

33. Word. nt

[TahitiNut]

51. She seems to have had a change of heart.

After all, she's not being required to take the money, is she? Funny 'bout that. :shrug:

[wtmusic]

71. Either that or...

he meant it when he said "'til death do us part". Maybe she didn't.

[karynnj]

118. per some accounts pre-nups are not valid in England

I am neither English nor a lawyer just repeating what I read.

[StellaBlue]

151. this is my understanding, as well

I lived there for four years and no one I knew had one. I think the way it works is that you can draw one up and sign it, but they have no official legal standing and a judge is under no compulsion whatsoever to even admit it in divorce proceedings. It's definitely not the same as in the US.

[Kerrytravelers]

16. I have attempted a number of responses...

... but none quite measure up. You have rendered me speechless, not an easy task at all.

[LincolnMcGrath]

21. Thank You

Or I Wholeheartedly Apologize


Whichever applies! :hi:

[dogday]

96. Rich women have paid their share

for dipping their toes in the water as well... Let's not make this issue a sexist one please....

[ThomCat]

110. So, when Brittany divorces Kevin

What will you call it then? The one who has more money pays the one who has less. It's not supposed to ahve anything to do with either gender. And to the extend that divorce is about gender it's usually the women getting screwed.

[LostinVA]

155. I believe I love you, ThomCat

It's too bad we're both gay. Well, no it isn't.... but you know what I mean.

[ThomCat]

169. Yes I do.

:hug:

[LostinVA]

185. Smoochies

[Kagemusha]

4. Isn't she supposed to get 50% instead?

25% is just to get it now and avoid a long nasty court battle that she'd win anyway.

[Hamlette]

9. it's 50% of "community property" which is usually limited to

the money earned during the marriage.

[Orsino]

86. Then she's an employee, not a wife.

An unequal partner, as McCartney's lawyers have undoubtedly portrayed her.

[Hamlette]

105. well, actually, BOTH are employees....of the marriage nt

[lastliberalintexas]

159. How so?

Family law still treats marriage as a quasi-contract, such that the people involved in a marriage are partners. The money they earn during their marriage and the assets that they are able to accumulate with those monies are treated as partnership assets, to be distributed the same as though a business partnership was being dissolved.

That doesn't make either party to the marriage an employee, it makes them a partner.

[misternormal]

97. Depends...

In some states, the "Community Property" rules apply only to property acquired after the parties are married, while in other states, at the time of the marriage, everything becomes community property. In those states is where a pre-nuptual agreement would serve best.

But then some get "Blinded by love", while their prospective partners hope they will...

[Hamlette]

104. some states? In the US?

I'm surprised, and not sure I believe it. You got a site?

[tabasco]

135. You don't know about community property states?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_property

Here's another good site:

http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/objectID/70F6390D-B251-4CA7-A0B734844FB69A31/309/298/ART/

Oh! maybe you were asking if any state includes all property as community property. That I don't know. I thought NM did but I just checked and it is a typicl community property state.

[ausus]

179. Paul won't be a beast to her the way John was to Cynthia Lennon

That's right, St. John, an awful husband and an awful father. He mentally tortured poor Cynthia Lennon whose only fault was that she truly loved her family.

When John wanted out he first tried to float a trumped up charge that Cynthia comitted adultrey, Ha! The turn of events proved that it was John, or course, who comitted adultery, and we subsequently learned that he commited adultery, literally, hundreds of times. Poor Cynthia actually believe that he was faitful, more or less. Oh well, so he wanted to dump his wife, no crime I guess, but then he was incredibly, miserablely stingy. Cynthia Lennon is a decent woman and to the dismay of her laywer refused to challenge the paltry sum (about $250,000 in 1969 dollars) that John offered her, and no house, no jewelry, no peniosn, no nothing. $250,000 for a woman to support herself and her (his son too) son when she never had the opportunity to develop a career of her own. Yeah, as John sang, "All you need is love..". (Hey, but I am a Beatles fan, really.)

Whatever, I'm sure that Paul has more decency in his bones that John, so I wouldn't worry to much about Heather.

[undeterred]

5. Does Bill Gates have a prenup?

I can't think of anyone else in that ball park.

[paparush]

7. Balmer will just shoot her in the head..

[Sgent]

55. Proabably

Melinda Gates was a marketing exec. at Microsoft before they were married -- and Gates was already worth Billions when they were.

[Hamlette]

6. Sucks? SUCKS??? Did I end up on the freeper site and not know it?

Paul has 1.56 BILLION dollars. And people are screaming he should have had a pre-nup? He can afford it.

He has plenty.

Maybe I'm too liberal for this group. I believe in spreading the wealth, even to women.

[Berserker]

18. Just tell me what

did she do to earn any of his wealth? Say "I do"?
She should be entitled to the same amount she was making a year before she met him and not a penny more.
Now days you don't have to win the lottery all you have to do is marry it.:mad:

[idgiehkt]

44. Heather Mills is a great person.

I've been a fan of hers for a very long time. She had her leg knocked of by a motorcycle cop and started her own charity for less fortunate children to be given prosthetic limbs. I believe she was involved in a charity against land-mines as well. This was back when she was nobody, too, only a marginally successful swimsuit model. She continued to model as much as she could find work.

I can take or leave Paul McCartney, but Heather Mills rocks. She took a sucky-ass lemon and made a hell of a pitcher of lemonade out of it. I think the wealth couldn't go to a nicer person, and apparently neither does Sir. Paul, since he turned down the pre-nup. For a once homeless woman who once awakened on the street to a bum pissing on her, she's had quite the Cinderella story. If someone has to be Cinderella, very few deserve it more than Heather Mills.

[tenshi816]

78. That "homeless" story was debunked years ago.

Mills has admitted herself that she "exaggerated" in her autobiography and members of her own family describe her as a fantasist.

As far as her charity is concerned, did you know that for years it wasn't registered with the Charities Commission in the UK? That meant she wasn't required to open the books to auditors and therefore didn't have to account to anyone for what she was doing with the money.

In the UK, Heather Mills has had a reputation for many years as a gold-digger, from long before she met McCartney. When she met him, she hit the mother lode.

Losing a limb didn't automatically make her a saint.

[Swamp Rat]

83. Is that information from British tabloids or do you have links to articles

from the Guardian or BBC? I would like to read more about this. :hi:

[tenshi816]

94. Hi Swamp Rat!

First of all, Heather Mills backtracking on some of her autobiography is something I read in a newspaper article not that long after her book came out but I don't remember which publication, sorry. It wasn't a tabloid though, because I don't read tabloids.

As you can imagine, the McCartneys have been in the news a lot over here since the announcement of their split. As I said, I don't read tabloids but they've certainly been splashed across the front pages (this is like manna from heaven for the tabloid press).

I have read a couple of interesting articles over the last couple of days in both The Independent (yesterday) and The Times (today). The Times piece is in the form of an "open letter" to Paul McCartney written by the man who Mills was engaged to when she met McCartney (link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2190138,00.html). The Independent article is pretty balanced overall, but reading it leaves a strong impression that Heather Mills at times plays fast and loose with the facts of her life (link: http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article548935.ece).

Here's a link to another article, a profile of Mills that appeared in New York magazine in 2002: http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/celebritycity/6301/ and another short piece that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald in 2003 (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/07/1052280327181.html).

That should get you started!

How are you getting on these days? :hi:

[Swamp Rat]

121. I hope Sir McCartney has a beer with Chris Terrill

;)

"I heard the news today oh boy..." - I enjoyed both pieces from The Times UK and The Independent (excellent news sources). Thanks.

I'm doing ok, considering the condition we were in last August. Thanks for asking. I'd still like to get a new roof on my house before hurricane season starts in June. If we go under for good this year, I will consider immigrating to Scotland. I read that since I can trace my family roots to Scotland (17th C, near Aberdeen) I can become a citizen. I also have English, Welsh, and Irish ancestry... and German, Spanish (also Latin American), French, Russian, Native American, African... yes, I am Highlander Creole from the Louisiana Lowlands... now, where's my dirk? :D

[tenshi816]

152. I'm praying NO doesn't go under this year.

I've had many fine times in your city and it holds a special place in my heart. At one time I had a boyfriend who lived in New Orleans (I lived in Atlanta) and I went down to stay there for a couple of months. I got a chance to experience day-to-day life in the city for a little while instead of just being there for a couple of days and I loved every second of it.

If you do end up in the UK, look me up!

[StellaBlue]

154. FYI

Unles Scotland is far more different from England than I thought, you can't just up and move to Scotland. It is VERY difficult to move to the UK, unless you a) marry someone, b) get a work visa (VERY difficult - you have to be a member of the clergy or in a field that is experiencing a 'shortage'), or c) are a bona fide refugee - like from Darfur.

I won't get into all of it here, but I went to the UK do to a masters degree in 2001. I ended up living with my hetero partner. We went through HELL to try to get a visa for me to stay in the country, and, after two years of my passport being held by the Home Office, I FINALLY got it - a domestic partnership visa. The process is virtually identical for spouses. I knew of one Canadian, who was MARRIED IN THE UK and also had to wait nearly two years for their case to be decided. Meanwhile, having no passport or permanent immigration status, it is IMPOSSIBLE to find a remotely decent job and you do not qualify for any benefits (except the free healthcare, of course! thank god!). Anyway, this dog and pony act went on for FOUR YEARS, and I was due to be eligible for the UK equivalent of a green card this past April. Unfortunately, my ex decided he needed some 'space' to find himself and up and moved to Switzerland. I had a 'good' job at the time at a major company, but they were unable to get me a work visa, because they couldn't prove to the Home Office that there was no other EU candidate who could fill the position. That's right - people from POLAND have preference over Americans. Thanks to the EU being a superstate (which I happen to be FOR, really, but works against you if you're trying to get a work visa). There was nothing else for me to do except perhaps stay there illegally and work for cash in the black market or marry someone I didn't know at all. So here I am back in the US.

Anyway, there is a popular misconception that you can just immigrate to other countries. You can't do that anymore. They have VERY specific, VERY difficult criteria. Some countries operate on a points system - Canada and Australia both do this, I think - but even then you have to be VERY wanted to get in. My ex and I at one time considered moving to Canada to get around the immigration BS we were experiencing in the UK, but we didn't qualify.

Just a heads up. I don't think you can just move to Scotland. If you find out otherwise, let me know, cause I'd be happy to go with ya!!! :D

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

182. Thanks

Based on skills alone I am able to immigrate, having already more than enough points. I'm not sure I really want to settle there. I do, however, have a much better opportunity (and prefer) to immigrate to Brazil. Since there are more job opportunities for skilled workers with terminal degrees, and since I am already fluent in Portuguese, I will be considering moving there in the future.

http://www.workpermit.com/uk/highly_skilled_migrant_program_guide.htm#1

[idgiehkt]

168. an ex-boyfriend calling a woman a gold-digger?

gee, that never happens...

I've heard an ex-boyfriend quoted as saying she was a gold-digger. That's not an uncommon thing for ex-boyfriends to say, you know. I'm not convinced on the Britain-wide 'gold-digger' status pre-McCartney, just because she was a big nobody, so therefore how could she even have a rep... makes no sense.

I first got turned on to her when she was still modeling as an amputee, got interested in her and found out about her charity work. This was because I bought a book on female athletes and she was photographed at a modeling assignment with an athlete who was a double amputee and also an aspiring model.

This was over ten years ago, well before she affilated herself with St. Paul. I knew that she would be crucified for her association with him, because for some reason many women who rub up against famous men are Yokon Ono-ized (who is herself a talented sculpturess). It's so tired, but nothing can be done about it, I suppose.

Here's some counter-spin, (from the woman herself possibly, but it's the only equal time she'll get on this thread, I'm sure):
"Just one year after her accident (1993), Heather arranged for the first convoy of artificial limbs to be sent to Croatia. Since then thousands of amputees and survivors of landmine explosions around the world have been helped.

Heather’s charity work is particularly focused on the Adopt-A-Minefield campaign to clear landmines and help landmine survivors. She is the Founding Patron of Adopt-A-Minefield UK, and ambassador for the global campaign. Adopt-A-Minefield has raised over $17 million to date, funding clearance of over 21 million square metres of mined land and benefiting more than 400,000 people. Adopt-A-Minefield is now the largest funder of landmine clearance in the world and has funded over 300 minefield clearance and survivor assistance projects.

Heather has won numerous accolades and awards including, recently, the inaugural UNESCO Children in Need Award. The University of California honoured Heather with the Irvine Award and have established a Fellowship in her name. She also received an Open University Doctorate in 2004.

In December 2001, Heather made a return to modelling with a difference. After hearing her speak at the Mothers & Shakers Awards in New York, American clothing company I.N.C. asked Heather to front their International Concepts of Inspiration campaign. The successful campaign raised awareness and funds for Adopt-A-Minefield. To date INC have donated $100,000 to the charity."
http://www.heathermillsmccartney.com/about.php

I bet those kids walking around on donated limbs could give a shit less about the little misogyny campaigns the press runs against women who marry rich, famous men.

[DS1]

106. Oh big fucking deal

[Telly Savalas]

113. This is issue is HUGE!!!!!!1111

Paul McCartney's earned many of those millions selling music in the United States, so the real outrage should be that a FOREIGNER is stealing jobs from American musicians! So instead of going to his ex-wife, that money should go to AMERICANS.

Furthermore, even though he speaks English, it's not proper American English. Before he's allowed to set foot in the U.S. again, he needs to take speaking courses so he can lose that ridiculous Liverpudlian accent.

[The Stranger]

163. If she is a great person, as you say, she will decline the billions and

the millions and opt for a much smaller amount -- necessary only for support until she can get back on her feet with an income, etc.

I guess we shall see, won't we.

[Hamlette]

52. yep, can't tell the difference between here and freeperland.

DU, I don't even recognize you anymore.

One might ask, what did Paul do to earn 1.56 BILLION? I'm a Beatles fan like everyone else, but I don't get that he's entitled to it.

Of course, I suspect your response has nothing to do with the fact that he has more money than he knows what to do with, she offered him a prenup and turned it down, and she is quite likely to use the money to help people who are truly in need and more to do with the fact that you seem consumed by rage over the lives of perfect strangers...or is it just women you hate?

[Berserker]

58. This goes way deeper

than 1.56 billion Sir Paul has it goes for all women that think they deserve half of what a man has once they divorce him no matter how long they are married to them. If this were reversed the laws would be changed FAST. This is Financial rape.
Some women think it's just great to marry a rich man and take him for half once the divorce is final and the courts agree. I have a rage over the laws like this period. If you think that is fair is it men you hate and why?>

[Hamlette]

74. I'm sorry, I didn't realize a court had ruled on this

and I don't know where you live but in every state I'm aware of the woman gets half of what was accumulated during the marriage. NOT half of what "the man owns". Unless there are children, then the court will make an allowance for child support. If she's lucky.

I don't know "Sir Paul" as well as you do so I can't pretend to know what he thinks women deserve. It is obvious you don't think they deserve anything. Maybe he doesn't believe women are beneath him as you apparently do. Maybe that's why he rejected HER OFFER OF A PRENUP! But then again, I don't know.

Marriages between well adjusted people are an equal partnership in all ways. Maybe you don't know any well adjusted people. Or, as I suspect, you think your exwife (exwives?) got too much of "your" money.

I'm a lawyer and I've done my fair share of divorces. I've never seen a decision where the woman ripped off the man. Just the opposite. I've represented many women who worked to put their husbands through countless years of eduction to have him leave her. Usually for a younger woman. And often he has hidden the families' assets because he has been planning on dumping her for some time (all along?). So, he leaves while he has the ability to make gobs of money and she is "still" a secretary. Oh, but she's got the kids. Cry me a river. (Let's not forget a woman makes on average 70% of what a man makes...for the same work. Oh, the injustice of it all for you poor men.)

Give it up. 99% of the divorced women are left much worse off. Look up the numbers.

Oh, I forgot. You aren't interested in facts or the fate of women. In my day we had a phrase for men like you. But if I say it my post will get pulled.

[symbolman]

79. The numbers?

I simply cannot believe your statement about women being worse off. My ex wife is the she creature from the courtroom, and every man I've ever met that got divorced got to GIVE AWAY a HOUSE.

I blame the courts. They hold the children HOSTAGE, and the lawyers with their lovely INDUSTRY, get to trade Human Flesh for dollars.

It's disgusting. There is absolutely no reason for Judges that SLAM some of us MEN in court, there should be MEDIATION for Families, not Judges for one, and counselors for men who have their children ripped from their arms.

I have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to lawyers and my ex only to be treated like garbage by the legal system. As for the numbers, I've represented myself Pro Se as few times, and to do it right I spent TONS of time in courtrooms watching Judges and have seen probably mmore than 85% of all the men LOSE their kids, their home, their future, been thrown in jail for even speaking up.

Maybe your profession had it made, all you have to do is represent to POOR MOMMY against the MEAN daddy..

There is legal TERRORISM being used against men in Family court, I've watched it and been a VICTIM of it for more than 20 years.

I simply don't believe your statement, from personal experience. Sorry, I've seen too many men DESTROYED just for loving their children and wanting to be with them, whether they pay or not.

[SoCalDem]

85. "Giving away a house".. I have never been divorced (36 yrs married)

but I have several friends who HAVE, and most people end up having to sell the house because neither can afford to buy the other out and still have enough to pay the mortgage.

Together or apart, the money earned stays the same, and now there are two households involved..

Women traditionally earn less, and often shoulder most of the childrearing , so they do tend to end up poorer.. That's just a fact..

[Hamlette]

103. nobody wins, nobody's happy

I have never known of a person who was happy about the results of the divorce. Both sides think they lost. If the judge screwed you and everyone you know, those cases should have been appealed.
I've been a lawyer for 30 years, one side has to lose.

Still, no court has given her 25%, she offered him a prenup, he's not complaining, (maybe he thinks she is entitled to 25%) and he has $1.56 billion. Those facts do not make her an evil gold digger.

[lukasahero]

115. In my divorce, I paid, not him

I took on responsibility for bills he had accumulated BEFORE we even knew each other. He got the apartment, he got the boat, he got the Cherokee. I got the Tracker and all his debt - $10,000 worth - except for the Jeep and the boat. (It still took me taking him to court to get those loans out of my name after two years.)

I made more money (by a whopping $10 grand a year). I was also more anxious to get away from his abuse than I was to fight about the god damned money. I would have assumed any cost to get away from him. You want to talk about being "DESTROYED"? I got your "DESTROYED" right here and it ain't got nothing to do with the fucking money, ok?

If you think all men pay and all women get paid in divorce, think again. I'm sorry for your experience but please don't assume you can speak for all experiences.

[symbolman]

125. Did you have to spend any time in jail for no reason?

I did.. three weeks in a Southern Jail (and I lived in SoCal) that has been compared to a South African Prison by CONGRESS.. and for what.. because my son was smoking dope in HER house, called me to talk about it, she records the call, and in the call I tell him he needs to get drug tested, so I get dragged to that lovely state, hire 6 Lawyers, take my case to that state's SUPREME COURT and still have a Right Wing "lady" Judge, installed by the Christian Right, sentence me, without EVIDENCE, just on a "feeling" that somethin' ain't right..

Sounds like you didn't have any kids, if so that makes a LOT of difference, we all go through hell, but considering that I had NO police record, and my ex was sitting in front of the Judge, changing men every other year (who all paid through the nose, as did my present wife, they screwed her for a LOT of money, try 200 thousand bucks?), and having three drunk driving charges, TWO Assaults, A Child Abandonment Charge (for driving my sons around drunk and hitting two cars that day), and having BIT her live in boyfriend TWICE in one year..

Yet, *I* am the unfit parent, and am treated like garbage, jailed, hounded by cops showing up at my door with papers all the time, tho I never missed child support, paid for my sons Psychiatric appointments (caused by her), and all Medical bills - plus I'd already given her a house.

So yeah, I'm laying on a concrete floor with no pain meds, have arthritis of the spine, for WEEKS, while my Pregnant wife is waiting alone in a motel near me, AND with a Hurricane bearing down on the town..

And that's the GOOD part 15 years AFTER the divorce.

She's still a drunk. And I haven't had but maybe three whole drinking sessions with pals in 12 years..

When my son does turn 19 (it's 19 in THAT STATE), and comes to stay with me, I find a BONG he'd snuck into the apartment I gave him, and I threw is ass out that night..

Luckily life goes on, and tho this evil person had wrecked my life, to the point where I was living in my truck, broke and hounded at least twice, now I have a new wife and son (at 17 months) and my life is full of love.

That other person will never be happy, and I guess that's the best revenge is to BE HAPPY, but nothing like being jailed while crippled in a cell where a diabetic died the day before, and the guy in the next cell is literally eating crap and swimming in it on his floor naked as it runs under our cell door -- to let you know that the court system is EVIL as well.

Sorry you got bilked, I was nearly killed, many times. Best of luck to you in the future.

[lukasahero]

171. "Sorry you got bilked, I was nearly killed, many times."

If you think all I got was "bilked" perhaps you missed: "I was also more anxious to get away from his abuse than I was to fight about the god damned money."

I took the "bilking" because it was better than the beatings.

[Dorian Gray]

166. I had a similar experience...

He got all the furniture, the car, our joint account and a further sum. Oh, and half the house, even though I paid for the whole house. He made out well being a bum for two years. I was happy to pay for it, though, just to get away from the relationship.

[Le Taz Hot]

170. Preach it brother!

The last time I brought up this subject on DU was about 3 years ago and I did everything I could to be as diplomatic as possible. Didn't matter. I was a mysogenist which is pretty difficult to do when you're a female but what the hell? People on this board don't need much before the name calling begins. You are ABSOLUTELY correct. 87% of the time the mother AUTOMATICALLY gets custody of the kids. Now, no one can possibly convince me that the mother is AUTOMATICALLY the better parent 87% of the time and I'll argue that one all day long.

[raccoon]

128. Thanks for your post. That's been my experience, too.

Of my close relatives (sisters and cousins), who got divorced, the women certainly didn't end up with everything, a house, etc.

In the cases where there was a house, it was sold and the proceeds divided.

Neither spouse made a killing off the divorce.

I'm sick and tired of hearing how women "always" get the best of everything in a divorce and take the man to the cleaners.

[lastliberalintexas]

157. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

God, I don't even practice family law (by choice because it's so damned tough) and even I've seen the studies on how divorce impacts women and children in a much more negative manner financially than it does men. By and large a man's objective standard of living goes way up post-divorce, while a woman (esp if there are kiddos) is often driven into damn near poverty.

Geez, I can't believe some of the misogynist bullshit that I'm seeing on this thread.

[Berserker]

176. I see that you have another post

directed at me so I will answer you back. You are so full of hate for men and so full of snide remarks your post is almost funny except for the fact? that you are and attorney and not a very well informed one at that. Just full of hate. Go ahead and call me names again you seem to be good at it. But yes your post will more than likely be deleted again.

[Nederland]

140. What do you mean?

By this:

If this were reversed the laws would be changed FAST.

[lastliberalintexas]

160. Um, this does work in reverse

If my husband and I divorced, I'd likely owe him support payments since I make quite a bit more than he does.

Just because you apparently got burned doesn't mean that the laws on the books aren't good ones.

[StellaBlue]

161. This very thing (and men like you)

are why I don't want to get married.

Ever.

[girl gone mad]

173. First of all, it's not half..

it's a quarter.

Secondly, what did she do? Society deems modern woman's most valuable commdity to be her youth and looks, and Heather Mills gave several years of her youth to a much older man. She bore him a child. If reports are accurate, she was faithful and devoted. She endured harsh criticism from his grown children, and unflattering media comparisons to his previous wife. She became a scrutinized public figure. He asked her into his world. He established a lifestyle for her. I don't see any reason why she shouldn't be given what she is entitled by law.

Call her a gold digger, but few women wouldn't be taken in by his fame and his stature. I'm sure he understood that by the time he married her. What's the word for an older man who uses his money and power to lure young women, anyways?

[Pobeka]

95. Paul made great music, and people bought it. He deserves the 1.5 billion.

Nobody put a gun to anybody's head and said "buy this record or you're dead". Nobody had to buy a record just to survive.

Same thing with concerts.

It's not like making money off of a necessity item.

Entertainers making money on luxury items are one clear place where there is no moral conflict with people making it rich.

[karynnj]

119. I think he earned every cent

I bought each album as it came out with money earned as a teenage baby-sitter and later an employee at the local Dairy Queen. If I took the price of any of those albums and divided it by the number of hours of enjoyment or happiness that the album gave me, it was likely the best purchase I ever made. If others enjoyed their purchases as well, Paul deserves every cent.

Like many in my generation, I used extensive listening to those albums in the wake of romantic break-ups instead of therapy. What I find sadder is that the man who wrote some of the sweetest love songs I grew up with, including Here, There and Everywhere thatmy husband and I chose for a wedding song, has lost the woman he loves. Sadly, a month before he turns 64 - having sung "Will you still need me? Will you still feed me, when I'm 64?" so many years ago.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AngryAmish]

98. She bore her child, too

A woman is not just a womb to whom rent has to be paid. Believe it or not, women are actually human beings. Really.

[madmusic]

20. Give me some of yours then.

I'm hungry.

[Hamlette]

53. if I have 1.56 BILLION DOLLARS I'd be happy to!

Do you know that the interest, if you just put that money in a bank, would be about a quarter of a million dollars A DAY?

He is in no danger of want.

[blondeatlast]

36. I think the point is that she OFFERED him a pre-nup and he

balked.

Otherwise, I'm with you 100%.

[Monk06]

45. I think I'll save my sympathy for Cynthia Lennon thanks. She got dick...

Meanwhile a wannabe Fluxus gold digger is one
of the richest women in the world.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Berserker]

59. So if you don't think

she deserves millions we are asshole freepers? Who the hell do you think you are?

[Monk06]

60. " So if you don't think she....." Which she are you talking about and...

what do FReepers have to do with it?

[Berserker]

61. Ask the deleted poster n/t

[Monk06]

62. Ok. "Hey deleted, what the hell is Berserker talking about"

Seriously give me a little clue. I missed
the deleted post.

[Berserker]

63. Yes deleted poster

please come back without calling names and clarify for gbrooks.

[tomp]

144. you're right about cynthia.

john played really mean and it hurt her and julian.

[LostinVA]

158. No arguments about Cynthia Lennon

She -- and her son -- got majorly screwed.

[Nederland]

138. The issue is not whether or not he can AFFORD it

The issue is whether or not it's RIGHT.

[LincolnMcGrath]

146. SHhhhh!

Don't you know that he put that baby in her?

Don't you know he refused to press the issue of a Pre-Nup?

[blondeatlast]

8. My heart bleeds--he coulda had a prenuo, for pity's sakes.

When you have that kind of money, get the pre-nup.

Beyond that, I couldn't care less.

[Vox Acerbus]

10. Isn't this just really media speculation?

Monkeys may fly out of my butt tomorrow, but that doesn't make it true.

This is media speculation at its worst. The MSM is polling various lawyers who have no actual connection to the couple in order to fabricate a story that is currently based on no facts whatsoever.

I am sure McCartney will endow Ms. Mills with plenty of money, to reflect his affection for her and his responsibility for his child. But it's shortsighted to even consider at this point what might happen. Could he lose up to a quarter of his wealth? Sure. But what, besides media speculation, really points to this at this time?

I say wait for facts to come forth before speculating. It's just a waste of brain cycles and time, although the rumor mill surely loves such fodder.

[niyad]

12. welcome to DU and very well put.

[Vox Acerbus]

15. Thank you niyad!

:) I appreciate your welcome.

[blondeatlast]

31. Good point, and I admit to falling for it.

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

148. Exactly. Thanks & welcome to DU nt

[Botany]

11. Poor Paul I don't think it is the money that hurts him.

He missed his buddy, Linda and so he married Heather which turned out to be a mistake.
She wanted to go out and be seen but Paul liked to stay by himself or with a few mates.

He also loved being a Daddy too.
Hope she gives most of the money to a "registered charity."



Thanx for this song too, Paul

Two of Us
Two of us riding nowhere
Spending someone's
Hard earned pay
Two of us sunday driving
Not arriving
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

Two of us sending postcards
Writing letters
On my wall
You and me burning matches
Lifting latches
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

You and i have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing so low
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

You and i have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing so low
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

We're going home
Better believe it

[Vox Acerbus]

13. I will agree on that one thing...

Paul, I am sure, misses Linda. A more tragic love story I have not heard.

It would have been fantastic if she could have lived to still "need" him when he was sixty-four...

[MADem]

17. Marry in haste, and all that....

A bit too much of an age difference, I think. Sure, there are exceptions, but this evidently wasn't one of them.

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

132. and thanks to John Lennon as well for co-writing n/t

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madmusic]

27. Wow

[rooboy]

28. So she deserves over $250 MILLION ?????

give me a break.... :eyes:

[pitohui]

34. he put a baby in her, yes, she deserves the money

i'm sorry but i don't care if it's 205 BILLION her body is changed forever by carrying HIS child

he didn't have to marry her

he coulda worn a rubber

this woman cannot earn a living doing anything except being on trash teevee or writing trash abt my marriage to macca, is that what you want for them?

he supposedly once loved her enough to make a baby with her

he owes her

i suppose the next will be quite a bit younger and have all of her limbs, she sniffed

no pity here for paul i'm sorry

[MelliMel]

82. "He put a baby in her"

You think he forced her? She had no choice? Please. She could have used bc too.

[greenbriar]

117. I'm thinking she made it happen to get her "meal ticket"

hell, if I were Mrs. McCartney, I would be forever pleased to stay at home and listen to Beatles/McCartney music forever

[Kerrytravelers]

30. An amputee is capable of using their mind. It wasn't her head that was

amputated. I like to think that most people who are amputees or are people who are in wheelchairs or have another condition that may hinder them from performing some tasks are still capable people who can support themselves. While she may deserve alimony/child support or other financial arraignments, I wouldn't base it on her being an amputee, but rather other legal factors.

[pitohui]

35. hey guess what

you use YOUR mind and show me how to make hundreds of millions of dollars

then we can talk

[Kerrytravelers]

40. I have no idea what you are trying to insinuate. However, I get a strong

sense that you are a poster who likes to argue. I am not. Therefore, I will no longer respond, no matter how offensive the comment. Please feel free to flame away and post any snarky response you feel you must. You can have the last word. Hijacking a thread to argue is just silly and immature.



Edited for spelling.

[Nevernose]

42. I have never put a poster on ignore. EVER.

And I've been here virtually from the beginning. I think I've found my first one, though.

From trolls that claim that Gore wanted to steal my guns to "psychics" that claim that aliens are kidnapping me whenever I watch Dr. Phil, I've seen 'em all...

[Kerrytravelers]

46. I didn't for the longest time.

However, I have found my patience for flambaits decreasing. There are plenty of people on DU to converse with, to debate with in a respectable fashion. I have a personal policy to let the poster know that I'm no longer participating in a respectful manner- and then I truly do not respond back. It's really a waste of bandwidth (if I properly understand how bandwidth works) and it sidetracks otherwise interesting threads with insulting banter back and forth. After I end, if the poster wants to insult me, make snarky remarks, claim my mother is a whore, whatever, I simply no longer engage. This personal policy of mine has made DU more fun because I don't find myself sucked into silliness.

[goclark]

107. I'm with you, great way to handle it

Whenever someone starts to call someone else "an idiot, stupid etc." that is a clue for me.

Those people need to take a lesson from Move On.com Forums.

They have a new way that limits the debate of anyone that is not civil in their posts.

Check it out, they sent me an email this morning and I registered.

I do not come to be put down, I come to be enlightened and perhaps swayed by the intellectual level of the thread.

I am completely turned off when someone does not respect my point of view because of my RACE or because I am Female.

I really can't imagine telling a person of Hispanic heritage that they need to "get a life" regarding their views on immigration!

I may see it differently but I have not walked in their shoes so I don't tell them how to think.

Telling someone how they must THINK reminds me of RepubliCONS and I will reject that in a heartbeat.

[Kerrytravelers]

120. I use to respond. Now, I don't bother. It's silly.

My absolute favorite are the ones who ask you to prove your point with facts. When you cite unbiased sites and lay it all out there, they don't bother to read a word. They make some quippy remark and then move on to argue with someone else. It is a distraction from the original post and it's silly. It lowers the level of the conversation when you're constantly being interrupted with people who are just looking to fight.

I have found my new policy quite effective. I'll happily debate, but when the conversation becomes insulting or just plain silly, I'm done! :)

[Berserker]

66. Is that it

how to make hundreds of millions of dollars by marriage? How shallow.

[wtmusic]

49. Why does she deserve

"to continue in the lifestyle to which she has grown accustomed"?

One other idea: maybe he didn't want a pre-nup because he meant it when he "til death do us part", and maybe she's a freakin' golddigger who decided she wanted the money more than she wanted him. In that case, I'd say it's her fault--and she deserves child support, and not a dime more.

[shraby]

24. Actually it's nobody's business.

This is a matter between Mr. and Mrs. McCartney. If he's is okay with the amount she gets, so be it.

[shanti]

123. THANK YOU!!!

:hi:

[bigwillq]

25. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LincolnMcGrath]

32. brat?

I guess it really is all about the children isn't it? :eyes:

[pitohui]

37. hey as another poster said it wasn't her brain got amputated

seriously tho she prob. loves her child but if -- and i say IF -- macca is trying to deny her a VERY generous settlement that says it all abt what he thinks abt the child he stuck in HER body

[LincolnMcGrath]

39. He stuck the baby in her without her knowledge?

Freaky!

[The Straight Story]

73. Nice generalization on men there (nt)

[Clark2008]

90. Well, there's been some nice generalization about women

in this thread, too.

But, the bottom line is this: none of us know the McCartneys. Paul, himself, said Heather wasn't a golddigger, which is backed up by the fact that she offered to sign a pre-nup and he refused. ("It's been suggested that she married me for the money and there is not an ounce of truth in this. She is a very generous person who spends most of her time trying to help others in greater need than herself.")

Maybe she is a golddigger, but it doesn't look that way to me, based on the information we have at hand.

The other bottom line is this: division of marital property is held steadfast by law and I'm sure Paul was aware of that when he married Heather and refused to sign a pre-nup. If Heather gets a gazillion dollars as a result, it's because of the law and nothing more. If you don't like the law, work to change it (well, if you live in England, that is).

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

38. it's the fine he should have recieved for recording "Freedom"

the most off-key, tortuous knee-jerk response to 9-11 from someone who should have known better

[Ex Lion Tamer]

109. Yes!!

I grew up on Beatles' music and worshipped Paul and John (mostly John).

But Paul stopped being musically relevant a LONG time ago.

Sad but true.

[regnaD kciN]

41. Personally...

...I'd doubt he'd even notice it much.

[shanti]

124. right

paul never struck me as the grasping sort. how much money does one man need anyway?

[treestar]

43. Is it the law of the UK applying and if so don't they have a

doctrine of separate property? Everything accumulated before the marriage should not be subject to division.

[Catherine Vincent]

47. How do you get a baby stuck in your body?

Is it fun to do? :)

[elehhhhna]

48. with assistance.

[dysfunctional press]

50. if that's what the law allows for-

then YES she deserves it. just as much as McCartney himself or any one other person on the planet else "deserves" to have that much(or even more) wealth.

[Berserker]

68. Please explain why

she deserves it. I really want to know why?

[wtmusic]

70. Because the law allows it

and we all know that if it's legal, it must be morally right

[dysfunctional press]

102. because the law allows it- and Paul knew that going in...

if he was that concerned about his money, he should have gotten a pre-nup. since he didn't, she's entitled. it's THE LAW.

[ShaneGR]

56. Now I would REALLY marry that one-legged lady....

She was hot before, but now she's 500 MILLION DOLLARS HOT!

:-)

[Freedom_Aflaim]

57. Losing 500 million won't change his life at all

Once you get to about 100 million, you can own anything you want and money just becomes "points" in lifes game.

[MrSlayer]

64. He's a fool for not having a pre-nup.

And now he's going to pay the piper. This is why his children were so upset over the marriage. No one is saying she shouldn't get a couple million and her bills taken care of forever but a $300 million or so payment is ludicrous.

[Blue_Tires]

65. wow...if that's true

then FUCK.THAT.SHIT!! I know Paul is rich enough that the money doesn't really matter, but just on principle, i would have made sure i fought her every step of the way in court....


now...tomorrow i'm off to find a rich woman to marry myself off to.....

[JeffR]

67. You never give me your money

You only send me your funny paper
And in the middle of negotiations
You break down

[JI7]

69. that's no loss for him

he would probably give up all of it if he could get Linda back.

[Jazz2006]

72. Who cares?

Sheesh.

[CTyankee]

116. EXACTLY my sentiment

Why are people, who do not even know Paul and his wife, getting so worked up over this?

Sheesh is right.

Get a life, folks.

[Deja Q]

75. Isn't his wealth in UK Pounds Sterling, or Euros?

When the dollar crashes, people might get some false impressions.

Just like how Bill Gates has 40 billion Euros = $50 billion. Except the ol' dollar, she's goin' down. (google the phrase and look for the bloomberg.com article from January 2005. It's a real joy to read...)

[BooScout]

76. It's a trial separation....

Not a divorce yet that I am aware of. Lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

For what it's worth....Heather is a bit of a strange duck.....always has been.

[Recursion]

77. When will rich old guys learn?

(billionaire musician) McCartney, 63, and former model Mills, 38

OK, that should have told him enough right there... "Hi, I'm a beautiful woman half your age, but I don't just want you for your money".

And, yes, I fully expect Ashton to leave Demi and take half her fortune too.

[Clark2008]

91. Actually, I'm a bit younger than Heather and I still find

Paul quite attractive and certainly worthy of a roll in the hay.

If I were single, I'd be interested in him, for him, and not his money, which I would consider only a perk.

It IS possible for women to find older men attractive. Crap... I still have a years-long crush on Pete Townshend, who just turned 61 on Friday, and he's not even what most women would find "cute." I like him because of his lyrical and musical abilities.

[Warren DeMontague]

80. Oh boy.

:popcorn:

[B Calm]

81. Since she spent 6% of McCartney's life with him, she should get 3%

of his entire fortune! No compromise!! Fight it PAUL!!

[B Calm]

84. Since she received 3% of his entire fortune, child support should

be limited to half of whatever it takes to raise the child, not the mother! Fight it Paul!!

[cureautismnow]

88. "Will you still need me, will you still feed me..."

"When I'm 64." Which is less than a month away for Sir Paul - June 18.

It does seem a bit excessive for Mills, though. It's a shame that things didn't work out.

[Yollam]

89. I'm struggling to care about this...

If this were a normal man with a normal amount of money, okay, but the man will be just fine. He has more money than a hundred people would ever know what to do with. Besides, in California, I believe everything is split 50/50, so he's pretty lucky, comparatively speaking. There is also a child in the equation, and there is no indication in the story that McCartney is balking at the settlement.

I feel very very sorry for the thousands of hungry kids who could be fed if he gave up another quarter of his fortune. I sure as hell don't feel sorry for this aging pop idol who has lived a life of luxury, being pawed by beautiful women ever since his early 20s.

You say it was stupid of him not to sign a pre-nup, but why is it stupid to not cling desperately to every penny of an obscene fortune? I wouldn't do a pre-nup, and I'm sure that what little I have is more precious to me than the mountains of wealth McCartney can't possibly even keep track of...

[Bucky]

100. Perfect! In response to your eloquence I will forego my "arm & a leg" joke

Plus it really wasn't all that funny.

[newportdadde]

92. She should get 1/2 of all income made the past 4 years.

Not factoring in child support this seems fair. She helped support him as spouse the past 4 years through his career and I think that would be a fair compromise.

On a side note you are a dummy Paul for not getting a prenup.

[ladjf]

93. I believe that McCartney will offer to pay more that the court

would have ordered.

[Bucky]

99. This whole thing reminds me of the lyrics to my favorite McCarthy song

"Someone's knockin' at the do-or
Somebody's ringin' the bell

Someone's knockin' at the do-or
Somebody's ringin' the bell

Do me a favor... open the door...
And give 'er all my money"

[dchill]

101. Don't care. N/t

[LibDemAlways]

108. Paul had a rock solid marriage with Linda.

He knew how to be a good husband. Suspect that's why he didn't want a prenup. He'd been so succcessfully married that he couldn't admit to himself the possibility of failure.

In time we'll all know to what extent Mrs. McCartney is willing to go to fight for a huge slice of the pie. She may agree to much less than she could conceivably fight for. It's all speculation at this point.

[Marr]

111. Trying to... muster... pity for man with... only a billion dollars...

...trying... mustn't give up... must... muster pity...

Nope. Can't do it.

[npincus]

112. LOL

ah shoulda married me a rich'un.

[Cha]

114. Didn't they just have

a wee one? That's too bad!

Edit~ it's seems weird to me to say it's the media's fault. If it were meant to be then nothing could stand in the way not even the media.

[shanti]

122. paul obviously is not concerned, why are you?

:shrug:

[gatorboy]

127. Seriously.

Paul and his kids will never be able to spend that amount of loot. It's their business and no one else's.

Way off the topic but what the hell.... You have the writers of the Left Behind series who make millions off their books and tie-end merchandise. They've publicly stated that they believe that the rapture will happen soon.
But if that's the case, why hoard this wealth? If they truely believe that the end of the world is near, why not simply give all of this money away and secure I nice little position in heaven for themselves?

[deaniac21]

126. No one should be allowed to have more than 10 million dollars.

[progressivebydesign]

129. They have a baby... so I suppose that's the reason. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

130. She had a baby? I didn't know that. Boy or girl and how old it is? n/t

[tenshi816]

136. Girl. Beatrice Millie.

Born 2003 or 2004, I can't remember which.

[Norquist Nemesis]

131. It's McCartney and Mills business, IMO

Whatever they agree on is their business and none of mine (ours). Passing judgement on what's fair or not is just another way sticking noses into other people's personal lives. :shrug:

[SmokingJacket]

133. Boohoo.

I love McCartney's work, but it's not like he's going to be reduced to sleeping on a friend's couch, like lots of people who go through a divorce are.

[Peter Frank]

134. One would think that Paul would have a leg up in this situation. n/t

[LincolnMcGrath]

149. !

:spank:

[Peter Frank]

172. Don't' spank me...

...because I find impossible to imagine how Mills could have gotten a leg up on McCartney. It defies logic and the laws of physics (but makes for an interesting visual).

[katty]

181. Paul has the best lawyers-he's made it thru the breakup of

the Beatles, Music copyright battles, Yoko Ono. He is not about to turn over his fortune to fortune & fame hunter Heather.

[truebrit71]

137. Dumb, dumb, dumb....

....what a fool....

[Avalux]

139. WHO CARES??

Why does this post have so many replies? And why am I contributing to it? ;-) I can't feel sorry for the guy and I could really care less when there are so many more important things to worry about.

[Javaman]

141. Guess he'll have to give up the gold leaf toilet paper now. nt

[wishlist]

142. Makes sense for assets acquired DURING marriage to be shared property

Don't know about British law, but where I live in U.S. only those assets or property acquired during the marriage are subject to equal division upon divorce, not assets each party owned separately before their marriage.

[leftofthedial]

147. she reportedly wanted more

but her lawyers advised her she didn't have a leg to stand on

[Ovett]

156. Hahahahaha. Thats funny. n/t

[NoPasaran]

150. Obladi Oblada

Life goes on.

[sweetheart]

162. "how many boats can you waterski behind"

How much is enough for a man who likely could not spend his fortune even if he tried,
during the remainder of his life. How emotionally immature to have fallen in with
such a facile one to start with, beyond an age and power difference that no
relationship can bridge. He'll likey stay single from now on and dump them
when they want to move in... gotta learn, to keep women disenfranchised...

... lesson learned... disempower woemn until they're desperate to earn money from
men when they can't earn it theemselves. Feminism has come a long way here, bush
and his patriarchal ilk have really brought things forward. :sarcasm:

[Chomp]

164. 165 posts...

...and no one has said she doesn't have a leg to stand on?

Poor show.

[lies and propaganda]

165. after he has been so money screwed

he shouldnt have let 'love' blind him. Tis not the first time someone has royally screwed him.

[SiobhanClancy]

167. I predict..

Paul offers an extremely generous settlement,and goes for full custody of the child.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

174. Note to self:

Iniquitous Bunny,

If you are ever a billionaire, get a prenup. Don't be a dumbshit. :dunce:

Sincerely,
Yourself.

[Drewskie]

175. it's his own fault.... good for him... (nt)

[high density]

177. Who cares.

I don't.

[MoonRiver]

178. He got married too soon after Linda's death, imho.

He was probably still grieving and not making great decisions. He needed to fill the void and wanted to believe that everyone was as wonderful/trustworthy/nurturing/kind etc. as Linda. Sadly, that might not have been the case. I worry more about him going through another emotional loss than the lost money. :cry:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

180. The Laws/Standard Applied To Things Like This Are Really Illogical When

it comes right down to it, but unfortunately that's just the way things are right now.

He definitely should've signed a prenup though if he didn't want to have to shell out that much upon a split, but then he might not even care he has to give up that much in a divorce anyway. We might think it's a raw and shitty deal for him, but he may not give a rats ass about givin her that much, which is what really matters.

Most people with lopsided income situations know it's generally wise to get a firm prenup. I'm a believer that the spouse deserves a fair settlement, but most of these go farrrrrrr beyond fair into the realm of preposterous in my opinion.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

183. How much of that is the Eastman-Kodak fortune?

It cuts both ways.

[Fleshdancer]

184. both parties are ridiculous

If it were up to me, they'd have to figure out how to split 25% of the fortune between one another without wasting my time and the remaining 75% would be spent on something useful.

Fortunately for the rich and divorced, I'm not a judge. :D

Seriously though. If you're worth more than a billion dollars and you decide to get married then SIGN THE PRE-NUP! If you're worth a billion dollars and decide to marry someone almost half your age then SIGN THE PRE-NUP TWICE! And as for HER...get some self respect. The whole gold digger thing is just pathetic.