Michael and Juanita Jordan
Duration: 1989-2006
Like many things that Michael Jordan has done in his life, this was one for the record books. Arguably, the Chicago Bulls (and later Washington Wizards) forward is the best basketball player in the history of the sport. Seller of everything from athletic gear to fast food and even one of the few pro athletes to star in a film with animated characters, Jordan made more than $350 million over the course of his 17-year-marriage to his wife, Juanita. But before they signed the marriage license, they signed a prenuptial agreement, entitling her to half of his dough. Through their lives together, she reportedly put up with his philandering until she filed for divorce in 2002, but the couple reconciled. But five years later they announced a “mutual and amicable” split, which resulted in the largest celebrity divorce settlement in history: $168 million. Hard to imagine what the former Mrs. Jordan would do with that amount of cash. Maybe purchase a basketball team?
Next: Tony Parker and Eva Longoria
Tony Parker and Eva Longoria
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Duration: 2007-2010
This marriage was so storybook that Tony Parker and Eva Longoria even had their wedding in a ritzy Paris cathedral, and the reception in a European castle. But maybe some people get married just for the ceremony. The French-born San Antonio Spurs point guard and the Desperate Housewives actress met after a game and started dating soon after. But it didn’t take long for their marriage to begin hitting bumps, especially as a celebrity gossip website ran an interview with a woman who claimed she had slept with Parker. The website wound up apologizing for the story, but three years later media began alleging that Parker was having an affair with a teammate’s wife, although other sources denied it.
Longoria, who also reportedly found hundreds of racy text messages on Parker’s phone, didn’t take any of it lying down and filed for divorce in 2010, amid allegations of her own infidelities. The couple had signed a prenuptial agreement and the divorce settlement, while reportedly high, was undisclosed.
Next: Tiki and Ginny Barber
