Mike Tyson and Robin Givens
Anthony Barboza / Getty Images
Duration: 1988-1989
At the tender age of 21, Mike Tyson became the youngest fighter ever to unify the three major boxing belts. But allegedly, for some reason he didn’t realize that pugilism is best left in the ring, which doomed his marriage to actress Robin Givens. The union itself was a boxing match of sorts in which Tyson, who married Givens when he was the most feared fighter on the planet, claims he was put in a continual battle for his manhood and dignity by a woman who just wanted his money. Givens, on the other hand, said she lived in fear of him, particularly after a well-publicized television interview with the couple by Barbara Walters when Givens says he flew into a rage in their New Jersey mansion.
After that, enough was enough for both of them. They ended their tumultuous relationship, which seemed to inspire so many reality shows today, by Tyson offering Givens $10 million. Both went on with their careers with new marriages — and divorces.
Next: Michael and Juanita Jordan
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
