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Anorak News | Breaking Up – The Breakdown

Breaking Up – The Breakdown

by | 10th, March 2004

‘IT is a truth universally acknowledged that a Hollywood star in possession of a good fortune should be in want of a wife…and a damn good divorce lawyer.

‘And that’s after $20,000 of plastic surgery!’

That at least seems to be the message in this week’s Hello! as the magazine details some of the biggest pay-outs in the history of Tinseltown.

Thrice-married Ivana Trump may be honorary patron of the Ex-Wives’ Club, once telling women, ‘Remember girls, don’t get mad, get everything’, but the £10m settlement she received from property tycoon Donald Trump pales into insignificance compared with the pay-offs some have received.

Apparently, Steven Spielberg paid a cool $100m to actress Amy Irving, Tom Cruise handed over $109m to Nicole Kidman, Harrison Ford’s divorce from Melissa Mathison cost him $118m and – the daddy of them all – Neil Diamond wrote his ex-wife Marcia a cheque for $150m when they split up in 1996.

Not only that but Diamond didn’t begrudge his wife a cent, saying: ‘She’s been through thick and thin with me for 25 years. I’m happy to give it.’

No wonder they say a Diamond is a girl’s best friend.

All of which comes as little consolation to Lionel Richie, who admits that he is ‘scared to death’ by the demands of his soon-to-be-ex-wife of eight years, Diane.

To get a glimpse of what life is like as the spouse of the rich and famous, Diane enumerates her expenditure.

‘I spend in excess of $50,000 a month for my own personal services,’ she says, ‘entertainment and shopping, including, but not limited to, dermatology of $3,000 a month, a minimum of $600 on hair, $250 on nails, $150 on electrolysis, $1,000 on laser hair removal, $450 on facials, $500 on my trainer, $600 for Pilates, $600 on massages, $600 on therapy, at least $3,000 to $5,00 on entertainment (restaurants, movies, theatre etc.), at least $10,000 to $15,000 on clothing, shoes and purses, $5,000 on jewellery, $5,000 for gifts on birthdays, wedding anniversaries, graduations etc., $500 to £1,000 on computer lessons, $500 to $600 for vitamins, as well as $500 for alterations, dry cleaning and clothing repair.’

‘In addition to nine full-time staff,’ she continues, ‘we also employ people to maintain our plants, detail our cars, care for our pool, groom our dog, maintain our aquarium and a painter for regular touch-ups on the house.’

On top of this, Diane needs $75,000 for the monthly mortgage on her $40m Beverly Hills mansion, $20,000 on plastic surgery, $125,000 for her son’s school fees, $15,000 for her daughter’s tuition and a further $400 to send five-year-old Sofia to therapy.’

All in all, it amounts to a cool $300,000 a month – and that’s not even including the weekly grocery shop.’



Posted: 10th, March 2004 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink