Billions at stake: Most expensive celebrity divorces of all time

Divorce proceedings can be difficult for many reasons, from emotional strain to how hard it hits your bank account.

And that's no different for celebrities, with the world watching - and often taking sides - celebrity couples find themselves under constant scrutiny as they try and find their way through.

Between legal fees, crawling through questionable prenuptial agreements and dealing with broken hearts, it can be quite the expensive business.

In the world of celebrities divorces can stack up to quite a pretty penny, with one divorce landing the ex-wife on Forbes' billionaires list from the settlement money alone.

Bill and Melinda Gates shook the world this week when they announced on Twitter they are separating after 27 years of marriage, dropping the bombshell in a statement which read: "After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage.”

With speculation about how much the billionaire couple's divorce will cost, we've taken a look at 10 of the most expensive high-profile divorces.

10. Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva - $80 million (Sh8.5bn)

The two-time Academy Award-winning actor was married to American actress Cindy Silva for 16 years before the two called it quits - allegedly over Kevin's "wandering eyes".

It was reported that Cindy gave him an ultimatum after she didn't approve of his "sexy" movie roles.

He reportedly told a close friend: "I've either got to quit doing them or quit the movie business."

The two divorced in 1994, with him picking his career.

9. Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison - $85 million to $118 million (Sh9bn to Sh12.6bn)

After first meeting on the set of Apocalypse Now in 1979, the actor and screenwriter were married four years later.

After reports came out that Harrison had been seen with a younger woman, the couple separated in 2000 and divorced in 2004 after unsuccessfully attempting to work through their differences.

It was reported that the settlement agreed on was between $85 million and $118 million.

8. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt - $100 million (Sh10.6bn)

The split rocked fans everywhere, with Brad already having the high profile split from Friends actress Jennifer Anniston in 2005 before he embarked on his relationship with Mr and Mrs Smith costar Angelina Jolie.

The couple, who share six children, are reported to have spent over $1m (Sh106m) in legal fees alone as they try to come to a settlement with it being reported as "one of the most expensive divorce cases in Hollywood history.”

Although a settlement is yet to be reached it is believed Brad offered Angelia $100 million.

7. Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving - $100 million (Sh10.6bn)

The couple married in in 1985 after meeting when Amy auditioned for the director's sci-fi film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but they divorced in 1989.

After they filed for divorce, a California judge refused to accept their prenuptial agreement as it was reportedly scribbled on a napkin.

Amy was awarded $100 million making it one of the priciest divorces of all time.

6. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren - $110 million (Sh11.8bn)

It made headlines everywhere when professional golfer Tiger Woods drove their Escalade into a tree outside of the couple's Florida home.

Tiger admitted to having multiple affairs and the couple decided to divorce after six years together in 2010.

Elin Nordegren came out of the divorce with a reported $110 million

5. Neil Diamond and Marcia Murphey - up to $150 million (Sh16.0bn)

Marcia Murphey and Neil Diamond were happily married for 25 years and the couple shared two sons, Jesse and Micah.

Their marriage came to an end in 1995, although it was never confirmed, the singer's $300 million earnings were reportedly split between the two.

Neil told the Daily Mail that his ex-wife "got enough to live on for the rest of her life."

Following their long and happy marriage, Neil blamed himself for them parting.

4. Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy - $168 million (Sh17.96bn)

Basketball legend Michael Jordan married Juanita Vanoy in 1989 during his second season with the Chicago Bulls.

It was rumoured in 2002 that the couple, who share three children, were on the verge of a split but they managed to shoulder through until 2006 where a reported settlement of $168 million was agreed on.

Juanita had been by her husband's side during his lucrative years in the NBA and all those massive endorsement deals he signed helped give her a very settlement.

3. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore - $425 million (Sh45.4bn)

Mel and Robyn spent 31 years together, having seven children, before they decided to call it quits.

The decision to split was said to have beeb made just a dat after Mel's high-profile arrest for drink-driving back in 2006 when he was caught on camera launching into an anti-Semitic tirade.

The expensive split reportedly cost $425 million as the couple split $850 million worth of assets.

2. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Mann - $1.7 billion (Sh181.8bn)

The media mogul was married to Scottish journalist Anna from 1967 to 1999.

He famously remarried just 17 days after his divorce was finalised, paying out $1.7 billion in the settlement.

$110 million (Sh11.8bn) of the reported agreed amount to Anna Mann was said to have been a direct cash payment.

1. Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Bezos - $38 billion (Sh4.06tr)

It comes as no surprise that the $38 billion divorce settlement placed MacKenzie in the 4th spot on Forbes' women billionaires list.

It's currently the most expensive celebrity divorce we've seen, but could yet be outdone by Bill and Melinda Gates.

After an alleged affair with former Fox News presenter, Lauren Sanchez, the couple ended their marriage of 25 years.

MacKenzie and Jeff had begun their relationship prior to his Amazon success, and were married six months after starting their relationship.

The divorced couple share four children.