Also See: The Biggest Divorce Awards in History

Ex Beatle, Paul McCartney married model Heather Mills in June 2002, and had one daughter together – Beatrice. McCartney and Mills separated in 2006 and have been involved in a contentious divorce battle in the English Courts. Mills, whose original legal team is no longer involved, is now representing herself in the complicated divorce proceedings – almost unheard of because she stands to receive a reported £200 million (about $400 million). McCartney’s estate is estimated to be worth about £750 million (about $1.5 billion). It is likely that the public will never really know exactly what Mills will receive in the divorce because in Britain all divorce proceedings are closed to the public. Also, it is highly likely that the parties will enter into a confidentiality agreement in which they agree to keep the terms of the award secret. But many commentators have speculated that this could be the largest divorce award in British history! [3/17/2008 Update: McCartney-Mills Final Divorce Settlement]

Why Didn’t McCartney Have a Prenup?

Many new reports have pointed to the fact that McCartney should have insisted on a premarital agreement (or prenup) before he married Mills in order to protect his large estate. However, while prenups can be valid and enforceable in the United States, courts in England would ignore such an agreement (they’re not enforceable in British courts) and they retain the final say in the division of property. Prenuptial agreements have been popularized by American media, but are actually of limited use in the UK.