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British Press Bids Farewell to Mills-McCartney Divorce Case
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Richer by $49 million and her divorce settled, Heather Mills sought to end an acrimonious relationship with the British press, which dubbed her "Mucca."
30-Second Summary
Divorce proceedings between former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and former model Heather Mills ended Monday in a London courtroom.
After being awarded around $49 million, Mills addressed the press waiting outside. The U.K. tabloids described her 12-minute, rather composed speech as a “rant” or, as a headline in British paper The Sun put it, “The Long and Whining Moan.”
According to The Sun, Mills “whinged that the judge worded his ruling to make it look like her ex had won.”
That remark most likely referred to a statement from Justice Bennett, the presiding judge: "I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid."
But as the Associated Press wrote in a story entitled “Please, Please Me,” after being awarded a settlement that works out to be about $34,000 per day of marriage to the rocker, “Money may not buy her love, but Paul McCartney’s ex sure has a lot more of it now.”
The Mills-McCartney divorce is only the most recent of high-stakes settlements. Former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan is estimated to be paying over $150 million to his ex-wife Juanita. The same month that case was decided, the Chicago area saw what was thought to be the largest divorce settlement ever: Energy company founder Michael Polsky paid $184 million to his ex-wife Maya.
After being awarded around $49 million, Mills addressed the press waiting outside. The U.K. tabloids described her 12-minute, rather composed speech as a “rant” or, as a headline in British paper The Sun put it, “The Long and Whining Moan.”
According to The Sun, Mills “whinged that the judge worded his ruling to make it look like her ex had won.”
That remark most likely referred to a statement from Justice Bennett, the presiding judge: "I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid."
But as the Associated Press wrote in a story entitled “Please, Please Me,” after being awarded a settlement that works out to be about $34,000 per day of marriage to the rocker, “Money may not buy her love, but Paul McCartney’s ex sure has a lot more of it now.”
The Mills-McCartney divorce is only the most recent of high-stakes settlements. Former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan is estimated to be paying over $150 million to his ex-wife Juanita. The same month that case was decided, the Chicago area saw what was thought to be the largest divorce settlement ever: Energy company founder Michael Polsky paid $184 million to his ex-wife Maya.
Headline Links: Baby, you’re a rich wo-man
‘Please, Please Me’
‘Got to Get You Out of My Life’
Tom Hundley writes in the Chicago Tribune that the $49 million settlement is not the largest awarded in British history, although bigger than the $34 million Princess Diana received from the royal family.
Source: Chicago Tribune
‘The Long and Whining Moan’
U.K. tabloid The Sun wrote that Mills engaged in a “rant,” and that Heather Mills “whinged that the judge worded his ruling to make it look like her ex had won.”
Source: The Sun
‘Wet It Be’
A breakdown of the court’s reasoning behind the settlement is available from U.K. tabloid The Daily Mirror. The Mirror reports, “The judge decided that the husband should pay the wife a lump sum of £16.5 million ($33.33 million), which together with her assets of £7.8 million ($15.76 million) ... means that she exits her marriage with total assets of £24.3 million ($49.1 million).”
Source: The Mirror
'Judge Found Heather Mills "Less Than Candid," Divorce Ruling Reveals'
The Guardian quotes Justice Bennett's summing-up: "I am driven to the conclusion that much of her evidence, both written and oral, was not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid. Overall, she was a less than impressive witness."
Source: The Guardian
Related Topic: ‘We’ll Have Wonderful Christmas Time’
The Daily Express reports that Mills was seeking a “Christmas truce” in late November so that she could spend the holiday with her daughter Beatrice. According to Mills’ custody agreement, the former Beatle gets their daughter over Christmas.
Source: The Daily Express
Background: Divorce
FindingDulcinea’s guide to divorce includes resources about the divorce process, legal resources and where to go for information on financial management.
Source: findingDulcinea
Historical Context: Large divorce settlements
In June 2007, one of the largest divorce settlements in history was awarded to suburban Chicago homemaker and art gallery owner Maya Polsky. In her divorce from energy magnate Michael Polsky, her husband of 22 years, she was awarded $184 million, with $176 million of it non-taxable cash. Her attorney Michael Rosenfeld argued successfully that Maya was Michael’s confidante and should thus be entitled to a 50–50 split. “They would walk together after dinners, and Michael would share details of his work, looking for empathy, advice or merely an open ear,'” wrote Rosenfeld in court files.
Source: Crain’s Chicago Business
Forbes has a slide show featuring the top 10 most expensive celebrity divorces. In addition to Sir Paul McCartney, fellow Brit Mick Jagger was number 10, who paid his ex-wife Jerry Hall an estimated $15 million to $25 million. Retired basketball player Michael Jordan’s divorce was the most expensive, with an estimated payout of over $150 million.
Source: Forbes
Humor: An irreverent take on the divorce case
U.K. satirical magazine Private Eye puts photos of Mills and Iggy Pop side-by-side, reversing their names under the captions. Reader Katherine Dixon wrote in, “Sir, I know Mr. Pop often sets out to offend, but marrying a Beatle?"
Source: Private Eye
Sadie Gray of The Guardian crafted a quiz featuring the key details of the divorce proceedings between Heather Mills and Paul McCartney.
Source: The Guardian
Reference: Mills-McCartney divorce details
The full text of the settlement ruling is available from U.K. tabloid The Daily Mirror as a PDF.
Source: The Daily Mirror
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