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Jeff Bezos settles his divorce with wife MacKenzie in record settlement

Source: News Corp Australia Network:
April 4, 2019 at 15:27
Image Credits: JORG CARSTENSEN/AFP / Getty Images
Image Credits: JORG CARSTENSEN/AFP / Getty Images

The world’s richest man Jeff Bezos has finalised his split from wife, but she only got a fraction of what she was entitled to.

The wealthiest man in the world has got off lightly following a divorce settlement that saw him lose billions.

It has been announced that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will leave his wife MacKenzie Bezos a quarter of their joint Amazon stocks, representing a four per cent stake in the internet giant, or around $US32 billion ($A45 billion) in value.

Jeff and MacKenzie. Picture: AP
Jeff and MacKenzie. Picture: APSource:AP


The portion Bezos is holding on to is worth around $US100billion ($A140 billion), enabling him to retain the title of the richest man in the world, beating out Microsoft mogul Bill Gates by $US4billion ($A6 billion).

Mr Bezos will also take control of Mackenzie’s remaining stock in his other companies, The Washington Post and Blue Origin, the space exploration company he founded..

The now-separated couple announced the details of the split in tweets overnight.
 

   

“I’m grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process,” Jeff Bezos said in a tweet

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The two didn’t go in to detail about dividing their expansive properties and other investments — keeping the tone light and gracious in their statements.

Their decades-long marriage came to a halt in January when Bezos’ romance with his now-girlfriend Lauren Sanchez was brought into light.
 

Bezos has managed to hold on to his title as the richest man in the world. Picture: AFP
Bezos has managed to hold on to his title as the richest man in the world. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

 

The couple announced they were divorcing in January, just before the National Enquirer published a story saying Bezos was having an affair. He later accused the tabloid’s publisher of threatening to publish explicit photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the Enquirer obtained his private messages.

 
Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’ new girlfriend. Picture: AP
Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’ new girlfriend. Picture: APSource:AP

 

Since then, there has only been speculation surrounding other details of the highly-publicised split.

The Bezos divorce settlement is the most expensive in history, easily eclipsing other payouts.

French-American businessman and art dealer Alec Wildenstein divorced his wife of 21 years, Jocelyn Wildenstein, in 1999 at a cost of $US3.8 billion ($A5.3 billion).
 

Jocelyne Wildenstein, wife of art dealer Alec Wildenstein outside court with her lawyer Bernard Clair Mar . Picture: Supplied
Jocelyne Wildenstein, wife of art dealer Alec Wildenstein outside court with her lawyer Bernard Clair Mar . Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

 

 
One of the costliest divorces in the world: Formula One motor racing chief executive Bernie Ecclestone with wife Slavica. Picture: Supplied
One of the costliest divorces in the world: Formula One motor racing chief executive Bernie Ecclestone with wife Slavica. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

 

Rupert Murdoch reportedly paid $US1.7 billion ($A2.4 billion) to his former wife, Anna, in 1998, while Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone forked out $US1.2 billion ($A1.7 billion) to Slavica Radic when their marriage ended in 2009.

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