PRICE OF FREEDOM

MORE MONEY EQUALLED MORE PROBLEMS WHEN THESE COUPLES WENT SEPARATE WAYS

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ANGELINA JOLIE & BRAD PITT

After an eight-year legal battle, the former golden couple settled their contentious divorce on December 30. Despite having a prenuptial agreement in place before their 2014 marriage, the split turned nasty soon after Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016, asking for full physical custody of their six children as Brad was investigated - and then cleared - by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services over allegations he got "verbally abusive" and "physical" during an altercation on a flight on the pair's private jet.

Financial records were not disclosed, however, according to the Daily Mail, Jolie walked away $130 million richer post-marriage, scoring $18.5 million after selling a Winston Churchill painting that was gifted to her by Pitt and earning $103 million when she sold her 50 per cent stake in the Chateau Miraval Winery. The bitter legal battle over the French estate and vineyard they once jointly owned is ongoing.

MADONNA & GUY RICHIE

In 2008, Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, told the Associated Press her client had paid Ritchie between $123 million and $149 million following their split. "I'd assume it's one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement," she said. A day later, the couple, who had been married for seven years, issued a statement disputing but not clarifying the numbers, saying, "The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement." A source told the Evening Standard that, while exaggerated, Rosenberg's figures were "very close to the mark".

ADELE & SIMON KONECKI