World’s richest couple set to divorce

Earlier this month, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Mackenzie, announced that they were going to divorce after a 25-year marriage.

The news hit the headlines worldwide, following their announcement on Twitter, where they said they intended to continue their “shared lives as friends”.

But what does this mean for what is reportedly the world’s richest couple? And what could a divorce settlement on this scale look like?

Mackenzie could become the world’s richest woman

What the financial settlement will look like when the couple divorce is not yet clear.

The couple will reportedly divorce in America. While American law is different to English and Welsh law, if the divorce were to take place in England, the starting point would be a 50:50 split.

If award-winning author Mackenzie were to receive half of the couple’s fortune, this could make her the world’s richest woman.

Was there a prenuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement sets out what a couple would like to happen to their assets if they divorce. This is signed before marriage.

According to TMZ, a source revealed that Jeff and Mackenzie may not have a prenup.

It’s worth pointing out here that the couple were married before Jeff started Amazon, so they may not have thought that a prenuptial agreement was necessary.

On the other hand, it may be possible that the couple could have entered a postnuptial agreement (similar to a prenup but entered into after marriage) at a later date.

What could the financial settlement look like?

News website Business Insider, says that almost all of Jeff Bezos’ net worth is in Amazon stock.

If this is the case, it could be that Mackenzie may end up with a sizeable stake in Amazon, as part of their divorce settlement.

Of course, this is only speculation. What the financial settlement will ultimately look like, will depend upon a variety of factors, including the local law. What’s more, the couple may never publicly reveal the details of their divorce settlement, so we may never know exactly what the settlement looks like.
 

High-net-worth divorces can be extremely complex

It’s not unusual for high net worth individuals to have highly complicated finances. For example, there could be offshore interests or trusts set up for family members.

For this reason, high net worth individuals should seek advice from a solicitor with experience in this area.

Separating on good terms 

The announcement read: “We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again.”

There’s no doubt that divorce can be extremely difficult. Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos may have a long road ahead of them.

At the moment, it seems that the divorce is amicable, which should make things easier for both them and their four children.