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Madonna and Guy Ritchie reach divorce deal
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter20.11.08
MADONNA and Guy Ritchie have reached agreement on their divorce - with the British film director refusing to take a penny of the pop star's cash.
An announcement could come by the end of the month, a source close to the negotiations has told the Evening Standard.
Madonna will walk away from the eight-year marriage with her fortune, estimated at £300million, still intact. Although Ritchie, himself believed to be worth £30 million, was entitled under English divorce law to as much as half her wealth, sources suggest he has done a "Piper" - a reference to Billie Piper, the actress who divorced the broadcaster Chris Evans without asking for anything.
The stumbling block in the split had been over where Ritchie and Madonna's children will now live. Madonna, 50, wished to take the children back to New York while Ritchie, 40, wanted to keep his sons in London, where they have grown up.
The source said a compromise had now been reached which will see the two boys - Rocco, eight, and three-year-old adopted David - dividing their time between Britain and the US. Madonna's daughter Lourdes, by another relationship, will continue to live with her.
The source told the Evening Standard: "It will be all over by the end of the month. I am sure it will be announced by then. The priority for him has always been the children. Ritchie has not wanted her money. He has done exactly what Billie Piper did when she divorced Chris Evans. She walked away without any of his money, much to her credit. Guy Ritchie has done the same."
A second source said: "Ritchie could have taken her to the cleaners. He is a very honourable man to have walked away."
Sources said the announcement of the settlement would not include any financial details.
The couple only officially announced they were splitting last month after several weeks of speculation. The speed with which they have come to a deal will come as a surprise because it follows reports that the split was acrimonious and therefore likely to drag on.
The two female lawyers acting for the couple - Helen Ward and Fiona Shackleton - are said to have worked round-the-clock to reach a settlement. Lady Ward, the wife of a Court of Appeal judge and who acted for Ritchie, had brought on board the leading children's barrister Stephen Cobb QC to negotiate where the children will reside.
Mrs Shackleton had used Nicholas Mostyn QC who is an expert in the financial intricacies in divorce cases. Mrs Shackleton and Mr Mostyn represented Sir Paul McCartney in his long, drawn-out divorce from Heather Mills, that eventually cost the former Beatle just under £25 million.
One source said: "It's indicative of Ritchie's priorities that he brought in Stephen Cobb who is a specialist children's QC. Put it this way, you wouldn't go for Cobb if you were after a huge financial settlement."
Both sides will be relieved to have avoided the huge costs incurred by McCartney as well as the full glare of the media spotlight. It has been suggested the full cost of McCartney's divorce from Ms Mills, a former glamour model, in paying lawyers' and other professional fees, could have been as high as £10 million.
In contrast Madonna and Ritchie will have saved themselves millions by reaching a speedy settlement.
The divorce has been an unwelcome distraction for the couple.
Madonna is on a world tour and is due to perform in Philadelphia tonight. Ritchie is making his latest feature film Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.
Reader views (26)
I think Madonna did it right by divorcing him. Guy was never there for her lately including when the adoption of their son David was finalized back in may, Guy didnt show up. I think he felt threatened by her career. He got lazy and was living luxury life through his wife. He only made 2 movies in 8 years.
- Sarah, London
Sharon, London:
She's not an emu. She's been in the UK that long she's become a massive fan of Oriville! :-D
- Bri, London, UK
Before u make a judgement on Madonnas Believe in the Kabbalah maybe u people should study it it has nothing 2do with religion its a believe system that explains the meaning of life it has so many amazing truths and wisdom 2share,Madonnas an amazing woman id defend her 2the death shes touch my heart in so many ways
- Gary, Antrim
Wow, she looks amazing - so youthful. I think we will see a brand new Madonna after this. I loved her when she lived in the US. For some reason living in the UK has taken away some of her super stardom. And Guy will now become even less of a star and just another britsh director who used to be married to some famous bird.
- Claire Allen, Norfolk, UK
I'm going to miss Madonna not being in the UK, it's sad that she is probably leaving, I've felt this for a while.
- Clare, Swindon, UK
Why is Madonna disguised as a green emu????
- Sharon, London
I wouldn't like my children to grow up with a religious nutter.
- Frederick, London UK
It is so sad to hear that.I believe that they both still in love.But the condition does not support them.Why she worship Kabbalah?is that Kabbalah is a kind of mystical Jewish that seems to worship satan?well Guy doesn't believe in that hurly burly of Kabbalah...Madge please...you should change!!!!Why don't you try to become Christian?
- Mario, Kupang,Indonesia
I hope that Madonna will be quickly happy again because she is a wonderful human being in addition to be the hottest girl in the universe (see the fab pics!)
- Goddfried, Ghent
Ritchie is a gentleman what a shame that this stuff end like this
the two are great and ritchie in deed is a honourable man,
anyone could get millions by this, sellings books, gossips, dirty
loundry, anything; and all this but he didn't I hope Madonna get
value this great detail.
- Sofia, mexico
Duh, she is done with UK. She is in NYC.
- Jasen, NY, New York
glad to hear this..well done both of them...
- Niffira, singapore
Good for them but sad for their son- Rocco.
I wish the media leave them alone with bitter feud stories. I am sure Ritchie is wise and intelligent enough to deal with it. As for Madonna, she is the Queen of Pop, icon, Hollywood -breed and probably not the easiest person to live with.
It is a different world out there and they are too different to be together.
- Dame Edna, Canada
If this is true then it is great news, contrary to what people think of Madonna, she has never really courted drama in her personal life, and this is a testimony to how much her and Guy care for the kids.
- Marc, Saffron Walden, UK
Welcome back to the States Madonna! We missed you! Whoo hoo!
- George, Usa, Manchester, Vermont USA
half the money she earned while they were together is still alot of money!! 8 years averaging 40 million a year = $320 million. And some years she earnt well over 40 mill.
I think think it is very admirable of Guy. And Billie Piper for that matteralso as I didn't know that.
What Id like to know is ifLourdes will maintain arelationshipwith Guy. She was known guy since she was 2 and Rocco is her brother.
- Jason, Perth, Australia
who gets custody of her phoney estuary accent & flat cap?
- Jon, London
Guy is a lucky man to be getting away from control freak(y) Madge. I have/had been a Madge fan right since the start but, frankly, she gets on my nerves now. Eventhe way she looks - with all that Botox and surgery, she is on her way to Michael Jackson territory.
The one I REALLY feel sorry for here, though, is David Banda. Yes, he'll grow up materially richer than he ever would have in Malawi and, as a result, may have many more opportunities. The tragedy is that the child has gone from one broken home - as a result of his mother's death - to another broken home, through M and Guy's divorce.
If M really knew that the marriage was on the rocks after her riding accident - as has been widely reported, but I guess we'll never know if it's true - then it was typically selfish of her to push ahead with the adoption.
Madge is all me, me, me. Madge wants; Madge takes it.
Hope NY welcomes her back with open arms; most of us in London are glad to see the back of her and her media circus.
- Bristar, London
Can part of the deal be that Madonna leaves the UK please.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Dignity in a divorce. Well done to those two.
They'll probably now remain friends, and good parents to their children.
- George, London
Actually he would only be entitled to half the money she earned after they got married . . .
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Bravo to Guy Ritchie! Reminds me of the Heather Mills-McCartney case ... not.
- Adam, London, UK
I'm glad to see this has been quick and painless for both parties. I also think they should be civil for their children. Being a bad wife or husband does not make you a bad parent. It seems as though they both realize this and I'm hopeful that they will remain civilized with eachother for the sake of their children.
- Kim, Northfield,Ohio United States
Oh whoppy do
- Angela, Brighton, UK
I hope this true. I knew the both of them were going to settle this quickly. The main issue is the children and their priority. I hope they can remain friends.
- Warren, Pricneton, USA
I feel sorry for the lawyers.
- Bloke, London
