Billionaires in the making

Billionaires in the making

 These days everybody's talking about this youngest self-made billionaire. But check out some of the talented folks who are hot on his heels.From Jay-Z to Tiger Woods, meet a few moguls who are banking some serious cash.


Jay-Z

 Part owner of this NBA team, he's got a clothing line and is co-founder of a record company. Add his superstar wife, and they are one of the top-earning couples around. It won't be long before he adds "billionaire" to his list of accomplishments.

Mark Pincus

 Never heard of Zynga? If you're on the top social networking site, you definitely know the company's games, which include "Mafia Wars" and an über-popular game. CEO Mark Pincus attended an Ivy League institution and is on his way to achieving billionaire status.

Michael Jordan

 This retired basketball player is an example of how being a brand can be extremely lucrative. How much does he make per year in endorsements alone? The baller legend is also a majority owner of this league team and this motorcycling club.

Jerry Bruckheimer

 Even if you haven't heard of this film and TV producer, you've likely seen his work, including this popular crime series. What were his annual reported earnings in 2007 when he was the 10th-highest money earner?

Eric Lefkofsky

 This entrepreneur and professor began his career selling carpet at this school. A high-profile business magazine named him one of 2011's new billionaires. He co-founded a company that has been called the fastest-growing company in history.

William Ackman

 This major investor, founder and CEO of this hedge fund once owned 10 percent of the corporation that runs a big box store. He's held significant portions of a major bookseller and was angling to buy out another.

Sean Parker

 The co-founder and first president of this social networking site, he was portrayed by a famous singer-actor in an Oscar-nominated movie. At age 16 he was arrested for this.

Dennis Gillings

 Chairman and CEO of this pharmaceutical services company, Gillings also has been involved in biotech and was a longtime professor at this university.

Tiger Woods

 Despite his well-publicized behavior, this golf legend is likely to be the first billionaire athlete, thanks in part to his endorsements.

Craig Newmark

 The Internet entrepreneur founded a classifieds website that almost killed off daily newspapers.

James Cameron

 This film director, screenwriter and inventor, a native of this country, is best known for a historic blockbuster film and the highest-grossing movie to date.

Tyler Perry

 This actor and director released his first film in 1995 and had a hit with a TV comedy. He has a new star-studded film in the works.

Jerry Seinfeld

His semiautobiographical TV show was one of the most successful sitcoms in the history of American television.

Ray R. Irani

The chairman and CEO of an oil company had a life sciences building named after him at this school.

Reid Hoffman

 An entrepreneur and former computer executive, the founder of a business-oriented social networking site did his undergrad work at an Ivy League university. He earned his master's in philosophy from another prestigious university.

source

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The Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

 

The Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

 

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills 

Celebrity divorces are big business. Tabloids voraciously cover them. Fans hungrily follow them. Lawyers and business managers protectively orchestrate them. And they certainly are common. Last year alone saw the breakups of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Settlement pending: Possibly more than $60 million

In 2002, the former Beatle wed Mills, a model-activist 30 years his junior. McCartney reportedly shunned Mills' offer of a prenuptial agreement. By 2006, the pair, who have one child together, split acrimoniously. She accused him of assault; he locked her out of their London home. Rumors of a settlement suggest Mills may get in excess of $60 million--McCartney's worth is an estimated $700 million.

Most expensive divorces Forbes

Steven Spielberg & Amy Irving

Estimated settlement: $100 million

The couple met when Irving auditioned for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). They married in 1985, after Spielberg had already struck it big with his first Indiana Jones flick and ET. They divorced after nearly four years of marriage. Irving successfully contested their prenuptial agreement (reportedly scribbled on a napkin) because she did not have legal representation and was awarded $100 million, roughly half of Spielberg's fortune at the time. Today, he is worth $3 billion.

Kelsey Grammer Camille Donatacci divorce

Kelsey Grammer Camille Donatacci divorce

Elin Nordegren Tiger Woods divorce

Elin Nordegren Tiger Woods divorce

Rupert Murdoch Anna Murdoch divorce

Rupert Murdoch Anna Murdoch divorce

Adnan Khashoggi Soraya Khashoggi divorce

Adnan Khashoggi Soraya Khashoggi divorce

Michael Jordan Juanita Jordan

Michael Jordan Juanita Jordan

Settlement pending: Possibly more than $150 million

The legendary basketball star married Juanita Vanoy, a Chicago bank officer, in 1989. He had already signed an eight-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. He also was earning another $30 million a year from Nike and other endorsement deals. She filed for divorce last year. Over the course of the marriage, Jordan earned more than $350 million. Should Juanita press for half of his assets, she could get more than $150 million in the settlement, making the Jordan divorce the most expensive in entertainment history.

Neil Diamond Marcia Murphey

Neil Diamond Marcia Murphey

Estimated settlement: $150 million

The crooner married Murphey, a television production assistant, in 1969, before he released his first gold record, Touching You, Touching Me. By the late '70s, Diamond was one of the most successful musicians in showbiz, grossing upward of $14 million annually. After 25 years of marriage, Murphey filed for divorce in 1994, citing irreconcilable differences. She walked away with half of Diamond's fortune--she's "worth every penny," he later said.

Harrison Ford Melissa Mathison

Harrison Ford Melissa Mathison

Estimated settlement: $85 million

The couple met in 1977 at a dinner with casting director Fred Roos (American Graffiti) and wed in 1983. Six years later, Ford became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors when he banked $7 million for Presumed Innocent. By 1995, he was making $20 million a film. The couple divorced in 2004. In addition to her divorce settlement, Mathison negotiated a piece of Ford's future earnings from films he made while married, including DVD sales of the Indiana Jones trilogy and The Fugitive.

Steven Spielberg Amy Irving

Steven Spielberg Amy Irving

Madonna & Guy Ritchie

Madonna & Guy Ritchie

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Michael & Diandra Douglas

Michael & Diandra Douglas

Estimated settlement: $45 million

Douglas met 19-year-old Georgetown co-ed Diandra Luker in 1977 at a Jimmy Carter inauguration party. They married six weeks later. During the course of the marriage, Douglas became one of Hollywood's top earning actors, starring in classics like Fatal Attraction, Wall Street and Basic Instinct. Amid rumors of the actor's infidelities and alcohol abuse, the couple split in 1998. Diandra was awarded an estimated $45 million, plus homes in Beverly Hills and Majorca.

James Cameron Linda Hamilton

James Cameron Linda Hamilton

Estimated settlement: $50 million

The Titanic director married the Terminator actress in July 1997. They had one daughter together before the marriage tanked 18 months later. Cameron received some $100 million from Paramount for Titanic (which grossed $1.8 billion). Hamilton received half of that, an estimated $50 million, in the divorce settlement.

Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva

Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva

Estimated settlement: $80 million

The pair, who met at California State University, wed in 1978. During their 16-year marriage, Costner became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, scoring seven Oscars for Dances with Wolves and starring in iconic films like Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. Costner pocketed $50 million in 1991 alone. Because Silva was married to Costner during his peak earning years, she was awarded $80 million, a substantial piece of his net worth

Lionel & Diane Richie

 Estimated settlement: $20 million
Richie, then 36 and married, met the 18-year-old backup dancer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Richie, divorced from his first wife in 1993, married Diane by 1996. The Richies became tabloid favorites when Diane filed for divorce in 2004 and detailed their lavish lifestyle in her alimony petition. Among her claims: a monthly clothing allowance of $15,000; $50,000 a month for manicures, massages and other personal services; and a plastic surgery budget of $20,000 a year.

Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall

 

 Estimated settlement: $15 to $25 million
The Rolling Stones rocker and Texas supermodel met in 1977 and had two children together before marrying in a traditional Hindi wedding ceremony in Bali, Indonesia, in 1990. Hall filed for divorce in 1999 after learning that Jagger had fathered another woman's child. Jagger, worth an estimated $325 million at the time, successfully challenged the legality of the Balinese wedding and received an annulment. Hall walked away with between $15 and $25 million, a fraction of Jagger's estate.

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The Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

 

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills 

Celebrity divorces are big business. Tabloids voraciously cover them. Fans hungrily follow them. Lawyers and business managers protectively orchestrate them. And they certainly are common. Last year alone saw the breakups of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Settlement pending: Possibly more than $60 million

In 2002, the former Beatle wed Mills, a model-activist 30 years his junior. McCartney reportedly shunned Mills' offer of a prenuptial agreement. By 2006, the pair, who have one child together, split acrimoniously. She accused him of assault; he locked her out of their London home. Rumors of a settlement suggest Mills may get in excess of $60 million--McCartney's worth is an estimated $700 million.

Most expensive divorces Forbes

Steven Spielberg & Amy Irving

Estimated settlement: $100 million

The couple met when Irving auditioned for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). They married in 1985, after Spielberg had already struck it big with his first Indiana Jones flick and ET. They divorced after nearly four years of marriage. Irving successfully contested their prenuptial agreement (reportedly scribbled on a napkin) because she did not have legal representation and was awarded $100 million, roughly half of Spielberg's fortune at the time. Today, he is worth $3 billion.

Kelsey Grammer Camille Donatacci divorce

Kelsey Grammer Camille Donatacci divorce

Elin Nordegren Tiger Woods divorce

Elin Nordegren Tiger Woods divorce

Rupert Murdoch Anna Murdoch divorce

Rupert Murdoch Anna Murdoch divorce

Adnan Khashoggi Soraya Khashoggi divorce

Adnan Khashoggi Soraya Khashoggi divorce

Michael Jordan Juanita Jordan

Michael Jordan Juanita Jordan

Settlement pending: Possibly more than $150 million

The legendary basketball star married Juanita Vanoy, a Chicago bank officer, in 1989. He had already signed an eight-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. He also was earning another $30 million a year from Nike and other endorsement deals. She filed for divorce last year. Over the course of the marriage, Jordan earned more than $350 million. Should Juanita press for half of his assets, she could get more than $150 million in the settlement, making the Jordan divorce the most expensive in entertainment history.

Neil Diamond Marcia Murphey

Neil Diamond Marcia Murphey

Estimated settlement: $150 million

The crooner married Murphey, a television production assistant, in 1969, before he released his first gold record, Touching You, Touching Me. By the late '70s, Diamond was one of the most successful musicians in showbiz, grossing upward of $14 million annually. After 25 years of marriage, Murphey filed for divorce in 1994, citing irreconcilable differences. She walked away with half of Diamond's fortune--she's "worth every penny," he later said.

Harrison Ford Melissa Mathison

Harrison Ford Melissa Mathison

Estimated settlement: $85 million

The couple met in 1977 at a dinner with casting director Fred Roos (American Graffiti) and wed in 1983. Six years later, Ford became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors when he banked $7 million for Presumed Innocent. By 1995, he was making $20 million a film. The couple divorced in 2004. In addition to her divorce settlement, Mathison negotiated a piece of Ford's future earnings from films he made while married, including DVD sales of the Indiana Jones trilogy and The Fugitive.

Steven Spielberg Amy Irving

Steven Spielberg Amy Irving

Madonna & Guy Ritchie

Madonna & Guy Ritchie

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills

Michael & Diandra Douglas

Michael & Diandra Douglas

Estimated settlement: $45 million

Douglas met 19-year-old Georgetown co-ed Diandra Luker in 1977 at a Jimmy Carter inauguration party. They married six weeks later. During the course of the marriage, Douglas became one of Hollywood's top earning actors, starring in classics like Fatal Attraction, Wall Street and Basic Instinct. Amid rumors of the actor's infidelities and alcohol abuse, the couple split in 1998. Diandra was awarded an estimated $45 million, plus homes in Beverly Hills and Majorca.

James Cameron Linda Hamilton

James Cameron Linda Hamilton

Estimated settlement: $50 million

The Titanic director married the Terminator actress in July 1997. They had one daughter together before the marriage tanked 18 months later. Cameron received some $100 million from Paramount for Titanic (which grossed $1.8 billion). Hamilton received half of that, an estimated $50 million, in the divorce settlement.

Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva

Kevin Costner & Cindy Silva

Estimated settlement: $80 million

The pair, who met at California State University, wed in 1978. During their 16-year marriage, Costner became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, scoring seven Oscars for Dances with Wolves and starring in iconic films like Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. Costner pocketed $50 million in 1991 alone. Because Silva was married to Costner during his peak earning years, she was awarded $80 million, a substantial piece of his net worth

Lionel & Diane Richie

 Estimated settlement: $20 million
Richie, then 36 and married, met the 18-year-old backup dancer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Richie, divorced from his first wife in 1993, married Diane by 1996. The Richies became tabloid favorites when Diane filed for divorce in 2004 and detailed their lavish lifestyle in her alimony petition. Among her claims: a monthly clothing allowance of $15,000; $50,000 a month for manicures, massages and other personal services; and a plastic surgery budget of $20,000 a year.

Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall

 

 Estimated settlement: $15 to $25 million
The Rolling Stones rocker and Texas supermodel met in 1977 and had two children together before marrying in a traditional Hindi wedding ceremony in Bali, Indonesia, in 1990. Hall filed for divorce in 1999 after learning that Jagger had fathered another woman's child. Jagger, worth an estimated $325 million at the time, successfully challenged the legality of the Balinese wedding and received an annulment. Hall walked away with between $15 and $25 million, a fraction of Jagger's estate.

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