Wow, and just like that, it’s over. Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch have settled their divorce, not even two full months after Jerry filed in California. Despite the Murdoch PR that Ol’ Rupert was the one who wanted to get out of the marriage, it looked very much like Jerry surprised the Murdochs by releasing the information to a rival newspaper (the NY Times) and then filing for divorce in California, as opposed to New York or London. Hall probably could have waited it out and really fought for a nice chunk of Rupert’s money. I think he probably offered her a nice settlement and she took it.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former model Jerry Hall have swiftly finalized their divorce, which comes six years after they tied the knot. The erstwhile couple announced the end of their marriage on the same day that Hall requested that her divorce petition be dismissed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“Jerry and Rupert Murdoch have finalized their divorce. They remain good friends and wish each other the best for the future,” Murdoch’s attorney Robert S. Cohen and Hall’s attorney Judith L. Poller said in a joint statement to The Times.
The NewsCorp. executive chairman, 91, and Hall, 66, married in 2016, and news of their separation went public in June. The “Batman” actor filed for divorce in Los Angeles on July 1 citing “irreconcilable differences” and seeking unspecified spousal support and attorneys’ fees.
On Wednesday, Hall asked the court to dismiss her petition without prejudice — meaning she could refile — though it is unclear if she did so because they agreed to settle the divorce out of court. The petition said that Hall was “unaware of the full nature and extent of all (Murdoch’s) assets and debts, and will amend this petition when the information has been ascertained,” Reuters reported. Forbes estimates that Murdoch, whose media empire includes Fox News, the Times of London and the Wall Street Journal, has a net worth of about $19.6 billion.
[From The LA Times]
What’s your guess on the settlement? It happened so swiftly, I doubt Jerry and her lawyers even had time to even begin to look through the Murdoch assets. I also think it went so quickly because they don’t have children together – I remember the huge fight between Murdoch and Wendi Deng during their divorce, and so much of it was about whether Wendi and Rupert’s two daughters would be included in the family trust (they were, in the end). Hall knew she wasn’t getting her hands on any of that. She basically wanted a settlement for her retirement, enough where she can live comfortably and well for the next 30 years, plus at least one good piece of real estate.
Speaking of, the Daily Mail had a dishy piece about what Hall may have gotten and what Murdoch refused to give up. The astonishing figure the Mail has for Jerry’s settlement: “$269 million, plus two houses.” Shocking. Murdoch’s people are whispering that it’s more like $61 million though, which sounds much more reasonable. Plus, Murdoch got out quickly and cleanly, which is what he wanted. The Mail also says that Hall asked for the Murdoch family ranch in Montana but she was denied. She also asked for the Moraga vineyard in Bel Air, but that’s one of Murdoch’s favorite properties so he said no. Jerry will get one of the UK properties – a $13 million house in Henley – and one home in France, which Rupert bought for her four years ago. And what? Maybe a property in America too.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
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