Thursday, 16 October 2008

Guy Ritchie could win £75m in Madonna divorce battle

But singer said to have offered director a £15m lump sum and their country mansion

Madonna and Guy Ritchie wed in December 2000

Madonna might have to pay a whopping £75million to husband Guy Ritchie as part of their divorce settlement.

The couple, who are not thought to have signed a pre-nup, announced their separation last night.

'Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven and a half years of marriage,’ read a statement. 'They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. A final settlement has not been agreed upon yet.'

Insiders say the director, 40, is entitled to at least half of the £80million the couple earned during their marriage.

Guy could also walk away with another £35million worth of property and maintenance payments, bringing his total payout to £75million, reports the Daily Mail.

Madonna, 50, is thought to have already offered Guy their £12million country estate Ashcombe House and a lump sum of £15million to avoid a bitter court battle.

The Material Girl, who has an estimated personal fortune of £275million, has hired Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton.

Meanwhile, she performed at Boston’s Banknorth Garden for the latest stop of her Sticky & Sweet world tour last night and didn’t refer to the split once.

SEE GALLERY Madonna and Guy Ritchie – a love story gone wrong>>