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John Cleese's Divorce Leaves Third Wife Richer Than He Is

First Posted: 09/18/09 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 02:50 PM ET

Cleese

nydailynews.com:

John Cleese isn't laughing about the $19.7M divorce settlement he reached with his third wife - a sum that will leave her richer than the Monty Python star.

"What I find so unfair is that if we both died today, her children would get much more than mine," the Oscar-nominated comedian told London's Daily Telegraph. "At least I will know in future if I go out with a lady they will not be after me for my money."

Read the whole story: nydailynews.com

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John Cleese isn't laughing about the $19.7M divorce settlement he reached with his third wife - a sum that will leave her richer than the Monty Python star. "What I find so unfair is that if we bot...
John Cleese isn't laughing about the $19.7M divorce settlement he reached with his third wife - a sum that will leave her richer than the Monty Python star. "What I find so unfair is that if we bot...
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05:30 PM on 08/19/2009
That is so wrong. Was she the one who made us laugh from The Magic Christian film, The Monty Python show, all Python films, and Faulty Towers? She should pay some of it back. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta
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MissingAmerica
03:20 PM on 08/19/2009
Sad when such a talented man like this who has brought so much joy to so many should be used to this extent. She didn't do half the work; she didn't deserve half the money. I hope next time he doesn't even put marriage on the table!
02:53 PM on 08/19/2009
Something is very flawed with the law when a wife ends up richer than the person who actually earned it. Any spouse, for that matter. For his children to end up with less in inheritance will teach him a valuable lesson the next time. Prenup, prenup, prenup. This woman hit the jackpot. I wonder how many other rich men she's had?
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Meah
11:16 AM on 08/19/2009
Greed is greed.
09:24 AM on 08/19/2009
And now, something completely different....
12:56 AM on 08/19/2009
I love john cleese, but how can someone so smart and creative get it so wrong time and again about choosing an appropriate mate?

the Minister of Silly Marriages
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cre8ive
Leave the herd. Be heard.
11:53 PM on 08/18/2009
the guy is 70 with 2 failed marriages behind him. he's no catch. he probably threw his money out there to get the woman. he shouldn't be surprised that she'd take as much of it as she could on her way out the door. he made the mistake of thinking because she didn't have money when he met her that she also didn't have any brains. he probably thought, "She's lucky to have me." and he was right. maybe he should hire her lawyer before his next mistake.
10:43 PM on 08/18/2009
These spouses who are not bread winners are rewarded for making the lives of the bread winners miserable,.....seems to me.

Remember Heather Mills?
09:26 PM on 08/18/2009
Interesting how quiet some of the most vociferous females that post on this blog are not commenting that the ruling defies common sense. I guess justice is best served when it's to one's advantage.
10:55 AM on 08/19/2009
You may be part right, but I would chalk it up more to the fact that Monty Python is MUCH more popular with men than women. Many women who usually post on this blog probably don't know who John Cleese is.

Also, this isn't just a female/male issue. This is one spouse clearly taking advantage of the main breadwinner. I make more than my husband, my mom made MUCH more than my dad, and most of my female friends make substantially more than their husbands (I live in Boston and am friends with a lot of high powered women). If we got divorced, we'd be in the same boat John Cleese is in.

But I'd like to think I have a better taste in mates than Cleese does.
09:23 PM on 08/18/2009
What gets me from a meta-social point of view is that we live in a world where dumb athletes routinely make $100+ million a year, and no-talents like Ryan Seacrest sign deals for $45 million to do basically nothing.

Why wasn't this brilliant man with a lifetime of influential work worth more than that in the first place?

Did he blow $250 mil at the dog track one day? Did Spiny Norman the hedgehog need an experimental bone marrow transplant that could only be performed in space?

I know it's the 30+ yr. avid Cleese fan in me making me see it that way, but something seems askew that his lifetime of brilliance didn't leave him richer than that.
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pinkyboo
09:05 PM on 08/18/2009
I don't understand why she would get more than 1/2
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jcwtts1
Elections have consequences
09:07 PM on 08/18/2009
She might get property as well. That could mean the home as well as a cash settlement.

J
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soundping
America: Love it or leave it !
07:24 PM on 08/18/2009
Another reason not to get married played out over and over.
06:31 PM on 08/18/2009
Unbelievable!
10:57 AM on 08/19/2009
You got that right.
05:53 PM on 08/18/2009
so there are actually some perks to not being able to get married.!
05:40 PM on 08/18/2009
Stupid fool! You deserve it and more.