Beatle Break: McCartney-Mills Divorce Settlement

Looks like Mills is only getting what Sir Paul had offered. This is a follow-up to my story from a month ago:


By SARAH LYALL
Published: March 18, 2008

A British judge awarded Heather Mills, right, a total of £24.3 million, about $48.9 million, in her divorce settlement with Paul McCartney. In a summary of his decision, the judge in the case, Hugh Bennett, said that Mr. McCartney would pay Ms. Mills a lump sum of £16.5 million (about $33.2 million); this would be in addition to Ms. Mills’s current assets of £7.8 million (about $15.7 million). Mr. McCartney, 65, must also provide the equivalent of about $70,000 a year for the couple’s 4-year-old daughter, Beatrice, and pay her school and nanny fees.

The judge said that Mr. McCartney had about £400 million in assets, and that Ms. Mills, 40, had originally asked for almost £125 million. They married in 2002 and separated four years later. After the decision Mr. McCartney left the court, declining comment; Ms. Mills spoke at length to waiting reporters. Among other things, she accused Mr. McCartney of wanting their daughter to fly economy, while he flew first class. The judge said he planned to make his entire ruling public; Ms. Mills said she would contest that.