The ex-wife of a Russian billionaire is to receive $4.5 billion in what is said to be the highest divorce settlement ever paid.
Elena Rybolovlev was awarded $4.5 billion in her divorce from her estranged billionaire ex-husband Dmitry Rybolovlev, according to Swiss court documents released Monday. The court also ordered the ex-wife receive the couple's property in Switzerland, worth $146 billion, according to court documents obtained by CBS News.
The ex-wife's lawyer, Marc Bonnant, called the settlement the "most expensive divorce in history," according to Forbes magazine. Elena Rybolovlev will also become one of the world's richest women if the settlement is paid out.
Dmitry Rybolovlev's lawyers do not see the court's ruling as a setback. The settlement, part of a bitter divorce that's been drawn out since the couple's split in 2009, could be reduced upon further appeal.
"There will definitely be a new appellate review and therefore this judgment is not final given the existence of two levels of appeal in Switzerland," Tetiana Bersheda, the billionaire's lawyer, said according to CBS News.
But no matter how much money Elena ends up with, it will still be an enormous amount. According to Swiss law, she is entitled to half the amount of money her husband made during their marriage, her lawyers told CBS News.
Dmitry, known as the "fertilizer king," made his fortune from potash mining, or mining potassium salts used in fertilizers. He was once the 79th richest person in the world, and is now worth an estimated $8.8 billion. The billionaire's wife originally asked for $6 billion when she filed for divorce in Palm Beach after little more than two decades of marriage.
The Swiss court also awarded Elena custody of their 13-year-old daughter, Anna. The ruling did not affect the trusts set up for Anna and the couple's other daughter Ekaterina, 25, Forbes reported. Elena claims the trusts and other assets, including an $88 million New York apartment Dmitry bought for Ekaterina, are an excuse for him to hide money from her.
