Russia's 'Fertilizer King' hit with world's 'most expensive' divorce settlement

Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian oligarch also known as the "Fertilizer King," is currently embroiled in what could end up being the world's largest divorce settlement. A Swiss court has ordered the billionaire to pay $4.5 billion stemming from a 2011 divorce filing that accused him of a series of infidelities, including wild romps with young women on pricey yachts.

Rybolovlev, who has earned his billions from running a successful fertilizer manufacturer, not only has to fork over that massive sum, but hand his ex-wife the keys to two swanky Swiss chalets and the custody of their 13-year-old daughter. The ex-wife's lawyer declared it the "most expensive divorce in history," although, as The Washington Post points out, that's hard to verify since billionaires often have their settlements sealed.

Regardless, even if Dmitry's lawyer successfully appeals to have the cash sum reduced, it would still rank high up there as one of the costliest — and dirtiest — divorces ever.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up