Oct 18, 2008

Entertainment - Madonna to pay Guy 60mn pounds

Director Guy Ritchie is to get at least 20 million pounds (nearly $35 million) in cash, and properties worth many more millions in his divorce settlement with pop superstar Madonna.

According to thesun co uk, the 40-year-old Ritchie will get the 1,200-acre country estate and a London pub The money is to cover the London properties, which include a seven million pound family townhouse in Marylebone, a 10-bedroom, 6 million-pound property next door and two mews cottages worth 2 million pounds each.

The director also gets the pub in Mayfair, valued at about 2.25 million pounds - and the Ashcombe House estate in Berwick St John, Wilts, which is worth 10 million pounds.

The total value will be around 60 million pounds - enough for Guy to walk away satisfied, it was reported Friday night.

Madonna, 50, on tour in the US, keeps her New York and Los Angeles homes.

A source close to the couple said: "The negotiations were relatively painless. Guy knew what he wanted and Madonna knew what she was keen to keep. There was a spell when Guy was in a mood to dig his heels in, but he decided this arrangement seemed reasonable and a long battle over money would make life unbearable."

Madonna is being represented by well-known divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who played a pivotal role in protecting Paul McCartney’s fortune from his ex-wife Heather Mills this year.

Shackleton negotiated with Guy’s lawyers in a day of frantic phone calls. They are expected to reach a compromise over their kids - Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and David Banda, three.

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