It was announced earlier this month that Russell Crowe and his wife, Danielle Spencer, were planning to divorce after nine years of marriage. Although neither Crowe nor Spencer has made a public statement on the reasons for or logistics of their divorce, the couple is believed to have signed a prenuptial agreement before they married. This gives an indication of how their property and assets will be divided in their divorce settlement.
Under the prenup, Spencer is to receive a guaranteed payout of $15 million if the couple remained married for three years. However, it is likely that she will receive more, with some conservative estimates placing the amount at $25 million or higher.
The reason for that increase is, sadly, most likely also the reason for the divorce. Crowe has spent much of the last few years filming movies far away from the couple’s home in Sydney, Australia. In fact, he has at least six movies coming out in the next year alone, and is already in the U.S. working on the seventh. Media reports estimate that he has earned about $150 million from his films in the nine years since the couple wed.
In addition, Crowe owns several businesses in and around Sydney, as well as some high-profile property.
The prenup also states that Spencer is to remain in the marital home after the split, and orders that a $3 million trust fund be established for each of the couple’s children. Crowe and Spencer have two sons, ages 6 and 8.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, “Danielle Spencer in line for $25m from Russell Crowe in divorce settlement,” Andrew Hornery, Oct. 15, 2012