Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy were married from 1989 to 2006. Vanoy reportedly received $168 million in divorce settlements after her split from the Chicago Bulls legend. It was the costliest celebrity-athlete separation at the time.
The former couple had three 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren together, sons Jeffrey and Marcus, and a daughter named Jasmine. Juanita initially filed for divorce in 2002, but they reconciled later. However, they cited irreconcilable differences for their costly 2006 breakup.
“Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17-year marriage,” the couple said in a statement through MJ’s lawyer Frederick J. Sperling. “A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements.”
At the time, Michael Jordan’s divorce settlement with Juanita Vanoy estimated to be around $165 million was the costliest divorce for a celebrity or an athlete. It surpassed the then-record held by Neil Diamond, who agreed to pay his ex-wife Marcia Murphey an estimated $150 million.
However, Jordan’s unwanted record was easily broken by Mel Gibson that year. Gibson reportedly paid Robyn Moore Gibson an estimated at $425 million after 26 years of marriage. The new record for celebrities is held by Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, who had a $2.7 billion divorce last year.
MJ’s record still stood for athletes until 2010 when Tiger Woods shattered it with his whopping $710 million divorce settlement with Elin Nordegren. Jordan might have a chance to make a new record if things between him and his current wife Yvette Prieto suddenly go south.