$972 million dollar divorce causes shock in Oklahoma. Multi billionaire Harold Hamm of Continental Oil was ordered by the court to pay up the hundreds of millions to his estranged wife after the two were divorced for irreconcilable incompatibility.
Harold Hamm, 68, was married to Mrs. Hamm for 26 years. The two filed for divorce in 2012. The divorce figure read out, though heading into the billions, was largely a victory for Hamm. He was lucky enough to even maintain 68% control of his company Continental Oil. This was largely because of the evidence given by Continental workmates who credited him as the driving force behind the company's huge success. One even called him the 'captain of the ship.'
The $972 million divorce figure wasn't the only fortune Mrs. Hamm got out of court with. She was awarded the couple's $4.7 million dollar home in Nichols Hills Oklahoma, their $15 million ranch in California's Carmel Valley and all their livestock except two horses named 'Star' and 'Uno.'
The $972 million divorce, according to Mr. Hamm's divorce lawyers, was a fortunate settle. According to the lawyers, a billionaire's spouse for many decades usually got off with at least 25% to 30% of his marital assets. That would have been between $4.25 billion and $5.1 billion since Mr. Hamm is worth $16.1 billion. He got away with paying just under 4%.
The lawyers, however, credit the win with Mr. Hamm's ownership of the company. "The company was his before the marriage," said a lawyer of the multibillionaire.
The figure would be an easy pay for Mr. Hamm, who can pay it off without having to affect his Continental company.
After a 26 year marriage, Sue Ann Hamm will receive a lump sum payment of $323 million and $7 million installments till the balance of the $972 million divorce settlement is cleared.
