![Billionaire Gautam Singhania's public announcement of his divorce from Nawaz Modi Singhania has thrust the D-word into the corporate limelight. This development highlights the broader trend of high-profile divorces in corporate circles, reminiscent of cases involving Bill & Melinda Gates and Jeff Bezos & MacKenzie Scott.](https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid-105409902,width-650,height-488,imgsize-1829200,resizemode-75/billionaire-gautam-singhanias-public-announcement-of-his-divorce-from-nawaz-modi-singhania-has-thrust-the-d-word-into-the-corporate-limelight-this-development-highlights-the-broader-trend-of-high-profile-divorces-in-corporate-circles-reminiscent-of-cases-involving-bill-melinda-gates-and-jeff-bezos-mackenzie-scott-.jpg)
As personal angst and anger became public, Nawaz Modi has sought for 75% of Singhania's reportedly $1.4 billion net worth for her two daughters Niharika and Nisa and herself, as part of a family settlement, following the couple’s separation. While the Raymond boss is believed to have largely agreed to the demand, he has suggested setting up a family trust and transferring the family’s wealth and assets in it where he would be the sole managing trustee.
The Singhanias are not the only ones who have made headlines for difficult and messy personal equations. Goodbyes are never easy, and for corporate leaders, a divorce can have multiple repercussions as well.
Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Elon Musk - corporate captains leading successful corporations across the world - have all had to navigate choppy waters when it came to their marital lives.
Here's a round-up of a few high-profile divorces in the corporate world:
The Richest Break-Up
![Amazon boss Jeff Bezos with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott (left) and with his second wife Lauren Sanchez (right). Amazon boss Jeff Bezos with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott (left) and with his second wife Lauren Sanchez (right).](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos split up with MacKenzie Scott, his wife of 25 years, in January 2019. The relationship that began at a New York hedge was officially over in July of the same year. Scott, a novelist and the third-wealthiest woman in the US has four children with him. She reportedly parted ways with Bezos with a jaw-dropping $38.3 billion in Amazon stock. Soon after, Bezos made his relationship with former TV anchor and helicopter pilot Lauren Sanchez official. Earlier this year, the couple splurged on a mansion in Florida. Scott, meanwhile, married chemistry teacher Dan Jewett in 2021. Earlier this year, she announced that she was splitting from him.
The Gates Splitsville
![Bill Gates with ex-wife Melinda French. Bill Gates with ex-wife Melinda French.](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Bill Gates and Melinda French called it quits in 2021 after being married for 27 years. At the time of the divorce settlement in August 2021, Gates was worth roughly $152 billion. While the exact terms of the divorce were not publicly disclosed, it was presumed that each would have got roughly $76 billion each, making it one of the largest divorce settlements on record.
Movie Mogul’s Messy Split
![Harvey Weinstein & fashion designer Georgina Chapman Harvey Weinstein & fashion designer Georgina Chapman](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Harvey Weinstein was married to fashion designer Georgina Chapman for a whole decade. After actresses and women performers accused the movie mogul of sexual harassment in 2017, triggering the #MeToo movement, it was over for the couple. The two separated in January 2018 after 10 years of marital life and agreed on an eight-figure deal. The settlement which was signed end of last year, has an estimated worth of $15-$20 million.
The X Factor!
![Elon Musk & Justine Wilson. Elon Musk & Justine Wilson.](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk met his first wife, Justine Wilson, at the Queen's University in Ontario. A Canadian novelist, Wilson said that Musk gave her his credit card to buy as many books as she wants in order to woo her. The two tied the knot in 2000, moved to Los Angeles and had a son named Nevada whom they lost to SIDS. Later, they had twins and triplets, 5 sons in total. The couple parted ways in 2008 even as Wison kept her ex-husband's last name though for the sake of her kids.
In 2010, the tech mogul started dating actress Talulah Riley and wed her. Two years later, the news of their divorce became public when Musk tweeted "It was an amazing four years. I will love you forever. You will make someone very happy one day." The two remarried in 2013. Musk then filed for and withdrew a second divorce in 2014. Riley then filed for a divorce in 2016 which was finalised by the end of the same year. The two are reportedly still on good terms. Musk has been divorced three times, dated celebrities, and has ten children, including twins and triplets.
An Expensive Divorce
![Jack Welch & Jane Beasley Jack Welch & Jane Beasley](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Jack Welch, former chairman of General Electric, became poorer by $180 million after his divorce to Jane Beasley. The couple had exchanged vows in April 1989 and split up after 14 years in 2003. The acrimonious divorce was an example of how rich couples part ways. Beasley filed an affidavit outlining the lavish standard of living of the couple even as Welch tried to play it down and keep things private.
27 Years On, Splitsville
![Dilip Kapur & Jacqueline Dilip Kapur & Jacqueline](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Hidesign's Dilip Kapur and his German wife Jacqueline separated after being married for 27 years. The former Mrs Kapur revealed that she ended things when she found out that her husband was dating a 24-year-old. The couple currently lead separate lives in Auroville, Puducherry. The place is home to the Hidesign headquarters and other properties of Kapur.
A Designer Wedding
![Vikram Chatwal & Priya Sachdev Vikram Chatwal & Priya Sachdev](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Actor and hotelier Vikram Chatwal, often referred to as New York’s playboy, had a grand wedding with model Priya Sachdev in February 2006. Spread over 10 days and three cities, it was attended by 600 guests from 26 countries who were transported in chartered planes. The two parted ways in 2011. Sachdev, who has a daughter named Safira from Chatwal, is now married to industrialist Sunjay Kapur.
Past Lives
![Nandita Mahtani (left), Sunjay Kapur & Karisma Kapoor Nandita Mahtani (left), Sunjay Kapur & Karisma Kapoor](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
Sunjay Kapur, chairman of auto parts company Sona Group, wed for the third time in 2017 to Priya Sachdev who was earlier married to hotelier Vikram Chatwal. Kapur was earlier married to fashion designer Nandita Mahtani, and then actress Karisma Kapoor with whom he has two children. The Sona Group boss had announced his marriage to Kapoor, just ten days after splitting from Mahtani. The two parted ways after thirteen years.
New Beginnings
![Atulya Mafatlal & Payal Girdharlal Atulya Mafatlal & Payal Girdharlal](https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-42031747/et-logo.jpg)
The Mafatlal family, too, was hit by the D-word when Atulya Mafatlal and Payal Girdharlal divorced in 1997. Mafatlal married Sheetal later and his ex-wife, Girdharilal, moved on to rebuild her life. Her son Varun, is said to be close to his step-mother Sheetal.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia have separated. The error is regretted.
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