Cleese Not Amused by Divorce Settlement

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 18th 2009 07:12AM

British comedian John Cleese has taken a serious hit in his recent divorce, though his ex-wife, American psychotherapist Faye Eichelberger, might be laughing all the way to the bank. Cleese, who has no children from this 16-year marriage, has been ordered to pay roughly $13 million in cash and assets, including a NY apartment, a $3 million home in west London, and half a beach house in Santa Barbara. Ms. Eichelberger will also receive about $986,000 a year for seven years, the Telegraph UK reports.

'Monty Python' star Cleese, 70, is less than pleased about the arrangement, which will ultimately leave his ex-wife the richer of the two. "What I find so unfair is that if we both died today, her children would get much more than mine," he said. "At least I will know in future if I go out with a lady they will not be after me for my money."

Eichelberger sought considerably more. In her divorce testimony, she claimed Cleese was a "world-renowned celebrity" and she was accustomed to "being entertained by royalty and dignitaries in castles". She claimed half the Monty Python star's earnings since their 1992 wedding, half his nine properties, and $1.45 million yearly for living expenses.

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Director Michael Winner, a close friend of Cleese, said, "It is an extraordinary world which means John is left with much less than his former wife even though he is the star who did all the work. The settlement defies human belief. John is extremely cross about it and I don't blame him. The settlement comes after two years of harrowing legal argument."

Funnyman Cleese couldn't resist a joke, adding, "I got off lightly. Think what I'd have had to pay Alyce if she had contributed anything to the relationship."

The actor said, "In my 70th year, I will still be spending two months a year doing work that is of no interest to me and which is probably slightly spiritually depleting in order to feed the beast."'

Tags: john cleese, JohnCleese

Comments

(260)

Tuesday 18 August

By RONNIE

Vote down Vote up Report this

SHE HIT THE LOTTERY ,,, OFF THE BAT SHE'S GOOD FOR AT LEAST 23 MILLION IN CASH AND ASSETS.. SHE'S USE TO A CERTAIN STYLE ,,WELL SO WERE MANY OF US,YOU ADJUST.. NO SYMPATHY FOR THE EX-WIFE..MY GUESS IS THAT JOHN WILL BE IN THE NEED FOR A PSYCHOTHERAPIST,AND A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT ...

By rconver

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Make more movies John! I'll buy all I can to help support you. Keep it this time and put that thing away. I feel your pain.....

By bthesac

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

He fell for the oldest game on Earth. Stay single guys. It's not worth it.

By sam54

Her maiden name is McBride, a-hole........then again you know what they say about those shanty Irish

By Madeleine

He got the shaft on this one. Since when do working women with no children by her spouse get alimony? He should have put his homes in trust for his children and hid some of his assets in the cayman Islands or something. Can he appeal? This just seems very unfair, I can see one home or a cash settlement but alimony? No.

By Elizabeth

this is ridiculous. She rode on his coattails for 16 years. She is not entitled to such an ooutrageous amount of money.

By James

I can sympathize and empathize with Mr. Cleese. She sounds like a complete leech, but the truth is that he opened himself (and his children for that matter) to this by not having a prenuptual agreement. B.S. like this is the exact reason men are reluctant to marry- listen up guys- There is no financial advantage for a man whatsoever in the event of a divorce. Divorce laws are some of the most out-dated and antiquated laws on the books. If she won't sign a pre-nup....DON'T MARRY HER!

By Bob

All single men need to pay attention to this. It's common now days for the lying women to do this. They lie about love and take the free ride for years then want a divorce when there is money and assets. The only contribution most of them make to the marriage is laying on their back once in awhile, but they get most of the money/assets in a divorce. Men need to rise up and change the judicial system.

By Banderman

Gender equality is a complete and utter sham perpetrated and inflicted on men to try and keep them on the defensive. Why should ANY woman get a settlement so absurd and lopsided? Men should receive the lion's share of the assets for putting up with their garbage for so long. Stay single, keep your money, tell her to get on the bike. Easy as pie. The judiciary is sexist and it will take MEN to demand change. It is long overdue. Why should men have to fight for the right for equal protection under the law? It's a feminista controlled sham, I tell you and time for it to end; quick, fast, and in a New York hurry.

By Lil

John, if I wasn't married to the same love since 1967, I'd look you up and ask you to marry me. Not for your money, but for your wonderful sense of humor.

By krs

Woman are like the Government-you work your Butt
off and they get more than 50% of your effort.

Sunday 23 August

By Degar

Just another "CRACK" doing what they do BEST!

By Karen Sokolowski

Does the term "PRENUPTUAL AGREEMENT" mean anything? To me the justice system stinks when it comes to divorces. It should be 50-50. I agree that women are money-hungry. I don't even know what the wife was complaining about. She had everything she could have wanted. A lot of people including me would have liked to live in her shoes even for just one day!! You know what Mr. Cleese? YOU WERE THE VICTIM HERE!!

By tj

The Bible says and i quote! Money is the root of all KINDS of evil. dont ya think this is perfect example?

By bailoutsos

she was accustomed to "being entertained by royalty and dignitaries in castles" ---- Only because she was married to him, otherwise she would have never been allowed to set foot in those castles.

By Ed Gordon

What kind of courts system lets this kind of crap happen? They dont even have any kids. She did absolutely NOTHING to contribute towards the wealth and she ends up getting so much?! So what if shes used to living like that. Sometimes we have to adapt to change. Millions of people are adapting to living a less glamorous lifestyle right now due to this recession. If they can do it she damn sure can do it. What a joke. Shes lucky I wasnt her husband. And due to legal purpouses im not going to go into detail about WHY she's lucky I wasnt her husband.

By John

Its funny how female celebrities (like Jessica Simpson or Madonna) see it differently when it is their assets on the line to be split up. Then it no longer seems fair and they fight it tooth and nail.

By David

Do you know why divorces are so expensive?
BECAUSE THEY ARE WORTH IT!

By Beverly

But divorces are only "worth it" as you put it, to women. I feel sorry for the men, I would hate to be a man. In fact, if I was a man, I would refuse to get married.

By J9

British courts are NOTORIOUSLY unaffected by hype & hyperbole -- he had to have been a REAL JERK for them to have awarded so much to the EX.

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