The Highest Divorce Pay-out of 2025: Inside One of the Most Expensive Separations in History

Divorces involving billionaires often draw global attention, not only because of the personal drama but also due to the extraordinary sums of money at stake. In 2025, one case stood above all others for its sheer financial scale. The divorce between South Korean business magnate Chey Tae-Won and his wife, Roh So-Yeung, became one of the most expensive divorce settlements ever recorded, capturing headlines across Asia and beyond.

A South Korean court ordered a settlement involving nearly $1 billion in assets, making it the largest divorce payout in the country’s history and one of the most significant worldwide. The ruling sparked widespread discussion not only about wealth and marriage, but also about corporate power, inheritance, and the legal treatment of marital contributions.

A Marriage at the Intersection of Business and Politics

The marriage between Chey Tae‑Won and Roh So‑Yeong was far more than a personal relationship. It symbolised a powerful alliance between South Korea’s corporate and political elite. Chey Tae‑won serves as chairman of SK Group, one of the nation’s largest conglomerates, with major interests in telecommunications, energy, and semiconductors. Roh So Yeong is the daughter of Roh Tae Woo, a former president of South Korea.

Beginning in the late 1980s, their marriage was long viewed as a model of stability among South Korea’s most influential families. For decades, the couple appeared firmly established at the centre of the country’s economic and political landscape. However, over time, the relationship deteriorated, ultimately leading to a highly publicised and complex legal battle over assets and financial rights.

The Nearly Billion‑Dollar Settlement

In 2025, the court ruled that Chey Tae‑must provide an extensive financial settlement as part of the divorce. The decision included:

• Approximately $972 million in asset division

• Additional financial support payments

The scale of the settlement immediately placed the case among the largest divorce rulings in Asia and the world. What made the decision particularly significant was that much of Chey Tae‑Won’s wealth is tied to shares in SK Group. Any redistribution or liquidation of those assets could affect the company’s ownership structure and corporate governance.

As a result, the divorce attracted not only public interest but also scrutiny from investors, financial analysts, and corporate governance experts.

Legal Challenges and Ongoing Appeals

As with many ultra‑high‑net‑worth divorces, the case involved complex legal arguments and prolonged disputes. Central to the debate was how marital contributions should be assessed when one spouse builds a vast corporate empire during the marriage.

Chey Tae challenged elements of the ruling, arguing that certain assets should not be classified as marital property. These objections led to further legal reviews and appeals, highlighting the intricate nature of dividing wealth that includes corporate shares, investment portfolios, and long‑term business interests.

Such cases often take years to resolve fully, particularly when they involve assets of this magnitude and influence.

How the Case Compares Globally

While the Chey–Roh divorce ranks among the largest settlements of recent years, it joins a long list of high‑profile separations involving billionaires around the world. In some cases, tens of billions of dollars have been redistributed following the breakdown of marriages involving major technology firms and other global corporations.

What sets this case apart, however, is its impact on conversations within Asia about wealth, marriage, and corporate power. It has reshaped public understanding of how financial contributions within elite marriages are valued under the law.

Why Billionaire Divorces Capture Public Attention

High‑profile divorces involving enormous fortunes continue to fascinate the public because they reveal how wealth is divided at the highest levels of society. They also expose the legal and financial complexities of marriages that span decades, during which fortunes grow far beyond what could have been imagined at the outset.

Beyond the staggering figures, these cases serve as a reminder that even among the world’s most powerful individuals, personal relationships can face the same challenges as anyone else's. The nearly billion-dollar settlement ensures that the divorce of Chey Tae‑won and Roh So‑yeong will remain one of the most talked‑about financial separations of the decade.