Despite $103M Divorce Settlement, Greg Norman Is Richest Celebrity in Australia

Until a few years ago, Greg Norman, despite his two British Open wins, was probably best known for his 1996 Masters collapse. Hardly fair, but people tend to remember the dramatic train wrecks over the less compelling marches to major victory.

But after a surprising showing at the 2008 British Open (he was in contention for three rounds), Norman redefined our perception of him. No longer was he the guy who impossibly squandered away a six-stroke Sunday lead to lose at Augusta 12 years prior, he was now the 53-year-old part-timer who was playing like the No. 1 golfer in the world, a position he held 11 times from 1986-1998.

Norman also went through a messy divorce last year -- and he ended up forking over $103 million in the settlement -- but seems genuinely happy with his new wife, former tennis icon Chris Evert.

In fact, things are going so well for the Shark that he's now the richest celebrity in Australia, despite forking over a third of his wealth to his ex. Via Smart Company (via Local Knowledge):

The Great While Shark doesn't swing the clubs too much any more, but his fortune jumped from $254 million to $377 million in the last 12 months, according to BRW, although much of this increase can be attributed to the depreciation of the Australian dollar. Norman's main interests are in golf course design and development, but he also has a turf company, a wine business, a beef company, a clothing line and a restaurant.

I think that's called being "recession proof." (It also makes it a lot easier to propose ideas like this.) Tough gig. Other names on the list: 2) Nicole Kidman ($338M), 3) Barry and Robin Gibb ($224M), 8) Luc Longley ($35M), and 10) Keith Urban ($33M).

Kidman is worth more than 10 times that of her husband (Urban), which would be noteworthy if not for Longley making the top 10. Smart Company writes that the former NBA player's "star might not burn as bright as it once did" (Really? When?), "but he did retire from the sport after being paid out his $67 million contract with the New York Knicks. Longley has also done well out of the Perth property market." That Knicks contract worked out pretty well, too.

In less exciting Norman news, he has agreed to play the Australian Open the next three years.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

6-30-2009 @ 8:27AM

princeofjunkness said...

check out WWW.WORLDSWORSTGOLFER.COM

6-30-2009 @ 9:39AM

branedonor said...

What en awfully expensive sperm recepticle. He could have rented a different HOOKER (2 at a time on weekends) every night for the rest of his life & it would have been more exciting & a lot cheaper.

KROTCH HAMILTON

6-30-2009 @ 9:54AM

RYAN said...

Wonder how come the lady would get 103 million dollars?What did she do for her living to earn that much money?NOTHING?SLEEP WITH THE GUY WITH THE MONEY?Maybe that was it.

6-30-2009 @ 10:06AM

comtox said...

Here's the 411 on that one. Since she was along for the ride, she is considered to have assisted and gets a portion of the proceeds earned during the marriage. At least he didn't end up with just an old pickup truck, which is what most of us have after a divorce.

6-30-2009 @ 10:44AM

hili51 said...

are you single?? That was a topical male statement!! She was a Mother, Wife and a care-giver. That job is not always fun especially when it goes unappreciated.

6-30-2009 @ 10:18AM

nickcherryl said...

When to we pull out the crying towels?

6-30-2009 @ 10:27AM

progolfer445 said...

hard to feel sorry for this guy

6-30-2009 @ 10:54AM

jaydee2469 said...

Where is O'bama's certified birth certificate?

6-30-2009 @ 12:10PM

DAN said...

YA THEY OVER LOOK A BIRTH CIRTIFICATE , YOU ARE SUCH A DUMB A** GET A LIFE

6-30-2009 @ 12:21PM

ellistom said...

hahaha, good question, no one has a good answer though, just smart-ass comments

6-30-2009 @ 1:10PM

Carter's Mom said...

UP you A**! Stick to the topic racist!!!! I know it is hard when you are so full of haterade!! Bye hater

6-30-2009 @ 10:58AM

Robert Orcutt said...

is being a mom (or a dad) worth 103 MILLION dollars? sure it's "priceless", but in terms of $$...103 MILLION???

6-30-2009 @ 11:35AM

Mark said...

Consider himself lucky. Living in a community property state, it would have been a whole lot more.

6-30-2009 @ 11:46AM

hbcu74 said...

she got the money--but she didn't swing no golf club-- I know women this women that , but if the role was reverse- the women would say the man don't deserve the cash-- double ass standard

6-30-2009 @ 12:00PM

cottiemclean said...

To turn grief into happiness for Greg Norman he
paid a cheap price. His wife was his choice when
he had nothing. She stuck with him, gave him family, and deserves every penny she was awarded.
What the hell does an equitable award hurt him. He could live in luxury on a portion of his assets.This is not like the man who ended up only with an old beat up pickup truck.

6-30-2009 @ 12:56PM

kelsotexas said...

don't ever forget what he did to Mark McCumber!!!

6-30-2009 @ 12:06PM

John Tussey said...

Hence the old adage..........."cheaper to keep her."

6-30-2009 @ 12:07PM

crbbisque said...

Yes, you naysayers, she was worth that much money and even more. It's called equitable divison of assets, and you'll notice that she got 1/3, not half.

Moral to the story isn't calling a woman a hooker for getting assets after 25 years of marriage... It's don't get married if you cannot share.