It looks like the high-net worth  Tiger Woods has finally been wrangled and is now being forced to pay up.  However, his pockets are not going to be pinched as much as he may have expected.  Initial reports indicated Elin Nordegren was to receive upwards of $700 million in the divorce settlement.  That figure was a bit exaggerated.   Nordegren will in fact walk away with $100 million.  Some may find this figure too low, others too high, and some may think this is an appropriate compromise.

Large divorce settlements always seem to spark heated debate.  The astronomical number given to Juanita Jordan, the ex-wife of Michael Jordan, immediately comes to mind.  Jordan was awarded $168 million when her 17 year marriage to the NBA star ended.  This was one of the highest divorce settlements ever granted.  Some argued that Jordan did not deserve such a staggering amount because she was not the decorated athlete earning the millions.  Others thought that she should have been awarded even more for standing by her husband's side for nearly two decades and later enduring his infidelities.  The same arguments are now being made about Tiger and Elin's split. 

While I am opposed to divorce being a get-rich-quick scheme, I also think that large divorce settlements are appropriate in some cases.  The amount should not necessarily be half of the other spouse's net worth, but a sufficient sum that accounts for the years one spent dedicated to the relationship and leaves both parties comfortable and free to move on with their lives.  Remember, settlements are not solely determined by the assets of the primary bread winner.  Courts may also take into account the other spouse's intangible contributions to the marriage that enabled the primary breadwinner to make a living.  This might include raising the children, keeping the household in order, and being a source of support for one's spouse. 

Whatever your opinion is on Nordegren's large monetary award, it is important to keep in mind what is at the heart of all this juicy gossip.  A relationship that at one time was positive and loving has dissolved, all parties involved have been humiliated, and most importantly, the lives of two innocent children have been changed forever.  Millions or not, divorce is never pleasant nor is it something to be taken lightly.

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