Top 15 Biggest Athlete-Celebrity Splits Of The 21st Century

15. Hulk Hogan and Linda Bollea

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) and Linda Bollea divorced in 2009, officially ending their nearly 24-year marriage. Linda filed in 2007 amid revelations of Hogan's infidelity. The contentious split became a major headline, and the financial settlement was reportedly substantial. Linda received 70% of the couple's liquid assets and a significant property settlement, costing Hogan millions

14. Michael Strahan and Jean Muggli

Michael Strahan and Jean Muggli's seven-year marriage ended in a bitter 2006 divorce. Muggli was awarded a $15.3 million settlement and initially received $18,000 per month in child support for their twin daughters, Sophia and Isabella, which was later reduced. Their contentious split included allegations of infidelity, abuse, and a protracted custody battle that continued for years, despite both eventually uniting to support their daughter Isabella's health battle.

13. Sergio Aguero and Giannina Maradona

Footballer Sergio Agüero and Giannina Maradona, the daughter of Diego Maradona, split in 2012 after four years together. Although they were never legally married, they had one son, Benjamín. Giannina confirmed the separation on Twitter, calling it a "difficult year." The breakup famously led to a public feud, with her father, Diego Maradona, referring to Agüero as a "wimp" and publicly expressing his disdain for his former son-in-law.

12. Francesco Totti and Ilary Blasi

Francesco Totti and TV presenter Ilary Blasi, once dubbed "Italy's Posh and Becks," announced their separation in July 2022 after 17 years of marriage and three children. The divorce became highly acrimonious, with both parties accusing the other of infidelity. Their messy split included public accusations of stolen Rolex watches and hidden designer handbags, with Totti stating he was not the first to betray.

11. Diego Maradona and Claudia Villafane

Diego Maradona and his childhood sweetheart, Claudia Villafañe, were married in 1989 and officially divorced in 2003 after 14 years of marriage. The split was followed by an extended, acrimonious legal battle over Maradona's assets. He later filed multiple lawsuits against his ex-wife, accusing her of embezzlement and fraud related to his finances, including allegations of missing millions of dollars, which she denied.

10. James Rodriguez and Daniela Ospina

Colombian footballer James Rodriguez and Daniela Ospina, sister of goalkeeper David Ospina, separated in July 2017 after six and a half years of marriage. The couple, who share a daughter, released a statement confirming their mutual and amicable decision. Daniela cited her desire to remain an entrepreneur in Colombia and Spain rather than move to Germany for James's club change as a factor in the separation.

9. Ashley Cole and Cheryl Cole

Popstar Cheryl Cole divorced footballer Ashley Cole in September 2010, ending their four-year marriage.The split followed public allegations of Ashley Cole's infidelity with multiple women. Cheryl filed for divorce citing his "unreasonable behaviour." The "quickie" divorce was processed quickly in the High Court. Reports suggested Cheryl sought a clean break, initially not requesting any of Ashley's money or their $6 million mansion.

8. Ryan Giggs and Stacey Cooke

Ryan Giggs and Stacey Cooke married in September 2007 and share two children. Their marriage was dissolved in August 2017 after their separation in 2016. Stacey filed for divorce citing Giggs' "unreasonable behaviour" following multiple affairs, including an eight-year relationship with his brother's wife. Their protracted $40 million financial dispute involved Giggs unsuccessfully arguing his footballing "special contribution" merited more than a 50/50 split before they reached a confidential settlement.

7. Shakira and Gerard Pique

Shakira and Gerard Piqué announced their separation in June 2022 after being in a long-term relationship for 11 years. The singer and the former footballer, who share two sons, were never officially married. Their split was surrounded by media speculation regarding allegations of infidelity on Piqué's part. They released a joint statement requesting privacy for the well-being of their children.

6. Greg Norman and Chris Evert

Golfing legend Greg Norman and tennis icon Chris Evert married in June 2008 but separated after only 15 months. Their divorce was finalized in December 2009. The short-lived marriage followed controversial divorces from their previous spouses, who had been close friends. Sources indicated the split resulted from friction over Evert's focus on her teenage sons and the logistics of their celebrity lifestyles, with both parties agreeing to a private pre-nuptial agreement.

5. Lance Armstrong and Kristin Armstrong

Cyclist Lance Armstrong and his wife, Kristin Richard (now Kristin Armstrong), were married from 1998 to 2003, during the peak of his early Tour de France success. They divorced after five years and three children (Luke, Isabelle, and Grace). Kristin later stated that she felt "smothered" and lost her independent identity in the shadow of his intense career and celebrity status, leading to the split.

4. Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Scurtis were married in 2002 and divorced in 2008. Cynthia filed for divorce citing "emotional abandonment" and "extramarital affairs" as reasons for the dissolution of their six-year marriage. They had two daughters, Natasha and Ella, and the divorce proceedings reportedly involved disputes over child and spousal support. Despite a bitter start, the ex-couple now successfully co-parent their children.

3. Michael Jordan and Juanita Jordan

Michael Jordan and Juanita Jordon were married for 17 years before their divorce was finalized in December 2006. Juanita initially filed in 2002, citing irreconcilable differences, but they reconciled before filing again. The split was reportedly mutual and amicable. Juanita received one of the largest public divorce settlements in history at the time, an estimated $168 million, along with custody of their three children: Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine.

2. Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries

Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from NBA player Kris Humphries after a widely publicized wedding and a marriage that famously lasted only 72 days in 2011. Humphries sought an annulment on the grounds of fraud, leading to a protracted legal battle that dragged on for nearly two years. The divorce was finally granted in June 2013 through a settlement, just before Kardashian gave birth to her first child with Kanye West.

1. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren's divorce finalized on August 23, 2010, ending their nearly six-year marriage. The split followed Woods' high-profile infidelity scandal, which began in late 2009. The former couple shares two children and released a joint statement focusing on their commitment to co-parenting. While the official settlement amount was kept private, widespread reports indicated Nordegren received approximately $100 million in the settlement