Madonna-Ritchie Divorce Begins

Friday is the day when a hearing of divorce case at High Court in London will take place. Usually those getting divorced attend the hearing, but “in most high-profile celebrity cases people choose not to,” according to Reuters.

Their in the case will appear as Ciccone M L for the 50 years old pop star and Ritchie G S for the 40 years old film director Guy Ritchie.

The case is supposed to end up shortly, because “the couple has reached a settlement over finances and sharing custody of their children,” says BBC.

Concerning the financial status of the stars, Madonna’s fortune is estimated to be £300m, while Ritchie’s is only £30m. Together they have about $525 million joint fortune, which should be somehow divided between the two.

The couple should also decide the custody of their children. Madonna has a 12 years old daughter Lourdes, born from a fitness trainer Carlos Leon. She is supposed to stay with Madonna after the divorce.

The couple has two sons: Rocco 8 years old and David Banda, a 2 years old Malawian boy who was adopted just after his mother was dead a short while after giving birth. Probably the couple will share the custody and the kids will frequently travel between US and UK, because: “Madonna wants to live in the United States while Ritchie plans to remain in his native Britain,” according to Reuters.

Madonna and Ritchie were married. The ceremony took place in December 2000, at Skibo Castle in Scotland. There are no reports why the couple is getting divorced, but the decision is final. Madonna is currently touring in North America, while Ritchie is directing a Hollywood blockbuster "Sherlock Holmes".