Selling memorabilia to fund a celebrity divorce? ================================================ ![Selling memorabilia to fund a celebrity divorce?](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/590964bc0a59d4c4b4b0dc103c5488ec.jpeg)Getting divorced can take its toll on a party's finances. That's why it is so important to get the best settlement possible. The evidently pragmatic Russell Crowe has become one of the most recent in a line of celebrities to sell off property connected to their fame, hoping for it to be eagerly snapped up by fans. The Australian actor recently divorced his wife of ten years, Danielle Spencer. He has organised for a sale, entitled 'The Art of Divorce', to take place on 7th April (the couple's wedding anniversary), hoping to raise around £2 million. Though, via Twitter, he frames the auction as a more of a spring clean, given Ms Spencer is [rumoured](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5208395/Russell-Crowe-finalises-divorce-Danielle-Spencer.html) to have been awarded a $20 million settlement, it wouldn't be surprising if, [as reported](https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5678702/russel-crowe-selling-film-memorabilia-fund-divorce-danielle-spencer/), the sale was intended to recuperate funds lost to his divorce. Among the items up for sale are film props such as the violin played by his character in *Master & Commander* (worth around £81,000), his character's sword and armour from *Gladiator* (worth £19,500) and the chariot he used in the same film (worth around £3000). Some jewellery is also included - a £70,000 diamond ring he bought for Danielle, but which "wasn't a great gift as it was so expensive she never wanted to wear it much for fear of losing it" and over 29 watches from luxury brands like Rolex and Cartier (reportedly over half Crowe's watch collection). Vehicles are also being sold, including a £250,000 black Mercedes used on the couple's wedding day and Crowe's custom built £300,000 motorbike, decked out in the colours of his favourite rugby team. Another figure who [reportedly](https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/709313/princess-dianas-rock-selling-brick-cottage-fund-divorce-paul-burrell) hoped to capitalise on fame in order to fund divorce proceedings is Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former butler and so-called "rock". In 2016, Burrell, then running a flower shop in Cheshire and wife of 32 years, Maria initiated divorce proceedings after the pair reached a mutual decision. After writing two books about Diana - entitled *A Royal Duty* and *The Way We Were* - appearing on *I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here*, and being arrested in connection with allegedly having taken some of Diana's belongings after her death (including CDs, family photo albums and designer clothes, totalling 342 items) he apparently hoped to book more reality TV appearances to help pay for his divorce. He also put the family home on the market for £475,000. The couple had been living apart for two years after Maria moved to the USA following a confession from Burrell that he had not told "the whole truth" at the inquest into Diana's death. In 2013 famous comedy actor John Cleese began [selling off](http://www.hinsdalelawyers.com/blog/john-cleese-selling-memorabilia-to-cover-divorce-costs) props from *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, as well as photos from other popular sketches in order to fund his divorce from his third wife, Alyce Faye Eichelberger. After being required to pay her £1 million in cash and assets when they divorced in 2008 and an additional sum of almost £1 million a year until 2016, the *Fawlty Towers* star embarked on a stand up comedy tour he named the 'Alimony Tour' and moved to Monaco (where he would benefit from lower taxes), before resorting to selling memorabilia. This practical and totally legitimate method of funding a divorce should be distinguished from the tactic of liquidating assets in order to prevent the other party getting hold of them. Having the best legal advice on a possible pre-nuptial agreement to protect assets going into the marriage, or on a divorce settlement, can help avoid having to go to such desperate lengths later on. Vardags' team of [top divorce lawyers serving celebrities](https://vardags.com/team/specialist-divorce-lawyers/celebrities-divorce) delivers a bespoke legal service to HNW and UHNW individuals, their families, and businesses. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Divorce news ----------------- [WS v HS [2018] - questioning when an interim order for sale of the former matrimonial home may be made](https://vardags.com/family-law/ws-v-hs-2018-interim-order-former-matrimonial-home "WS v HS 2018 - questioning when an interim order for sale of the former matrimonial home may be made") [Billionaire Akhmedov's super yacht seized after divorce court enforcement order](https://vardags.com/family-law/akhmedovs-super-yacht-seized "Billionaire Akhmedovs super yacht seized after divorce court enforcement order") [Selling memorabilia to fund a celebrity divorce?](https://vardags.com/family-law/selling-memorabilia-fund-celebrity-divorce "Selling memorabilia to fund a celebrity divorce?") 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