Harold Hamm: the $19 billion dollar man ======================================= ![Harold Hamm: the 19 billion dollar man](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/4537c74ae55ff522eb9046091105bfe8.jpeg)A court in America is embarking on a nine week hearing which may result in the largest ever recorded divorce settlement. The case concerns Harold Hamm, the CEO and founder of the oil company Continental Resources. His 68% shareholding in the company is valued at about $19 billion. His second wife, Sue Ann Hamm, filed divorce proceedings following a marriage of 26 years. The court is expected to focus on argument as to whether the dramatic increase in value of the shares, from $16 million at the time of marriage to the current estimated $19 billion, is the product of Mr Hamm's own skills or of extraneous factors beyond his control, such as the fluctuations in the oil market. As is the case under English law, in Oklahoma 'marital wealth' acquired during the marriage may be subject to 'equitable division'. The Oklahoma courts are expected to be influenced in making their decision by how much of the increase is share is attributable to the businessman's own endeavours. If he was not responsible for the increase in value, he may stand to keep the majority of his wealth. The unsavoury task for his wife, therefore, is to sing her former husband's praises with a view to gaining as great a share as possible of the marital wealth. To assist her in doing so, Ms Hamm is said to have received over 1 million files of discovery evidence since she filed for divorce in 2012, predominantly from Continental Resources. She has also deposed at least 70 witnesses, including current and former Continental employees, who may be called to give evidence at the nine week trial. The parties' failure to enter into a prenuptial agreement may, therefore, prove an expensive mistake for Mr Hamm. "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 ----------------- [Catherine of Aragon's divorce letter comes to auction](https://vardags.com/family-law/catherine-of-aragons-divorce-letter-comes-to-auction "Catherine of Aragons divorce letter comes to auction") [Compensation in divorce proceedings: Part 1](https://vardags.com/family-law/compensation-in-divorce-proceedings-part-1 "Compensation in divorce proceedings: Part 1") [Harold Hamm: the $19 billion dollar man](https://vardags.com/family-law/the-19-billion-dollar-man "Harold Hamm: the 19 billion dollar man") [What is the problem with criminalising controlling behaviour?](https://vardags.com/family-law/what-is-the-problem-with-criminalising-controlling-behaviour "What is the problem with criminalising controlling behaviour?") [American billionaire Ken Griffin accused of undue pressure over prenup](https://vardags.com/family-law/billionaire-accused-undue-pressure-prenup "American billionaire Ken Griffin accused of undue pressure over prenup") Articles by Cate Maguire ------------------------ [How unreasonable is unreasonable behaviour?](https://vardags.com/family-law/how-unreasonable-is-unreasonable-behaviour "How unreasonable is unreasonable behaviour?") [Harold Hamm: the $19 billion dollar man](https://vardags.com/family-law/the-19-billion-dollar-man "Harold Hamm: the 19 billion dollar man") [Thailand to outlaw commercial surrogacy](https://vardags.com/family-law/thailand-to-outlaw-commercial-surrogacy "Thailand to outlaw commercial surrogacy") [Twitter war over hidden shares](https://vardags.com/family-law/twitter-war-over-hidden-shares "Twitter war over hidden shares") [Guts before Garters: how following your instincts can prevent an unhappy marriage](https://vardags.com/family-law/listen-to-your-gut-feeling-before-you-wed "Guts before Garters: how following your instincts can prevent an unhappy marriage")