Advertising tycoon Martin Sorrell, 75 - who is worth £368m - splits with second wife Cristiana, 45 - 15 years after £29m divorce settlement with US-born first wife Sandra Finestone

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The second wife of Britain’s best-known advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell has revealed she is seeking a divorce after 12 years of marriage - almost three years after he was accused of visiting a £300 prostitute in a Mayfair brothel.

Sir Martin, who is worth an estimated £368million, married Cristiana Falcone, 45, in 2008 and the couple have a young daughter born in 2016.

Lady Sorrell, who is almost three decades Sir Martin’s junior, could now become one of Britain’s richest women after splitting from the 75-year-old, who said previously she made a 'significant contribution' to his success and wealth. 

The couple lived together in a £25million central London mansion and Sir Martin also has an expensive apartment in central New York that could form part of the multi-million pound divorce.

Sir Martin's wealth has risen from around £148million to an estimated £368million during their 12 years of marriage with senior divorce lawyers telling MailOnline that Lady Cristiana's 'starting point' should be to claim half of that £220million increase.

A £110million payout would comfortably make it one of the top five biggest divorce settlements in British legal history. 

In 2005 Sir Martin paid a then record divorce settlement of £29million to his first wife Lady Sandra after 33 years of marriage - three years later he married Italian economist Cristiana. 

Sir Martin Sorrell, who is worth an estimated £368million, married his second wife Cristiana Falcone in 2008 (pictured together in 2009) but are divorcing after 12 years

The couple lived together at this central London mansion, which is worth at least £25million 

Sir Martin also owns an apartment in this block in Manhattan close to New York's Empire State Building, which could also form part of any divorce deal

Their split comes two years after Sir Martin quit advertising giant WPP amid allegations of misconduct and bullying of staff as well as claims the firm had been investigating whether Sir Martin had spent £300 of company money on a Mayfair prostitute in June 2017. 

In the wake of the scandal Sir Martin rubbished any suggestion of marital problems but the couple are no longer together.

In a statement released late last night, Lady Sorrell said: ‘My husband and I have separated and I am seeking a divorce to end our marriage'. 

The Italian, who is on the board of media conglomerate Viacom and previously worked at the World Economic Forum, added: ‘From here on, my priority will be the interests of my daughter, and I request that the media respect my and my family’s privacy.’ 

Sir Martin Sorrell's 30 years at advertising giant WPP came to a halt after two junior colleagues claimed to have witnessed their boss going into a Mayfair brothel in June 2017 - which Sir Martin strenuously denied.

In interviews after the red-light district scandal Mr Sorrell also rubbished claims he used company cash to pay for a prostitute - and dismissed any suggestion of marital problems.

He told the Mail on Sunday in December 2018, eight months after leaving WPP: ‘That’s not a question I’m going to dignify with an answer. Anybody who really knows me, knows the allegation and surrounding innuendo were fabricated.’

15 years ago Sir Martin's divorce from his wife of 33 years, American-born Lady Sandra, was a British legal record.  

The couple, who have three sons, split in 2003 and his first wife blamed Sir Martin’s obsession with work, claiming she felt ‘marginalised’ and ‘dehumanised’.

She received a settlement worth £30million – then the biggest in British legal history. Court documents revealed that the deal included a £3.25million Georgian townhouse and two Harrods underground car parking spaces worth £200,000.

In 2005 he paid a then record divorce settlement of £29 million to his wife of 33 years, Lady Sandra (pictured). He went on to marry economist Cristiana Falcone in 2008

Sir Martin Sorrell, then WPP Group chief executive, arrives at an Idaho ad summit with his wife Cristiana Falcone Sorrell. It later emerged the company was paying her expenses, which caused a major row with investors

Sorrell denied both sleeping with a prostitute and misusing company funds - he also said the WPP scandal did not cause any marital problems with his second wife Lady Cristiana Sorrell (together left in 2009 and right in 2016)  - but they are now divorcing

His first wife Lady Sandra blamed Sir Martin’s obsession with work for their split, claiming she felt ‘marginalised’ and ‘dehumanised’

Sir Martin married his second wife Cristiana, an Italian economist, in 2008. He provoked rage among WPP investors a couple of years later when it emerged that the company was paying for her travel expenses.

The controversy led to one of many run-ins between him and WPP’s shareholders, who he told: ‘My wife has made and continues to make a significant contribution to what I do. What she does is extremely significant.’ But he later agreed to start paying her expenses personally'. 

Before he left WPP Sir Martin was accused by two WPP employees of visiting a Mayfair brothel.

The colleagues were having a drink on June 7 2017 when they claim they saw the advertising mogul entering 50a Shepherd Market - then a den of iniquity in one of London's red light districts.

The friends, who haven't been named, are also said to have taken a photo of the building and this would later be used during the WPP misconduct probe, the Financial Times reported.

Sir Martin left WPP, the company he founded more than 30 years ago, in April 2018 following allegations of personal misconduct. WPP carried out an inquiry into allegations that he misused company funds, but the details of the investigation were never disclosed.

Sir Martin's former homes in Knightsbridge (pictured) is understood to have formed part of his divorce settlement with his first wife lady Sandra 

Lady Sandra was also awarded her ex-husband's two spaces in the Harrods underground car park - worth £100,000 each 

There were also claims of bullying at WPP. 

His six executive assistants in the US and the UK said they were paid at least £80,000-a-year - but called it 'combat pay'.

One claimed: 'He was brutal and inhuman in how he dealt with his assistants,” said one former executive. He would say "you’re f****** idiots, what’s f****** wrong with you?’

Others said he regularly swore at junior staff, calling a worker approaching retirement a 'pudding' and others 'bozos'. 

Sir Martin transformed WPP from a tiny manufacturer of shopping baskets into one of the world’s most powerful marketing agencies, worth more than £11billion. After quitting, he kept his entitlement to shares worth tens of millions of pounds – and his contract also allowed him to launch a rival immediately.

He revealed just six weeks after leaving WPP that he was setting up S4 Capital, later taking the job title of ‘senior monk’ at MediaMonks after outbidding WPP for control of the digital production firm. S4 itself was valued at £949million last night.

Sir Martin could not be reached for comment 

Two WPP staff drinking in central London claimed they saw Sir Martin Sorrell entering the white door of 50a Shepherd Market (pictured), which was then a brothel next to a bookies in Mayfair

The brothel in Mayfair, central London had the sign 'beautiful young lady, please knock' (left) on the door (right)

How workaholic Sir Martin Sorrell turned a wire shopping basket company into an advertising giant and took home up to £70MILLION-A-YEAR until he left under a cloud in 2018

Sir Martin Sorrell (pictured in 1990) transformed WPP from a small wire baskets company into the world’s largest advertising agency

Sir Martin Sorrell transformed WPP from a small wire baskets company into the world’s largest advertising agency – becoming the UK’s highest-paid businessman along the way and one of the most influential men in Britain.  

Brought up as an only child  - a brother died in childbirth - in a Jewish household in North London, Sorrell attended Cambridge and Harvard universities before entering the world of commerce.

He flew beneath the radar in his early years, but rose to prominence after being made finance boss of advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi. 

As he helped build it into a global giant, Sorrell became known as the ‘third Saatchi’ brother, after founders Maurice and Charles.

He then grabbed hold of WPP and was chief executive of WPP for more than three decades. 

In those 30 years at the top of the world’s largest advertising agency he amassed a vast fortune.

But his years as one of Britain’s highest paid executives also gave him old little time – or inclination – to spend his cash, which over the years has been estimated at close to half a billion pounds.

A self-confessed workaholic, Sir Martin famously declared: ‘I don’t relax. I can’t even spell the word “hobby”.’  

Sir Martin transformed WPP from a tiny manufacturer of shopping baskets into one of the world’s most powerful marketing agencies, worth more than £11billion

As WPP chief executive he created an advertising empire with 200,000 employees in 112 countries and a turnover of £15.3billion. Its success was reflected in his pay and bonuses, which totalled £70.4million in 2015 – then believed to be the highest pay package in British corporate history.

In the eight years before he left he pocketed more than £230million in pay and bonuses, and a long-term incentive scheme means he will receive another £20million from WPP over the next five years – despite his resignation and the misconduct inquiry. 

Sorrell stepped down on April 14 2018, walking away with £20million in share options and he set up a new advertising firm S4 Capital.

A passionate campaigner for Remain in the EU referendum, he is a regular commentator on business affairs, regularly appearing on the BBC and in national newspapers.  

What are Britain's biggest divorce payouts?

London has earned its reputation as the divorce capital of the world following a series of huge pay-outs in favour of the 'financially weaker spouse'.

The nickname - cemented by an emphasis on full disclosure from both parties - has encouraged foreign-born spouses to seek divorce settlements in London, rather than their home country.

Another reason for taking legal action in London is the fact that English courts have the discretion to decide on a case-by-case basis whether prenuptial agreements are binding.

In 2012, The Times found that a sixth of divorce cases heard by English courts involved foreign nationals. Of the cases where huge sums were involved, around half are thought to involve international couples.

Ayesha Vardag, a lawyer who has represented a number of wealthy clients in high-profile divorce battles, said: 'The principle that there is no discrimination between breadwinner and homemaker is the cornerstone of why the English jurisdiction is seen as a particularly fair one for the financially weaker spouse.'

MailOnline takes a look at some of the biggest divorce payouts...

Farkhad Akhmedov, a Russian energy tycoon

1. Akhmedov v Akhmedova - £453million

Tatiana Akhmedova was given a 41.5% share of Farkhad Akhmedov's £1billion-plus fortune following a London divorce court money fight.  

News of Ms Akhmedova's payout emerged during the summer of 2017 following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London overseen by a High Court judge.

Mr Justice Haddon-Cave revealed detail of the case in a written ruling published on a legal website.

His award was thought to be the biggest made by a divorce court judge in England.

However, the ruling has been challenged through an appeal. 

2. Cooper v Hohn -  £337m

The case of philanthropists Sir Christopher Hohn and Jamie Cooper was concluded by Mrs Justice Roberts in December 2014. 

The husband was successful in his argument for 'special contribution' and the judge departed from equality to award the wife £337 million, 36 per cent of the overall total assets. 

In June 2017 Sir Geoffrey Vos then ordered Sir Christopher to make a payment of £282 million from his charity into his ex-wife's own foundation.

3. Estrada v Juffali -  £75m

The divorce between model Christina Estrada and Saudi billionaire Walid Juffali was finalised by Mrs Justice Roberts in June 2016. 

The case was notable for the consideration of the couple's 'stratospheric' standard of living and Juffali's Islamic marriage to a second wife in 2012. 

Mr Juffali had previously tried to avoid the proceedings through a 'spurious' assertion of diplomatic immunity.

The divorce between model Christina Estrada and Saudi billionaire Walid Juffali was finalised by Mrs Justice Roberts in June 2016

4.  WM v HM - £73m

Mr Justice Mostyn presided over the case of WM v HM in May 2017. The husband's claim for 'special contribution' was dismissed and the wife was awarded £73 million. 

The case was also interesting for Mostyn J's words on valuing a business in hindsight.

Former Miss Malaysia beauty queen Pauline Chai wanted around £100m from ex-husband Khoo Kay Peng following the breakdown of their 42-year marriage

5. Chai v Peng £64.5m 

Former Miss Malaysia beauty queen Pauline Chai wanted around £100m from ex-husband Khoo Kay Peng following the breakdown of their 42-year marriage.

Dr Khoo, non-executive chairman of Laura Ashley Holdings, said she should pocket about £9m.

After analysing the evidence at the trial at the High Court in London, Mr Justice Bodey announced his decision last year that Ms Chai should get a £64m package made up of cash and property. 

6. Al-Baker v Al-Baker £61m

The judgment for the multinational case of Sarah Al-Baker v Abdul Amir Al-Baker was handed down in October 2016 by Mr Nicholas Cusworth QC. 

The case which stretched between civil and religious courts was remarkable because of the husband's consistent non-compliance and non-disclosure which resulted in the wife being awarded £61 million.

7. M v M - £54m

Mrs Justice Eleanor King DBE presided over the case of M v M in August 2013, resulting in the wife being awarded £54m. 

Owing to the Russian couple's marital assets being tied up in offshore trusts, the case had an extra five respondents.

8. Charman v Charman - £48m 

In 2006 Beverley Charman, the former wife of insurance magnate John Charman was awarded a £48million settlement by the English courts in proceedings which took two years.

Mr Charman appealed the decision but the pay out, which made legal history at the time, was upheld in 2007. 

9. Sorrell v Sorrell - £30m

The case of Lady Sorrell v Sir Martin Sorrell was heard by Mr Justice Bennett in July 2005. 

This is one of the rare cases where a husband successfully argued 'special contribution', which led to Lady Sorrell being awarded £30million, a 60/40 split of the marital assets.

The acrimonious split saw the head of advertising group WPP living for a time in the basement of their Knightsbridge townhouse. 

In the divorce settlement, she also got two parking spaces at Harrods. 

10. Young v Young £20m (£6m costs)

Mr Justice Moor handed down the judgment for Young v Young in November 2013. 

Michelle and Scot Young were involved in a particularly public divorce battle where, though he was legally bankrupt, the wife insisted that the husband had thousands or millions hidden offshore. 

Ultimately, the wife was awarded £20 million and the husband was ordered to pay £6 million - believed to be the highest costs order in family law history.    

Michelle and Scot Young were involved in a particularly public divorce battle where, though he was legally bankrupt, the wife insisted that the husband had thousands or millions hidden offshore

 

Many divorces do not end up in court, such as the 2008 split of Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone and his wife, Slavica, who got a settlement estimated at £790million.