Divorced Madonna and Ritchie try to quash £50m question

'We are both happy', say couple in attempt to end speculation about divorce settlement

Madonna and Guy Ritchie sought to end speculation about the money involved in their divorce settlement by issuing a joint statement today saying they were both happy with the agreement.

The pair, who were married for nearly eight years and were granted a quick divorce last month, said a "misleading and inaccurate" statement about the amount of money involved was wrongly issued this week.

In the statement, the 50-year-old singer and Ritchie, 40, said: "The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and wellbeing of our children."

On Monday, Liz Rosenberg, the singer's US spokeswoman, said the deal was worth at least £50m, although a source close to Ritchie cast doubt on the figure. The settlement is thought to have included the division of a number of properties owned by the former couple, including their country house, Ashcombe, in Wiltshire, and the Punchbowl pub in London's Mayfair.

Ritchie, a film director, had been quoted by a British newspaper last month as saying the separation was "never, ever about the money". A source on Madonna's side told the Guardian there had been "so many assumptions" regarding the deal.

The singer, who has been away on a world tour since August, and Ritchie, away filming Sherlock Homes, said they would be concentrating on their children. The couple have two sons, Rocco, eight, and David, three, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna has a daughter Lourdes, 12, from a previous relationship.


Source: Guardian.co.uk