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Oil magnate Harold Hamm has been ordered by a judge to pay his ex-wife nearly $1 billion in the most expensive divorce settlement in U.S. history. Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Hamm got married in April 1988 and split in 2005. It took until now for them to finalize a divorce.
Here’s what you need to know about Sue Ann Hamm:
1. Her Ex-Husband Is Worth $14 Billion
Although her payout sounds like a lot, Harold Hamm’s fortune is estimated to be $14 billion by Forbes, so Sue Ann is getting just 1/14 of that. He owns 68 percent of the oil company Continental Resources. You can watch a documentary about his wealth above.
CNBC reports that Sue Ann will be paid a total of $995.5 million. Hamm will have to pay a third of that by the end of 2014 and the rest in installments of $7 million. The station adds that Hamm can appeal the decision, which came after a nine-week trial that ended in October.
2. She Helped Grow Her Husband’s Business & Didn’t Sign a Prenup
Sue Ann Hamm is a lawyer and economist who held executive roles at Hamm’s company, Continental Resources. The couple met while Sue Ann worked in the legal department, negotiating the company’s land deals.
They were married without a prenup.
3. Harold Hamm Previously Demanded Custody of the Couple’s Children Because of Sue Ann’s Mental State
The Hamm’s daughter, Hilary. (Facebook)
The couple have two daughters, Jane and Hillary. Reuters reported in 2013 that Harold Hamm had previously filed for divorce in 1998 but withdrew his petition. During that false alarm, Hamm demanded custody of their daughters, citing Sue Ann’s psychological condition.
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According to her Facebook page, Hillary Hamm is a student at Dartmouth. The Washington Post reported in 2012 that one of the reasons Harold Hamm relocated from Kentucky to Oklahoma was so his daughters could go to a better school.
4. The Hamms Were Famous for Their Philanthropy
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While they were together the Hamms were generous philanthropists, donating $20 million to the University of Oklahoma in 2011 and $7 million to fight diabetes in 2007. An online bio of Sue Ann says she is a “member of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society and on the steering committee for a horse rescue program in Oklahoma.”
5. She’s Worked in Oil Since She Was in High School
Sue Ann is a law graduate from the University of Tulsa. According to the school, she also lectured there. The same profile says she “began her career in the oil industry while in high school.”
