£337m divorce payout not enough, says banker's wife

Estranged couple scrap over £700m fortune, including homes around the world, and a 'non-existent dog'

Jamie Cooper-Hohn
(Image credit: ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty)

The estranged American wife of a wealthy British financier may appeal against a £337m divorce settlement – on the grounds that it is not enough, reports Sky News.

Jamie Cooper-Hohn has told the High Court that she deserves an even more eye-watering sum than the amount offered, even though it is already one of the biggest payouts awarded in an English divorce case.

She believes she deserves half of the couple's assets – which are put at more than £700m and include homes in London, the US and West Indies – as their wealth was created as a result of a "partnership" during their 17-year marriage, says the Daily Mail.

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But Sir Chris Hohn's legal team argues that the hedge fund financier's "special contribution" to their wealth means she should receive just a quarter of their fortune.

The couple, who separated in 2012, founded the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. According to reports, they have given more than £1bn of their fortune away through their charitable work, but that still leaves more than £700m to be fought over.

Mrs Cooper-Hohn had said she worked long hours on behalf of CIFF, adding that they had both wanted to "make the world a better place".

Sir Chris, 48, described himself as an "unbelievable money-maker" who "didn't really care about money" during the case, but also admitted that wealth could not bring happiness. A lawyer representing Sir Chris told the court he was anxious "to move on with things", but his wife was not.

The legal saga has featured bizarre moments, with Sir Chris even accusing Mrs Cooper-Hohn of seeking maintenance payments towards a dog that never existed.

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