Expensive Celeb Divorces

Expensive Celeb Divorces

he price of fame is most striking in the aftermath of scandal. A damage control campaign—staffed by a legion of lawyers, press representatives and aides—is expensive, but so is losing a high-power job and any hope of professional redemption. In the last five years, sex scandals have ended the careers of at least two governors, six Congressional members and one CEO, while countless others remain in office despite allegations, admissions or lawsuits . After all, the consequences of sex scandals aren’t fungible. Bill Clinton came out of his brush with scandal relatively unscathed, but it’s still unclear whether Tiger Woods’ career will ever return to the pre-Joslyn James glory days.

Tiger Woods

Pre-scandal title: Professional golfer
Scandal broke: November 2009
Estimated lost wages: $50 million

As the number of alleged mistresses climbed, the number of Tiger Woods' corporate endorsement deals fell. The golfer, who is the first athlete to reap $1 billion in lifetime earnings, sees the majority of his eight-figure annual earnings from brands that pay for him to promote their wares. But in the wake of the sex scandal and dissolution of his marriage, Gatorade, AT&T, Accenture, Gillette and Tag Heuer all cut Woods from their payrolls. To add insult to injury, his appearance fees dried up and, thanks to less-than-stellar golf course performances, so did his tournament winnings.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Pre-scandal title:Governor of California
Scandal broke: May 2011
Estimated lost wages: $12 million to $45 million

While rampant speculation has put the cost of his pending divorce from Maria Shriver at $200 million, the Governator is also facing the loss of his Hollywood comeback. Schwarzenegger had inked a deal to star in an upcoming film Cry Macho for a reported $12 million upfront fee. But he'll won't see the lump sum, or the payday from a Terminator sequel  anytime soon thanks to the revelation that he fathered an illegitimate child with a former employee. Also out of the question: an animated series, "The Governator," that was canceled.

Kobe Bryant

Pre-scandal title: Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard
Scandal broke: July 2003
Estimated lost wages: $4 million

In the aftermath of a sex accusation, the basketball star lost the financial blessing of McDonald's and Nutella, and Coca-Cola pulled ads featuring him (though the company said that had been planned pre-scandal). Of course, not all his endorsement contracts were revoked— Nike kept him under contract, but didn't use him for more than two years, despite his $40 million-plus contract. The criminal case against Bryant never went to trial but the civil case was settled out-of-court for a secret sum and a public apology to his accuser. Just a year after the scandal, he signed a $136 million contract with the Lakers. In the 12 months following the rape accusation, he earned $13 million from endorsements according to Forbes magazine.

Ted Haggard

Pre-scandal title: Pastor and President of the National Association of Evangelicals
Scandal broke: November 2006
Estimated lost wages: $500,000

Following allegations he had hired a male escort for years, the Colorado pastor resigned from his perch atop the church he founded and NAE. A severance package with New Life Church was reached, for a reported $138,000 per year, not including benefits, which matched his working salary. But, Haggard lost the six-figure salary from NAE, as well as book royalties from the 11 books he published pre-scandal (book sales fell precipitously after his public downfall). According to an HBO documentary, he now sells insurance. He told GQ magazine earlier this year, "I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual."

Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Pre-scandal title: Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
Scandal broke: May 2011
Estimated lost wages: $495,000

While the French public servant awaits arraignment, he's mounting quite a costly tab. His apartment, the second one he's occupied since leaving Rikers Island, reportedly costs $50,000 a month and his round-the-clock private security detail costs another $200,000 per month. Not only does the disgraced leader have to bear those outsize costs, but his $420,000 annual salary and $75,000 slush fund for keeping up a lavish lifestyle are history.

Eliot Spitzer

Pre-scandal title: Democratic Governor of New York
Scandal broke: March 2008
Estimated lost wages: $179,000

After his history as Client No. 9 was announced in newspaper headlines, Spitzer swiftly removed himself from office. Of course, the charges lost him a year of wages as governor, but he also faces up to $10,000 in fines over charges of misconduct. The scandal wasn't a total career-killer, though. The former governor joined the faculty of City College of New York in late 2009 and took a host post at CNN in 2010.

Christopher Lee

Pre-scandal title: U.S. Representative (R-New York)
Scandal broke: February 2011
Estimated lost wages: $174,000

Thanks to a bicep-baring photo Lee posted on Craigslist hoping for a hook-up, the former congressman withdrew from his post. While there were no charges of violent crimes, previous affairs or other transgressions, the publication of his online flirtations were enough to drive the married public servant from the limelight.

Mark Sanford

Pre-scandal title: Republican Governor of South Carolina
Scandal broke: June 2009
Estimated lost wages: around $3,300

The former governor of South Carolina gave a whole new meaning to "hiking the Appalachian Trail" when he tried to cover up a South American love affair by fabricating a camping trip. His wife divorced him and he resigned from the non-paying gig as chair of the Republican Governor Association. The cost of the scandal? Not much. He wrote the state's general fund a personal check for the $3,334 in costs paid for with taxpayer money during a June 2008 trip to Argentina. He didn't resign, but the House Judiciary committee censured him.

Bill Clinton

Pre-scandal title: U.S. President
Scandal broke: January 1998
Estimated lost wages: $0

Of course, the Lewinsky affair cost the former U.S. President dearly. He was impeached and stood trial for perjury and obstruction of justice, not to mention the $850,000 he coughed up to settle a sexual harassment suit from Paula Jones and the $90,686 he was fined for giving false testimony. But, Clinton didn't evacuate office and the scandal forced Republican illicit transgressions to become public.

John Edwards

Pre-scandal title: Democratic candidate for President
Scandal broke: October 2007
Estimated lost wages: $0

The biggest casualty in the Edwards affair may have been his presidential hopes. News of his affair with Rielle Hunter hit the tabloids when Edwards was campaigning full-time, and caused public opinion to sour on the picture-perfect former senator. He eventually withdrew from the presidential contest in May 2008 and said he would not accept the position of vice president even if it was offered. An anonymous source was quoted in Politico this week saying, "John needs money. He needs to work…"

Cheating politicians

Cheating politicians

Schwarzenegger's affair reminds us of Clinton & other scandals, so here's a primer.

Bill Clinton
Now that former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he fathered a secret child , don't worry if you're finding it hard to keep these cheaters' details straight. Trips to South America. Client No. 9. Foot-tapping in the airport bathroom. With so many amorous politicians on the loose, it's easy to get mixed up. So, here's a refresher on some of the biggest recent political sex scandals, beginning with former President Bill Clinton.

When: Depends on the scandal; the Monica Lewinsky  story broke in January 1998.

Infidelity: 18-month affair with the White House intern.

Making it worse: First denied the allegations, then admitted he and Lewinsky had an "inappropriate relationship."

Stand by me: Wife Hillary Clinton initially defended her husband, calling the allegations part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

Lost: Impeached  on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Watch coverage of the trial.

Yikes! factor: Lewinsky surrendered a blue dress that she said contained physical evidence.

Postscript: Bill stayed in office; Hillary won a Senate seat , lost a presidential nomination and is now secretary of state.

Jim McGreevey
When: August 2004

Infidelity: Had an affair with Golan Cipel, a man who had served as his aide.tos

Making it worse: Cipel denied the affair, saying he had been sexually harassed.

Stand by me: McGreevey's wife, Dina Matos , joined him at the news conference, then later divorced him and wrote a memoir . Watch coverage of the divorce.

Lost: Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: His wife said that she did not know he was gay and that he duped her into marriage to advance his career.

David Vitter
When: July 2007

Infidelity: Phone number appeared in the records of a high-end Washington prostitution ring.

Making it worse: Had long championed family values, morality and ethics.

Stand by me: His wife, Wendy Vitter, defended him, saying their marriage was "not perfect." Watch them speak out about the scandal.

Lost: Seemingly nothing; refused to relinquish Senate seat, remains married.

Larry Craig
When: June 2007

Infidelity: Arrested in a Minneapolis airport men's room, where police said he tapped his foot to signal interest in sexual activity. Watch coverage of his arrest.

Making it worse: Police said he handed his business card to the arresting officer and asked, "What do you think of that?"

Stand by me: His wife, Suzanne, held his hand at the news conference. Watch it.

Lost: Didn't quit but decided not to run for another Senate term and left office in 2008.

Eliot Spitzer
Position: Former New York governor, Democrat

When: March 2008

Infidelity: Caught on a federal wiretap in March 2008 arranging to meet a high-priced call girl.

Making it worse: Signed a law raising the penalties for patronizing prostitutes.

Stand by me: His wife looked grim and exhausted at the news conference.

Lost: Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: Known as Client No. 9.

John Edwards
Position: Former North Carolina senator, Democrat

When: August 2008

Infidelity: Affair with former campaign videographer Rielle Hunter denied fathering her child.

Making it worse: First denied tabloid reports; later noted that his wife's cancer was in remission at the time of the affair.

Stand by me: Wife Elizabeth Edwards backed him; in her book said she didn't know if he had fathered Hunter's child.

Lost: Could damage a future presidential bid.

John Ensign
Position: Former U.S. senator from Nevada, Republican

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Cindy Hampton, a former aide.

Making it worse: Hampton was married to a staffer in the senator's office.

Stand by me: Wife Darlene Ensign reaffirmed her commitment to him
Lost: Resigned in May 2011 amid an ethics probe.

Mark Sanford
Position: Former South Carolina governor, Republican

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Maria Belen Chapur , a woman living in Argentina  he called his "soul mate"

Making it worse: Visited Chapur on Father's Day, leaving his children with his wife of nearly 20 years.

Stand by me: Wife had asked for a trial separation two weeks earlier; issued a statement saying she loved her husband.

Lost: Remained in office through January 2011, amid calls for resignation; stepped down as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Yikes! factor: Disappeared for several days to Argentina, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.