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Some payouts bankrupted entire companies. Others reshaped industries overnight.

When celebrity money goes wrong, it doesn't just trickle away - it explodes. From freak accidents to scorched-earth court battles, some of the biggest payouts in showbiz history weren't earned on screen or stage, but forced through lawsuits, insurance claims and jaw-dropping legal rulings. These are the moments where fame collided with disaster, privacy was shredded, or a single incident triggered cheques worth tens - even hundreds - of millions.

Some payouts bankrupted entire companies. Others reshaped industries overnight. A few are so unusual they still raise eyebrows years later. From explosive splits to freak mishaps and courtroom victories that sent shockwaves through entire industries, these are the celebrity payouts that still make jaws drop. And some of them are far stranger than you'd ever expect.

Rowan Atkinson - £910,000 insurance payout

Rowan Atkinson landed one of the biggest insurance payouts in UK motoring history after crashing his rare McLaren F1 in 2011. The £910,000 claim covered a year-long specialist rebuild, with McLaren technicians repairing the supercar using rare materials - making it Britain's most expensive single car insurance claim ever.

Hugh Grant was among the highest-profile victims of the UK phone-hacking scandal, securing settlements worth around £2million from newspaper groups. The payout was part of a wider reckoning that cost publishers tens of millions - and reshaped British media law.

JK Rowling - £12million privacy damages

J.K. Rowling successfully sued paparazzi agencies after photographers took illegal pictures of her young son. The case reportedly resulted in around £12million in damages and costs, reinforcing strict UK privacy laws and becoming one of the most lucrative celebrity image-rights victories.

Johnny Depp - £10million defamation victory

Johnny Depp scored a dramatic courtroom win in 2022 when a US jury ruled largely in his favour against Amber Heard. He was awarded damages totalling roughly £10million, restoring his public image and making the case one of the most watched celebrity trials ever.

Elton John - £25million tour insurance payouts

Elton John's farewell tour cancellations triggered insurance cover worth around £25million, compensating for lost shows, crew costs and venue penalties. The claim ranked among the largest live-music insurance payouts ever involving a British performer.

Alec Baldwin - £25million Rust settlements

After the fatal Rust shooting, Alec Baldwin faced multiple civil lawsuits. Several cases were settled privately, with combined payouts believed to reach around £25million, even as criminal proceedings were dismissed - making it one of Hollywood's costliest on-set tragedies.

Hulk Hogan - £90million privacy lawsuit

Hulk Hogan shocked Hollywood by winning a privacy lawsuit against Gawker over a leaked sex tape. The jury initially awarded him £115million, later reduced to a settlement worth about £90million - a verdict so devastating it forced the media company into bankruptcy.

Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott - £31billion

In 2019, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott finalised a separation that became one of the costliest ever. Scott received roughly a £31billion share of Amazon stock under their divorce deal, catapulting her into the ranks of the world's wealthiest women and fueling her subsequent high-profile philanthropy efforts.

Bill Gates's costly split - £62billion

When Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates ended their 27-year marriage in 2021, Melinda walked away with one of the biggest divorce payouts ever. Reports suggest she received around £62billion in assets, including huge donations to her own foundation - dwarfing nearly every other celebrity divorce settlement on record.