If Mr Abramovich had settled the matter in this country it is likely the sum would have topped the following list of some of the UK's biggest divorce payouts:

The biggest UK divorce payment is thought to be that of French Connection founder Stephen Marks.

Mr Marks' wife, Alisa, was creative director of French Connection

In 2004, he sold �40m of his shares in the company to fund his divorce payout to ex-wife Alisa.

Mr Marks has three children with his ex-wife who was creative director of the company.

Although rumours abound of a �50m payout, Mr Marks - who was joint 177th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2004 with the Queen thanks to a �250m fortune - has remained tight lipped about the exact settlement.

In 2005, advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell was ordered at the High Court to pay ex-wife Sandra �30m of his estimated �75m fortune.

Sir Martin is chief executive of advertising WPP

Included as part of the �30m payout was the couple's Georgian townhouse, then estimated to be worth �3.2m.

It has been reported that Sir Martin, whose company WPP is one of the biggest advertising companies in the world, was forced to sell shares worth �12m in the company to help settle the divorce.

Ms Sorrell had tried to claim 50% of the family's wealth but walked away with 40% after the judge ruled his money had been made by his "spark or force or seed of genius".

Former hot dog salesman Mark Dixon settled with his wife of 17 years, Trudy, for the sum of �28m in 2005.

The pair reportedly met when he was working in his hot dog van and she was a local journalist for the Luton News.

Mr Dixon went on to found Regus, which rents out fully staffed offices to businesses around the world.

The divorce reportedly left Mr Dixon with �360m.

When Princess Diana and Prince Charles divorced in 1996 it is believed she was awarded a �17m lump sum as well as �350,000 a year to run her private office.

It is believed Princess Diana was awarded �17m

As part of the settlement, the princess was stripped of her HRH title becoming known instead as Diana, Princess of Wales.

Also part of the settlement was the agreement that Charles and Diana should share custody of their sons.

Almost exactly a year after the pair were officially divorced in August 1996, the princess died in a Paris car crash.

The case of Alan and Melissa Miller was significant because of the length time the pair had been married.

Alan Miller had disputed the �5m settlement for Melissa

The Millers, who lived in Chelsea, London, were married for two years and nine months and had no children when they split.

Mr Miller had challenged an earlier court order that he pay his ex-wife �5m. He said they had not been married for long enough to justify that sum.

A judge had decided Mrs Miller was entitled to a substantial settlement because she married with "reasonable expectation" of a future wealthy lifestyle.

Law Lords agreed with the judge's original ruling.