Mike Tyson & Monica Turner: From Bankruptcy to a Second Divorce

What Happened

After the disastrous eight-month marriage to Robin Givens, Mike Tyson married pediatric resident Monica Turner in 1997. Turner, a Georgetown University-educated doctor and sister-in-law of actor Michael Steele, represented stability in Tyson's chaotic life. They had two children together, Rayna and Amir, and for a time the marriage appeared to ground the troubled former heavyweight champion.

By 2001, however, the marriage was crumbling. Turner filed for divorce in January 2002, citing allegations of serial infidelity and extravagant spending that was depleting Tyson's fortune. During their marriage, Tyson's spending was astronomical, reportedly burning through $400,000 per month on personal expenses alone. His entourage, exotic pets, mansions, and lifestyle had consumed most of his estimated $300 million in career earnings.

The divorce was finalized on January 14, 2003, in a Bethesda, Maryland courtroom. Turner received $6.5 million from Tyson's future earnings, their 61-room mansion in Farmington, Connecticut, their family home in Potomac, Maryland, and full custody of their two children. The settlement was calculated based on Tyson's future earning potential rather than his current assets, as his finances were already in severe decline.

Just eight months after the divorce was finalized, Tyson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2003, listing debts of $23 million against assets of $18 million. His two divorces, combined with reckless spending, bad investments, and exploitation by handlers, had completely depleted what should have been generational wealth. The case became one of the most cited examples of how divorce can accelerate financial ruin for athletes who fail to manage their earnings.

Legal Breakdown: Divorce During Financial Distress

What This Means for Your Divorce