Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren: A $100 Million Infidelity Fallout
A car crash, a golf club, and the most public cheating scandal in sports history
Key Facts
What Happened
In November 2009, Tiger Woods crashed his SUV into a tree outside his Florida home at 2:30 AM. His wife Elin was seen with a golf club. Within days, more than a dozen women came forward claiming affairs with Woods.
The scandal destroyed Woods' public image overnight. Major sponsors (Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade) dropped him. His carefully managed brand was in ruins. Elin filed for divorce in 2010.
The settlement was estimated at $100 million. Despite Florida being an equitable distribution state, the sheer public humiliation and scale of infidelity likely influenced the terms. Elin received primary custody of their two children.
Elin used the settlement wisely, earning a degree in psychology and reportedly growing her wealth significantly through real estate. Woods' career took years to recover, though he eventually won the 2019 Masters.
Legal Breakdown: Adultery & Divorce
Adultery in No-Fault States
Florida is a no-fault divorce state — adultery isn't technically a legal ground. However, judges can consider adultery when dividing assets if the cheating spouse 'dissipated' marital assets (spent money on affairs).
Dissipation of Marital Assets
Money spent on extramarital affairs — gifts, travel, apartments — can be counted against the cheating spouse's share. With dozens of alleged affairs, the dissipation claims in the Woods case were potentially massive.
Morality Clauses
Many high-profile divorce settlements include morality and confidentiality clauses. Elin has famously never spoken publicly about the specifics of the divorce or the affairs.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Infidelity may not be legal grounds for divorce in your state, but it can affect asset division through dissipation claims.
- →Money spent on affairs is not 'personal spending' — it's marital waste, and courts can factor it in.
- →Confidentiality clauses in settlements are common and enforceable. Think carefully before speaking publicly about your divorce.
- →The faithful spouse often has more negotiating leverage than they realize — especially when the other party wants to avoid trial.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.