Petra Ecclestone & James Stunt — The F1 Heiress's Divorce
She is the daughter of F1's Bernie Ecclestone. He was a gold dealer with a lavish lifestyle. The $5.5 billion divorce was Britain's biggest.
Key Facts
What Happened
Petra Ecclestone, the daughter of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, married James Stunt, a self-described financier and gold dealer, in a lavish 2011 wedding at a medieval Italian castle. The couple lived in the Spelling Manor in Los Angeles — the largest private residence in LA County — which Petra had purchased for $85 million.
By 2017, the marriage had collapsed amid allegations of abuse, drug addiction, and financial mismanagement. Petra filed for divorce, initiating what the British press called the largest divorce in UK history, with an estimated $5.5 billion in joint assets at stake. Stunt stormed out of a High Court hearing, making the proceedings even more contentious.
However, the drama was significantly tempered by a prenuptial agreement that Stunt had signed before the wedding. The prenup reportedly limited Stunt's payout to approximately 16 million pounds (about $20 million) — a tiny fraction of the family's total wealth. The agreement effectively protected the vast Ecclestone fortune from Stunt's claims.
The divorce was finalized on October 12, 2017. In the years that followed, Stunt's life continued to unravel — he faced criminal charges for forgery, money laundering, and assault, and was declared bankrupt. Petra sold the Spelling Manor for $120 million and relocated to London with their three children, building a new life far from her ex-husband's chaos.
Legal Breakdown: How prenuptial agreements hold up when one party's behavior becomes erratic
Prenuptial Agreements in English Law
English courts treat prenups as persuasive but not automatically binding (unlike many US states). However, when both parties had independent legal advice and the terms are not unconscionable, courts will generally uphold them. Stunt's prenup was enforced despite the enormous disparity.
Inherited vs. Marital Wealth
The bulk of the Ecclestone fortune was inherited or gifted from Petra's father Bernie. English courts distinguish between wealth brought into a marriage and wealth generated during it — inherited wealth receives greater protection.
Behavioral Factors in Settlement
While English courts do not formally consider marital misconduct in financial settlements, Stunt's erratic behavior — walking out of hearings, allegations of drug use — likely weakened his negotiating position and made it harder to challenge the prenup.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →A prenuptial agreement can limit a spouse's claims from billions to millions — but only if it is properly drafted and voluntarily signed.
- →English courts give significant weight to prenups when both parties had legal counsel, even if the agreement is dramatically one-sided.
- →Erratic courtroom behavior weakens your legal position — composure and cooperation signal credibility to judges.
- →Inherited family wealth receives stronger protection in divorce than wealth generated during the marriage.
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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.