Al Fassi Divorce — The $350 Million Saudi Royal Divorce That Dragged in a King
She won $81 million. He refused to pay. Interest ballooned it to $350 million. The judge held the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia liable.
Key Facts
What Happened
Sheikh Mohammed Al Fassi first became famous in the late 1970s when he purchased a Beverly Hills mansion for $1.3 million in cash and decorated it with painted nude statues that scandalized the neighborhood. The mansion was later destroyed in a mysterious fire. But it was his divorce that would generate the most lasting headlines — a case that dragged on for decades and eventually drew in the Saudi royal family and even the Kingdom itself.
The couple separated in 1983, and a U.S. court awarded his wife $81.5 million of the Sheikh's fortune. But Al Fassi refused to pay. Over the years, the unpaid settlement swelled with accrued interest, eventually reaching approximately $270 million. A California judge, frustrated by Al Fassi's refusal to comply, took the extraordinary step of expanding the judgment to include the King and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — arguing that the royal family was complicit in helping Al Fassi hide assets.
The total judgment against Al Fassi ultimately reached approximately $350 million, making it one of the largest divorce settlements in history. The case became a landmark in international enforcement of divorce judgments, demonstrating both the difficulties of collecting from wealthy individuals in foreign countries and the creative legal strategies courts may employ to enforce their orders.
The Al Fassi case established important precedents about the reach of American courts in international divorce disputes. It showed that wealth held in foreign countries does not provide immunity from divorce obligations, and that courts may pursue creative enforcement strategies — including holding third parties liable — when a spouse deliberately evades payment. The case remains a cautionary tale about the consequences of hiding assets across international borders.
Legal Breakdown: International enforcement of divorce settlements
International Enforcement of Divorce Judgments
When a spouse holds assets in foreign countries and refuses to pay court-ordered settlements, enforcement becomes an international legal challenge. The Al Fassi case demonstrated that U.S. courts will aggressively pursue enforcement, including holding foreign governments liable when they are perceived as aiding evasion.
Interest on Unpaid Settlements
Al Fassi's $81.5 million award ballooned to $350 million through years of accrued interest. This case demonstrates that refusing to pay a divorce settlement does not make the obligation disappear — interest continues to accumulate, and the final bill can be many times the original award.
Third-Party Liability for Asset Concealment
The judge's extraordinary decision to include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the judgment reflected a theory that third parties who help a spouse conceal assets can themselves be held liable. This precedent has implications for banks, family members, and institutions that assist in hiding marital assets.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Refusing to pay a divorce settlement makes it worse — interest compounds and enforcement escalates.
- →International borders do not provide immunity from divorce obligations.
- →Third parties who help conceal assets may themselves face legal liability.
- →Forensic accounting and international asset tracing are essential tools when a spouse hides wealth overseas.
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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.