George Soros & Susan Weber: The Quantum Fund Divorce and the Ex-Girlfriend Lawsuit That Followed
The most private billionaire divorce in history -- until a soap-opera actress and a thrown lamp made it very public
Key Facts
What Happened
George Soros, the Hungarian-American investor who famously 'broke the Bank of England' in 1992 with a $1 billion bet against the British pound, divorced his second wife, Susan Weber, in 2005 after 22 years of marriage. At the time, Soros was worth an estimated $8.5 billion. The divorce proceedings were remarkable for what did not become public: the couple negotiated an entirely private settlement, and virtually no financial details were disclosed. What is known is that Susan retained their co-op at 1060 Fifth Avenue, a 13-story building overlooking Central Park, valued at approximately $24 million.
Susan Weber was not a passive spouse. An art historian and academic, she founded the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture -- a respected graduate program affiliated with Bard College. Her intellectual contributions to the marriage and her role in Soros's philanthropic and social circles gave her substantial leverage in negotiations, even if the details remained sealed.
The Soros divorce might have remained a footnote in billionaire history if not for what came after. In 2011, Brazilian soap-opera actress Adriana Ferreyr filed a $50 million lawsuit against Soros, alleging assault and broken promises. Ferreyr claimed that Soros had promised her a $1.9 million apartment on the Upper East Side, but instead gave it to another girlfriend. She alleged that when she confronted him, he slapped her and tried to hit her with a glass lamp, injuring her foot. Soros countersued, claiming Ferreyr threw the lamp at him.
The Ferreyr lawsuit, which dragged on for years with lurid allegations on both sides, exposed the messy personal life that the Weber divorce had so carefully concealed. The contrast was stark: one divorce handled with total discretion and mutual respect, followed by a relationship that devolved into courtroom accusations of violence and broken promises. Soros married his third wife, Tamiko Bolton, in 2013.
Legal Breakdown: High-Net-Worth Divorce
The Power of Private Settlement
The Soros-Weber divorce is a model of how ultra-wealthy couples can resolve their differences without public exposure. By settling all issues privately -- likely through mediation or collaborative law -- the couple avoided court filings, depositions, and the public record entirely. This approach requires both parties to negotiate in good faith and is only possible when neither side sees strategic advantage in going public.
Valuing an Academic Spouse's Contributions
Susan Weber's career as a scholar and institution-builder gave her negotiating power beyond the standard financial calculus. Courts and mediators consider a spouse's intellectual, social, and reputational contributions to the marriage -- especially when those contributions enhanced the wealthier spouse's social standing and philanthropic credibility. Susan's academic career was not incidental to the marriage; it was part of the partnership's value.
Post-Divorce Relationship Liabilities
The Ferreyr lawsuit illustrates that personal conduct after divorce can create new legal and financial exposure. Promises made to romantic partners -- especially regarding real estate or financial support -- can become enforceable if the partner reasonably relied on them. For high-net-worth individuals, post-divorce relationships require the same legal caution as the marriage itself.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Private mediation can resolve even multi-billion-dollar divorces without any public disclosure. If privacy is paramount, explore this option early.
- →A spouse's non-financial contributions -- academic career, social capital, philanthropic leadership -- have real value in settlement negotiations.
- →Verbal promises to romantic partners can create legal liability. After divorce, treat new relationships with the same legal caution as the marriage.
- →The contrast between a dignified private divorce and a messy public lawsuit is a powerful reminder: how you exit a relationship matters as much as how you enter one.
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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.