Silvio's wife wants Rs 25 crore a month

Italian's PM's divorce may be one of the most expensive ever

Italian's PM's divorce may be one of the most expensive ever

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's estranged wife is demanding u20ac3.5 million (Rs 25 crore a month) maintenance, it has been claimed, in what is likely to rank as one of the biggest divorce settlements in history.

Veronica Lario (53), who announced in April that she wanted a divorce after nearly 20 years of marriage, reportedly wants to be paid u20ac43 million (Rs 300 crore) a year a staggering sum even by the standards ofu00a0 his stratospheric wealth.

But that is more than ten times what Italy's 73-year-old PM is said to be willing to give her. It is thought he wants to give more in the region of u20ac200,000 (Rs 1.4 crore) a month.

He is, however, prepared to give his wife Villa Belvedere, the house near Milan in which she has for years led a largely separate life.

Lario's astronomical demand appears to spell doom foru00a0 Berlusconi's hopes to come to a discreet, out-of-court divorce settlement.

It suggests that there is deep acrimony between her and Berlusconi, who she accused in April of being "unwell" and wrecking their marriage by "consorting with minors", including an 18-year-old lingerie model.

She also condemned as "shamelessly trashy" and "entertainment for the emperor" his party's plans to promote as European parliament candidates a group of showgirls and actresses.

Berlusconi's fortune, estimated to be around $6.5 billion, makes him Italy's second-richest man and the 70th wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

Split empire?

He is said to be anxious to avoid a messy carve-up of his business empire, which ranges from publishing and television to AC Milan football club, between his five children.

He has two children from his first marriage Marina (43) and Piersilvio (40) and three from his second tou00a0 Lario: Barbara (25), Eleonora (24) and Luigi (21).

Rs 8,000 crore
The highest ever divorce settlement. Paid by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch to his wife of 32 years Anna