What started as a quiet Hollywood split has exploded into a courtroom storm. Hugh Jackman and his estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness are locked in a bitter battle over the Wolverine star’s staggering $250 million fortune — and sources say things are getting personal.
With no prenup signed back in 1996, Furness, 69, is now digging in her heels, demanding what insiders say she calls “her rightful share” after nearly three decades of marriage.
“She supported him through the rise, the roles, and the fame — she’s not walking away empty-handed,” one close source told The Patriot Post, adding that the gloves are officially off.
The Aussie couple announced their separation in September 2023 after 27 years together. But while divorce papers were expected to be finalized by January, that timeline came to a screeching halt when Jackman, 56, went public with a new relationship — and Furness took it as a betrayal.
“Deb went into this thinking it was amicable,” a family friend shared. “Then Hugh starts flaunting Sutton [Foster] around, and suddenly Deb’s done playing nice.”
No Prenup, No Peace
Without a prenuptial agreement to set the rules, everything’s now on the table — real estate, royalties, and retirement funds. Legal experts say Furness may be entitled to up to half of Jackman’s fortune under New York divorce law.
“This is no small-town split,” said L.A.-based divorce attorney Lisa Branson. “This is a high-stakes, no-prenup divorce where decades of shared earnings and assets are being sorted. It’s war.”
Enter: Sutton Foster
Jackman’s relationship with Broadway actress Sutton Foster, 50, became public just four months after the split. The two were first spotted hand-in-hand in January, fueling speculation that their romance may have started earlier.
“Even if it didn’t overlap, the optics are brutal,” one insider close to Furness said. “She feels humiliated — blindsided, even.”
That public embarrassment appears to have hardened Furness’ stance. Sources say she now refuses to settle unless the numbers reflect her years of sacrifice.
“She put her own career second to his,” the insider added. “Now she wants what she’s owed.”
Not on Speaking Terms
Despite co-parenting their two adopted children — Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19 — Jackman and Furness reportedly aren’t on speaking terms. A planned family sit-down in New York meant to smooth over future birthdays and holidays has been delayed amid rising tensions.
“They’re trying to keep things civil for the kids, but Deb’s still hurt,” a source familiar with the family dynamic said. “And Hugh’s decision to go public with Sutton only made it worse.”
Still, some close to the pair hold out hope for a thaw.
“They were together for nearly 30 years,” said a mutual friend. “There’s a lot of history — and a lot of love — under that anger. But right now, this is about money, pride, and heartbreak.”
Hollywood’s Eyes Are Watching
Jackman, beloved for his roles in The Greatest Showman and the X-Men franchise, has largely remained silent. His team has declined to comment, but sources say he’s “devastated” by the split’s turn — and eager to avoid a media circus.
But with no settlement in sight, and with Furness lawyering up, this could soon become one of the messiest — and most expensive — divorces in Hollywood history.
“The sad truth?” one insider concluded. “They’re both hurt. But now, it’s business.”
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