Woman rejects $1bn divorce settlement as judge warns trial is “not going to be pleasant”

A US property mogul and lawyer offered a $1bn divorce settlement to his wife of 58 years - but she refused the money, despite a judge’s warnings that a trial between the two could get nasty.

New Yorker Harry Macklowe, 80 offered wife Linda, 79 almost half of his fortune to settle amicably, but Linda wants to go to court to get a divorce, which will leave details of their marriage open to the public and press.

Manhattan Justice Laura Drager issued a warning to the former couple, saying: “Your personal lives, your business, your assets, everything will be displayed for everyone to see.

"I am concerned about what your expectations are for what this trial is going to be like. It is not going to be a pleasant experience.”

Macklowe, who owns the Apple store on Fifth Avenue and other impressive New York properties, had hoped to avoid going to court.

However Linda is believed to have been left angry after she was left for a woman twenty years younger. 

Macklowe is now engaged to 60-year-old Patricia Landeau, and had hoped to avoid divorce court proceedings. He told the NY Daily News:

“I hope she’s happy. I'm happy. I hope it's over quickly. She initiated it.”