Divorces Hamm

Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall

Continental Resources founder and CEO. 1988–2014.

Nearly a billion dollars, paid by personal check, down to the cent.

TL;DR

Married in 1988 with no prenup. She filed in May 2012, and the case went to a trial of more than nine weeks. (Wikipedia: Harold Hamm; Reuters)
In November 2014 an Oklahoma judge awarded her $995.5 million: $322.7 million by year end, then at least $7 million a month. (International Business Times; Fortune)
He kept about 68% of Continental. In January 2015 she cashed his check for $974,790,317.77, after first turning it down. (International Business Times; Wikipedia: Harold Hamm)

Continental ResourcesPAID 2015

Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall

1988–2014

$974.8M

The personal check she cashed in January 2015, after first refusing it.

Years: 26
Kids: 2
Per day: $103K
Rank: #9

ceodivorcetracker.com/divorces/hamm

Post on X

The card is sized for a screenshot.

The box score

The marriage, scored like a season.

YRS: 26
DAYS: ~9,500
KIDS: 2
SET: $974.8M
$/DAY: $103K
RK: #9

Advanced stats

Per hour married: $4K
Median U.S. household incomes, per day: 1.2
In $1 bills, stacked: 66 miles

Per-day figures divide the settlement by the days married, approximate where the exact dates aren’t public. Household income: U.S. Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2024, Sep 9, 2025. $1-bill thickness: Bureau of Engraving and Printing, currency facts (archived).

Tale of the tape

Harold Hamm kept

About 68% of Continental Resources
A $750,000 home in Branson, Missouri
A log cabin on 154 acres in Major County, Oklahoma, valued at about $300,000

Sue Ann Arnall got

$995.5 million in the judgment
A $17.4 million home in Carmel Valley, California
A $4.6 million home in Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
An $800,000 home in Enid, Oklahoma

Sources: (International Business Times; Associated Press; Fortune)

The receipts

$974,790,317.77

The check. Someone did the math to the penny, and the first answer was no.

(Wikipedia: Harold Hamm)

$7M

The minimum monthly payment on the balance. That’s about 84 median U.S. household incomes, every month.

(Fortune; Census Bureau)

Under 10%

Her award as a share of the couple’s total assets.

(Cullman Times)

$17.6B

What her experts asked the court to split: the growth in his Continental shares since 1988. The judge didn’t buy it.

(Money Talks News)

Asked, awarded and cashed

What her experts wanted split
$17.6B
The judge’s award
$995.5M
The check
$974.8M

Where it ranks

No. 9 of 46 divorces with a reported price tag.

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates 2021
$76B
Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott 2019
$38B
Alec and Jocelyn Wildenstein 1999
$3.8B
Rupert Murdoch and Anna dePeyster 1999
$1.7B
Bill and Sue Gross 2017
$1.3B
Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone 2009
$1.2B
Steve and Elaine Wynn 2010
$1B
Chey Tae-won and Roh Soh-yeong 2024
$1B
Harold Hamm and Sue Ann Arnall 2012
$974.8M

See the full leaderboard

Timeline

Apr 1988
Married. (Wikipedia: Harold Hamm)
2005
He says they separated. (Wikipedia: Harold Hamm)
May 19, 2012
She files for divorce. (Wikipedia: Harold Hamm)
Aug–Oct 2014
A trial of more than nine weeks. (Reuters)
Nov 10, 2014
Judge Howard Haralson awards her $995.5 million in an 80-page ruling. (International Business Times)
Jan 2015
She cashes the $974,790,317.77 check after first refusing it. (Wikipedia: Harold Hamm)

Next on the docket

News Corp and FoxRupert Murdoch’s divorces1956–present17 days4 divorces Wynn ResortsSteve and Elaine Wynn1963–1986, 1991–2010$741M$48K a day PIMCOBill and Sue Gross1985–2017$1.3B$115K a day

All 16 divorces

Sources

Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.