She's got £300m, he's got £30m, but...the Guy doesn't want a penny
They have a son Rocco, eight, and an adopted boy David Banda, two — and she has daughter Lourdes, 12, by dancer Carlos Leon.
But Guy hit back — branding Madonna a control freak obsessed with a “weird religion”.
His “increasing hatred” of her fixation with Kabbalah — a mystical off-shoot of the Jewish faith — was a huge reason behind the break-up, a source said.
He added: “Guy’s initial support and interest in Kabbalah turned to annoyance and hatred.
“He refuses to answer the phone to the team of mediators and lawyers Madonna insists on bringing into their divorce proceedings.
“Guy doesn’t believe Kabbalah is a religion on a par with Christianity. He thinks a lot of it is hokum — which has infuriated Madonna, who believes it a solution for many of the world’s problems.”
Last night a friend of the couple told The Sun: “They wanted to kid the world into believing they were trying to work things out.
“But the truth is a whole lot different. When Guy heard the reasons Madonna was divorcing him he hit the roof. He thinks she’s trying to make him out to be the villain of the piece. He’s incandescent with rage.”
Another close confidante of the pair last night told The Sun how the star had been “mentally totting up her grievances with Guy” for months to form part of her divorce petition.
The American pal, who both stars have consulted during the bitter break-up, said: “The situation is on a knife edge. Guy can’t believe some of the things Madonna has said about him.
“No one knows if this is going to be settled easily or turn into an absolute bloodbath.
“What started out as love has now ended with real acrimony. It’s very, very sad.”
Madonna has also complained to friends that Guy moaned about his life with her — claiming it was a “nightmare” because of her international jet-setting. She claimed he could not join her on tour because he was “afraid of flying”.
Madonna has launched a series of petty digs at Guy in the last couple of months — sending him a clear message their marriage was doomed.
Infuriated
She infuriated him by removing some of his beloved artwork from the family home in Marylebone, West London.
She also moved HER most prized paintings — a Dali and a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte by Jacques-Louis David — from London to New York, signalling her desire to return there.
A source said: “Guy had annoyed her by changing his travel arrangements with the kids and she wanted to hit back. It was petty, but riled him massively.
“When she moved the Dali and the David to New York it was a declaration of war.”
Yesterday the couple issued a short joint statement to announce the end of their marriage, confirming The Sun’s World Exclusive.
It read: “Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7½ years of marriage, their representatives confirmed today.
“They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time.”
The Sun can also reveal that Madonna’s divorce is well underway and proceedings have been issued to Guy.
She is represented by top lawyer Fiona Shackleton. The pair have no pre-nuptial agreement. Madonna’s spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg said they expected to agree a settlement without going through the courts.
They were wed in a lavish ceremony at Skibo castle, Scotland, on December 22, 2000 — the day after Rocco, then four months old, was christened.
Madonna’s daughter Lourdes was a bridesmaid. Son David has since been adopted from Malawi. Madonna joined Ritchie on the red carpet for the world premiere of his latest film RocknRolla in London on September 1.
She made a surprise appearance at the West End cinema, walking arm-in-arm with her husband and posing for photographs.
The appearance was seen as a move to end speculation that their marriage was in trouble.
Ritchie had tried to scotch the rumours of a split with a public show of support at his wife’s 50th birthday party in August. But it was all a sham.
Last night, Guy’s family said he was immersing himself in work following the painful split.
Sister Tabitha, 43, who cares for elderly dad John, said: “He’s filming today, he is trying to keep going.”
Mo Kurimbokus, a counsellor for relationship experts Relate, said the marriage breakdown could be a classic example of the seven-year itch.
She added: “With them both so busy they didn’t get the quality time together needed to sustain the relationship. They may have become more like strangers.”
Madonna was last night preparing to put on a brave face and perform for thousands of fans, despite looking frail, gaunt and downcast.
A source said: “Madonna is a true professional, and her tour will go on — but she looks exhausted.
“The stress of her divorce is taking its toll on her. She has lost even more weight.”
The singer hid in a blacked-out SUV as she left her New York apartment for Boston for the first leg of her Sticky and Sweet tour.
At almost the same time, Guy returned to their London home — the first time he has been seen since The Sun revealed the marriage split.
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