ROCK star Phil Collins has reportedly paid out an estimated £25 million to his former wife in a divorce settlement.
The Genesis drummer and singer announced his split from his third wife, Orianne Cevey, 35, in 2006, stating that the pair had "grown apart".
It is the second time 57-year-old Collins has faced a costly marital break-up bill. He was forced to stump
up £17 million to his second wife, Jill Tavelman.
Collins, whose hits include Easy Lover and In The Air Tonight, is worth an estimated £140 million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
But his fortune took a hit of at least £25 million between 2006 and 2007, figures contained in the latest report from his firm, Philip Collins Limited, suggest.
It is thought the divorce pay-out could be responsible for the dip in his wealth. If reports of the £25 million pay-out are correct, it will make it the most expensive divorce settlement in the UK entertainment world, topping the £24.3 million that Sir Paul McCartney paid to Heather Mills after their break-up.
However, it is some way off the £48 million that the insurance tycoon John Charman was told to pay his former wife, Beverley, in Britain's biggest-ever divorce settlement.
Collins announced his split to wife number three in March 2006. In a statement at the time, the musician said the pair had been "growing apart for some time" and this had put "too much pressure on their relationship".
