The high-profile divorce between actor Hugh Jackman and producer Deborra-lee Furness is unfolding as a master class in strategic asset division, with property records revealing sophisticated financial maneuvering behind their separation.
Inside the Divorce
The former power couple, who announced their split in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage, are now systematically dividing a real estate portfolio worth millions across multiple continents.
People magazine reports that property records it reviewed by show that an LLC associated with Furness recently paid $11.7 million to acquire Jackman’s stake in their stunning Manhattan penthouse, effectively buying him out of the luxury property they purchased together in 2022 for $21 million.
The transaction, first reported by The Real Deal, occurred on May 25 — strategically timed just two days before Furness officially filed for divorce on May 27.
The timing suggests careful coordination between legal and financial advisers, a hallmark of high-net-worth divorces where asset protection and tax implications drive decision-making.
The nearly 5,000-square-foot penthouse in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, is now valued at approximately $23 million, indicating the couple’s real estate investments have appreciated during their brief ownership period.
The property itself represents more than just a residence — it’s a statement piece in one of New York’s most architecturally significant buildings.
Located at 100 Eleventh Ave., the glass-wrapped penthouse features 14-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and an additional 3,700 square feet of outdoor space with Hudson River views.
The transaction was recorded through Phoenix Rising I LLC, an entity tied to Furness that shares a Beverly Hills address with the couple’s legal advisers at Grant Tani Barash & Altman Inc.
This Manhattan property represents just one piece of a global real estate empire the couple built during their marriage. Their portfolio includes a waterfront condominium overlooking Sydney’s Bondi Beach, a second apartment in New York’s West Village, and a Hamptons beach house. The West Village triplex, purchased in 2010, was listed for $38.9 million in 2022 but quietly withdrew from the market in April 2024 after price reductions, according to New York Post.
The divorce proceedings have been notably swift and efficient. According to the Daily Mail, the couple reached an agreement to divide their reported $387 million fortune by May 30, with Furness’ filings indicating the terms were uncontested and required only judicial approval. This streamlined approach suggests extensive pre-planning and negotiation, likely facilitated by sophisticated estate planning structures.
However, the proceedings weren’t without tension that spilled out into the public.
In May, Furness issued a revealing statement about “betrayal” and the “breakdown” of her marriage, expressing how belief in “a higher power” helped her “navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage.”
The Daily Mail reported that an alleged insider claimed she was “blindsided” and “extremely disappointed” by the dissolution of her marriage, suggesting there was “an unwritten understanding that she would not trash him to the press.”
The couple, who first met on the set of Australian TV series “Correlli” in 1995 and married in 1996, share two adopted children — Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19.
Their joint statement to People emphasized that their “family has been and always will be our highest priority,” describing their decision to separate as pursuing “individual growth” while maintaining the “wonderful, loving marriage” they built together.
As celebrity divorces increasingly become case studies in wealth management and asset protection, the Jackman-Furness split demonstrates how sophisticated legal and financial planning can facilitate relatively smooth transitions even when personal relationships deteriorate. Their methodical approach to property division may well become a template for other high-net-worth couples navigating similar circumstances.
