The $60 Million Fallout: 5 Shocking Secrets Of Ellen Barkin's 'Combustible' Divorce From Billionaire Ron Perelman

The tumultuous six-year marriage between actress Ellen Barkin and billionaire investor Ron Perelman remains one of Hollywood and Wall Street's most dramatic and costly splits, with the financial and legal fallout still echoing in the public sphere as of late 2025. This "unlikely and combustible pair" captivated the media from the moment they married in 2000 until their swift and contentious divorce in 2006, which culminated in one of the most significant celebrity divorce settlements of the era. The true story, however, goes far beyond the initial headlines, involving a bitter $4 million lawsuit, a film production company, and a surprising connection to a major defamation trial years later.

The relationship between the gritty, Emmy-winning actress and the polished, high-finance mogul was always destined for drama. While the initial split was settled quickly by Valentine's Day 2006, the subsequent legal battles and public accusations cemented their divorce as an enduring case study in high-stakes marital warfare, proving that even a massive pre-nuptial agreement couldn't buy silence or peace.

Detailed Profiles: Ellen Barkin and Ronald O. Perelman

The coupling of an acclaimed Hollywood star and a corporate titan brought together two vastly different worlds. Their respective biographies highlight the stark contrast in their professional lives, making their eventual clash even more explosive.

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Ellen Barkin: Actress, Producer, and Emmy Winner

• Full Name: Ellen Rona Barkin
• Born: April 16, 1954 (Currently 71 years old as of late 2025)
• Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Breakthrough in the film Diner (1982), major roles in The Big Easy (1987), Switch (1991), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), and an Emmy win for Before Women Had Wings.
• Marriages: Gabriel Byrne (1988–1999) and Ronald O. Perelman (2000–2006).
• Estimated Net Worth: Approximately $60–$80 million, a significant portion of which is attributed to her divorce settlement from Perelman.

Ronald Owen Perelman: Businessman, Investor, and Philanthropist

• Full Name: Ronald Owen Perelman
• Born: January 1, 1943 (Currently 82 years old as of late 2025)
• Place of Birth: Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Founder and Chairman of the diversified holding company MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated. Best known for his acquisition of the cosmetics giant Revlon in a hostile tender offer in 1985.
• Marriages: Ron Perelman has been married five times: Faith Golding, Claudia Cohen (a former gossip-columnist), Patricia Duff, Ellen Barkin, and Dr. Anna Chapman (a psychiatrist).
• Estimated Net Worth: Varies significantly, but generally estimated to be in the billions ($1.59 billion to $4 billion), placing him on the Forbes Billionaires list.

The Blindsiding: How a Billionaire Ended His Fourth Marriage

The marriage, which began in a grand ceremony in 2000, was characterized by public appearances and a seemingly lavish lifestyle, but behind the scenes, the relationship was reportedly fraught. Perelman, known for his aggressive business tactics, applied a similar approach to ending his marriage to Barkin, his fourth wife.

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Sources close to the actress reported that she was completely blindsided when Perelman filed for divorce in early January 2006. The move was swift and decisive, reportedly catching Barkin off guard and immediately plunging the couple into a highly publicized, high-stakes negotiation. The divorce was finalized in less than six weeks, concluding by Valentine's Day 2006.

Despite the brevity of the marriage (just under six years), the pre-nuptial agreement was structured to provide Barkin with a substantial amount of money, with speculation that the payout increased the longer the marriage lasted. The final settlement was reportedly one of the largest non-billionaire spousal payouts at the time, estimated to be around $60 million. This massive sum ensured Barkin’s financial independence and became a legendary detail in the history of billionaire divorces.

The Bitter Legal Battle Over Applehead Pictures LLC

While the divorce was financially settled, the animosity between the two was far from over, leading to a protracted legal battle that provided the public with a rare glimpse into their post-marital feud. This conflict centered on a joint venture they created during their marriage: a film production company called Applehead Pictures LLC.

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In the aftermath of the divorce, Perelman filed a lawsuit against both Ellen Barkin and her brother, George Barkin, who was involved in the company's operations. Perelman claimed that the Barkin siblings had improperly managed and drained money from Applehead Pictures. The core of the dispute was a claimed $4.3 million that Perelman alleged was misappropriated.

However, the case did not go in the billionaire's favor. In a significant victory for the actress, a Manhattan judge ultimately ruled against Perelman. The judge ordered the Revlon chairman to pay over $4 million to the film production company, effectively dismissing his claims and signaling a loss in this high-profile legal skirmish. The judge’s decision solidified the narrative that the actress was not only financially compensated but also legally vindicated against her ex-husband's accusations.

The Surprising Link to the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Trial (Topical Authority)

Decades after the divorce, the name Ron Perelman was unexpectedly dragged back into the public consciousness through his ex-wife's involvement in another high-profile celebrity drama. In 2022, Ellen Barkin was called as a witness for Amber Heard in the highly publicized Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial.

Barkin's testimony, which focused on her brief relationship with Depp in the 1990s, brought her tumultuous personal history—including her marriage to Perelman—back into the media spotlight. Media coverage frequently referenced her status as the fourth ex-wife of the MacAndrews & Forbes mogul and the contentious nature of their split. This connection served as a powerful reminder of Barkin's resilience and her history with powerful, wealthy men in the public eye.

This unexpected link to a major current event years later highlights the enduring public interest in the Barkin-Perelman saga. The details of the $60 million settlement, the blindsiding divorce filing, and the subsequent legal victory over the Applehead Pictures LLC lawsuit continue to define the public narrative of their relationship, making it one of the most memorable and dramatic splits in modern celebrity history.