Mel Gibson is known for being involved in many hugely successful films, may it be in a starring role in front of the camera or in a managerial role behind it. He has racked up about $850 million in assets over the years, much of it from his movie stardom. However, half of it could be at stake now that his divorce from his ex-wife, Robyn Moore, is complete.

Moore separated from Gibson in 2006 before officially filing for divorce in 2009. In that year she learned that Gibson was expecting a newborn child with his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Grigorieva, a Russian singer, has since split from Gibson.

Five years after their troubles began, Gibson and Moore completed their divorce in front of a judge at a Superior Court of California last month. Very little information was available regarding the settlement, though some speculate that Gibson did not have a prenuptial agreement with Moore. If true, Gibson could be on the hook for $425 million, which would be one of the largest divorce settlements in Hollywood history.

In addition to the finances, Gibson has property in Fiji and California, with the latter property being valued at about $22.5 million. Gibson had seven children while with Moore, and the youngest of those kids is now at the center of a custody dispute between the two. Gibson is also fighting with Grigorieva for custody of their two-year-old daughter.

Movie stars may have an unusually wealthy amount of assets, but any splitting couple has to deal with the division of assets when they decide to file for divorce. Consulting a legal representative before you get married can be beneficial, and it can be even more so when your marriage reaches its end.

Source: Digital Journal, "No prenuptial agreement costs Gibson half of his $850 million," Nicole Byerly, Dec. 24, 2011