If one thing has become clear from this Fergie scandal, it is that husbands should be less vindictive when it comes to divorce.
If one thing has become clear from this cash-for-access scandal, where Fergie (allegedly) tried to peddle access to her ex, Prince Andrew, it is that husbands should be less vindictive when it comes to divorce, and more long-term. (Not that Andrew was necessarily vindictive, but Fergie says she was left on half a naval officer’s salary.)
What this means is that leaving your ex-wife in (relative) poverty, because you can, because your lawyers can, because you want to, is a backfire waiting to happen: poor wives will turn to whatever means they have, which may well include embarrassing or even illegal ones.
It may be satisfying to punish your wife – like it may be satisfying for Germany to let Greece go under (the principle is the same) – but it blows up later, more expensively, more damagingly. It may hurt more now to concede some of your wealth, but it stops things like this happening.