Rory McIlroy and his soon-to-be ex-wife Erica Stoll signed a pre-nuptial agreement, it can be revealed.
In news that shocked the sports world on Tuesday evening, it was revealed that Rory had filed for divorce from his wife of seven years Erica Stoll.
Court documents filed in Palm Beach County stated that their marriage was ‘irretrievably broken’.
The 35-year-old Co Down golfer is said to have filed the documents on Monday (May 13) just three days before the start of the PGA Championship the second major of the year, and fresh off his latest victory at the Wells Fargo Championship last weekend.
McIlroy’s career earnings total €80million. The latest filed accounts for McIlroy Inc show the world-famous golfer’s net worth is well in excess of $200 million dollars.
McIlroy’s communications team confirmed on Tuesday that a divorce has been filed. They stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as ‘respectful and amicable’ as possible.
Court documents filed in Palm Beach County stated their marriage was ‘irretrievably broken’.
While the divorce papers further reveal that a prenup is in place, further details are not available. However, multi-millionaire Rory’s net worth will ensure that Ms Stoll will receive a substantial settlement.
The most recent accounts for the year ended 2022 for the golfer’s Irish registered firm Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd show that he has $21,172,178 in the bank.
McIlroy’s Dublin-based Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd reported net liabilities of $6.2m at the end of 2022, despite holding $21.2m in cash as its has $212.9m in outstanding loans.
The firm whose principal activity is the management of McIlroy’s royalties and management fees reported a profit of $11.4m two years ago, the last year for which accounts are available, after turnover jumped year-on-year from $19.7m to $37.7m.
The company holds intangible assets valued at $178.5m related to McIlroy’s patents ($148.9m) and trademarks ($29.6m).
Despite residing in Florida, McIlroy’s links with Ireland have always stayed strong and he also owns a house in his childhood home in the Belfast suburb of Holywood.
In choosing to base his business affairs in the Republic, McIlroy spurned the route regularly taken by sports personalities and musicians that could have allowed him to locate his management company in tax havens.
Rory McIlroy is one of the firm’s directors along with his father Gerry, financier Donal Casey and his childhood best friend Sean O’Flaherty listed as co-directors.
The company trading as Rory McIlroy Inc, was established towards the end of 2013 by McIlroy.
The McIlroy company manages all the royalty payments from the golf star’s various endorsements.
The couple, who share a three-year-old daughter Poppy Kennedy born in 2020, tied the knot in 2017 after a storybook meeting at the 2012 Ryder Cup.
He has previously credited Ms Stoll with helping him make his tee time at the legendary Ryder Cup match in Medinah in 2012 – thanks to a police escort – after he missed his alarm. He went on to win his match over Keegan Bradley. It inspired Europe to a famous victory over the US in a Ryder Cup known as the Miracle at Medinah.
Ms Stoll was working at Ryder Cup event for the PGA.
Rory was previously engaged to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki
The four-time major champion and Stoll kept their relationship largely private before they married in a lavish ceremony in Ireland in 2017.
The couple exchanged their vows at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, in front of celebrity guests, including One Direction star Niall Horan and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, while music icons Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder performed at the event.
The petition for divorce states that the pair had signed a prenuptial agreement. However, the details of the arrangement have not been divulged.
McIlroy’s attorney was listed as Thomas Sasser, the same attorney who represented Tiger Woods when his wife divorced him in 2010.
The filing also calls for shared custody and a parenting plan to be established for Poppy.
