David Walliams and model ex-wife Lara Stone divide their £19m fortune in just 30 minutes as they settle High Court divorce cash battle

  • Pair's five-year marriage closed by a family court more than a year ago 
  • David Walliams last year blamed his model wife's 'unreasonable behaviour'
  • They had married in 2010 at a ceremony at Claridge's hotel in London
  • Walliams is worth £16.3m while his ex wife is said to be worth £2.6m

By Charlie Moore and Richard Spillett for MailOnline

Published: 06:41 EST, 8 November 2016 | Updated: 10:15 EST, 8 November 2016

Comedian David Walliams and his ex-wife Lara Stone have settled a High Court fight over their £19million fortune.

The pair's five-year marriage was drawn to a close by a family court judge more than a year ago.

After 30 minutes of private talks on the second day of the dispute at the High Court, Tim Bishop QC for 45-year-old Mr Walliams said he was 'pleased' to be able to announce that the couple had reached agreement.

David Walliams at the High Court today, where he is battling his ex wife over their assets

Family Division judge Mr. Justice Macdonald who was being asked to split the couple's assets said he was 'extremely pleased' that they had reached a compromise.

He said in these 'difficult and emotional circumstances' it was far better for them to reach agreement than him imposing an order on them.

Having been told of the confidential terms he agreed it was a 'fair outcome' and was 'happy to congratulate' them on reaching agreement.

He wished them both 'luck for the future' and hoped the settlement would allow them both to 'concentrate on their respective lives.'

Both the Little Britain star, worth £16.3m, and his 32-year-old ex wife, worth £2.6m, sat just yards apart and left court without comment.

Mr.Bishop told the judge that both had signed a confidentiality agreement to prevent any details of the settlement being made public.

And the judge made a reporting restrictions order barring any report of the details of the settlement being published.

He said the Article 8 rights to private and family life of the couple outweighed the Article 10 freedom of expression rights of the media to publish details. 

Walliams, 45, is best known for his comedy partnership with Matt Lucas.

Walliams and Stone were embroiled in a High Court fight over money a year after their divorce

Model Stone, 32, who was born in the Netherlands, recently played herself in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

Judge Heather MacGregor drew the marriage to a close in September 2015 - when she granted a decree nisi at a hearing in the Central Family Court in London.

Walliams had launched divorce proceedings and paperwork showed that he had complained about Stone's 'unreasonable behaviour'.

They had married in 2010 at a ceremony at Claridge's hotel in London.

Justin Bieber posed in a series of compromising positions with Miss Stone for the Calvin Klein campaign in 2015

Walliams made a name for himself alongside Lucas in the BBC One comedy sketch show Little Britain.

He went on to become a judge on the ITV show Britain's Got Talent and has released a number of children's books.

The website models.com says Stone was discovered aged 12 and participated in the Elite Model Look competition when 15.

A website biography says she became the 'primary choice for editorials and advertising campaigns' after signing with the IMG agency a decade ago. 

THE £19MILLION FORTUNE FROM FASHION AND BOOKS

David Walliams earned most of his £16.3million from writing children's books.  

Figures show that Walliams - best known as a comedian - is more successful as a writer of children's books and has been taken to the hearts of the nation as one of its best loved authors.  

The total sales in the UK for his books is well over £13m and as of this week.

He shares the money with his publisher Harper Collins, but takes a substantial cut to add to his already formidable fortune.

Walliams only wrote his first children's book Mr Stink in October 2009. It has since sold more than half a million copies in the UK.

Next was Billionaire Boy in June 2011 which sold around 550,000 copies, then Ratburger in September last year which sold 300,000.

Walliams only wrote his first children's book Mr Stink in October 2009. It has since sold more than half a million copies in the UK. Next was Billionaire Boy in June 2011 which sold around 550,000 copies

Since then he has been writing a number of other successful books aimed at children.

Stone has been cashing in with fashion and fragrance after signing big deals with Calvin Klein, Versace, H&M, Prada and Donna Karan.

The Dutch cover girl became the exclusive face of Calvin Klein in 2010 and has appeared in an advert with Justin Beiber.  

David Walliams last year blamed his model wife's 'unreasonable behaviour' for the breakdown of their five-year marriage.

The comedian, 44, finalised his divorce in September 2015 in a court hearing lasting just 60 seconds.

The couple, who reportedly have a combined wealth of almost £19million, separated six months prior, shortly after Miss Stone appeared half-naked in a risque photo shoot alongside singer Justin Bieber, 22.

Bieber, who posed in a series of compromising positions with Miss Stone for the Calvin Klein campaign, was widely reported to have asked the mother-of-one out on a date during the making of the adverts – apparently not realising she was married – and to have been turned down by her.

Another set of pictures published around the same time saw the model in an equally raunchy encounter with Fifty Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan.

After Miss Stone and Walliams began a trial separation in March, sources said Britain's Got Talent judge Walliams was 'devastated' by his wife's decision to leave their family home.   

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