# Tech titan’s ex-wife fails to win greater share of AI boom in decade-long ‘divorce of the century’

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-24 09:07 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
A South Korean court has ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay his ex-wife a settlement exceeding $640 million in a decade-long legal battle.

## Intelligence Brief
A South Korean court has issued a ruling in what has been described as the 'divorce of the century,' ordering tech titan Chey Tae-won to pay a significant settlement to his ex-wife. According to reporting from Reuters and the Financial Times, the court ordered the SK Chairman to pay $640 million as part of the divorce proceedings. Other reports provide slightly varying figures for the total payout; Bloomberg.com reports the SK Hynix tycoon was ordered to pay $643 million, while the BBC reports the settlement amount as $644 million. The ruling concludes a legal process that has spanned a decade of litigation. Coverage from CNN emphasizes that the ex-wife did not succeed in winning a greater share of the wealth generated by the recent artificial intelligence boom. The reporting from the Financial Times and Reuters focuses on the specific legal mandate for the SK Chairman to fulfill these financial obligations.


Because the assets in question are tied to the SK Group and SK Hynix, the case has drawn international attention as a landmark dispute over high-net-worth assets. The diverse range of outlets, including Bloomberg and the BBC, highlights the scale of the financial transaction involved in this specific court order. To understand why this case is trending, it is necessary to recognize the position of Chey Tae-won as the leader of the SK Group, a conglomerate with massive interests in the technology sector, specifically through SK Hynix. The decade-long nature of the divorce proceedings indicates a protracted legal struggle over the division of assets. The timing of the final ruling coincides with a period of significant growth in the AI sector, which has amplified the value of the tech titan's holdings. The 'divorce of the century' moniker reflects the unprecedented financial stakes associated with the SK Group's leadership.


Looking forward, the focus remains on the execution of the court's order for the SK Chairman to pay the settlement. Based on the available coverage, the next steps involve the transfer of the funds, which range from $640 million to $644 million depending on the source cited. While the court has made its ruling, the specific timeline for the payment has not been detailed in the provided headlines. Observers will be watching for any further legal appeals or the final confirmation that the settlement has been paid in full to the ex-wife.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Times | South Korean tech billionaire ordered to pay $640mn in ‘divorce of the century’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxQNHRuX2hxNjhaNlRhdWw3c3c2N1RSbFlXN0NtYjdFTHRCQzlmOG0zRUdEMW1ZcF8xRWt4cGw3MVdoZ202cmxKMFItWTBDTnQ0YmM0V08yYktiTmx0UlNIejNDSzdxSWgwTE5VT1VncDZuTU1uOWZaazVGcmFkWXBwTU5KQzc?oc=5) |
| Reuters | South Korean court orders SK Chairman Chey to pay $640 mln to ex-wife in divorce ruling | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxOUmJCMkJnRFktb2dhYU5CLU1COVdTajhGTmlPaUZXYUpmejQ3X2oyTUJxS0FST0ZPUUJOVmlpYXptOEtuY1pBbF9nREI1MXNZY04wRXJUY3dBS3hjUlhXUHFxUEFuM3g5OWNVWm8zZUJ1U1BpbWNkWVROeUVUMVhjQVZpNWtlckhoV0dvaFNtcDJMYVVwR0sxdjcwd3A4N1NReHk0SG5wdkctR0hNakVuV2RqWG9OWVRQQmhacnA5eEJJbnRMRmVQaER4VGM?oc=5) |
| Bloomberg.com | SK Hynix Tycoon Ordered to Pay $643 Million Divorce Settlement | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPdXBkNkZUYTY0QndhdFJXa0dmWms4WG95bUVPVHpYZm1wYWJsX1d2ZDkyQUZVa182ZnRRTVNZYjZrZC1qaVg3LXVUeE9BSEplNzljMXFmd3NRTnh1eXdIeXJGd3RDU3ktNHNndWNZTnczZHNocF80b1E3amdQdzNYMlp1ZGFob2pqaFJSUU9NN3ZmV2ZOUG5iemM2bC1PT3JmVWFlX1UxbHR3OG5yenhEZy1ETFU?oc=5) |
| BBC | SK Group: Tech titan Chey Tae-won ordered to pay ex-wife $644m in divorce settlement | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTE43dkM3QjF5YVBDZXhYV2hsNm1XNUtDZXRmS2w2TzNYT1NNcE5YVWs5YUY4NmFQZnJGdmZyRkl4UDJGdzM3Z01yXzhVZ1VxOU9FV3Y5Q2V0VUxmQQ?oc=5) |
| CNN | Tech titan’s ex-wife fails to win greater share of AI boom in decade-long ‘divorce of the century’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxQVVNuVzJkUVd5QmpCSmpFcVpjNXhPdDNLR1FtbFozNEZaY3RfWmN3SkFtNTV2dFJVTjROdWxOS3VoNDBJbWlNbTkwZHFqLUZZdVhSYzdKdmszUzl0b0xibThwem5QLXNKNlE0dDRMc3VmdlYzTVNrbzJ0SUJHUU5nS1dZdWpuVWM?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-24/tech-titan-s-ex-wife-fails-to-win-greater-share-of-ai-boom-in-decade-long*