High Court Lets Stand Arab Sheik’s $77-Million Divorce

An Arabian sheik unhappy with the more than $77 million his American divorce cost him lost a Supreme Court appeal Monday.

The court, without comment, let stand rulings that awarded $76.9 million in cash plus real estate and personal property against Sheik Mohammed al Fassi.

Lawyers for Fassi argued that the default judgment against him was based on “non-existent assets” or assets he did not own.

Fassi and Sheika Dena al Fassi were married in Los Angeles in 1975. Seven years later, she filed for divorce.

The sheika sought, under California’s community property law, half of the couple’s fortune--which she claimed was worth $6 billion.

Fassi, now 32, returned with his children to his homeland of Saudi Arabia in late 1982 after a dispute with a Hollywood, Fla., hotel over an unpaid $1.5-million bill. The bill later was paid.

Fassi did not attend divorce proceedings in California, produce documents as ordered or answer questions posed to him by the sheika’s lawyers.

Judge Robert Fainer awarded Mrs. Fassi, now 28, the large judgment based mainly on her testimony alleging community property that included airplanes, automobiles, houses, a yacht, a zoo, real estate, jewelry, household furnishings, a coin collection and clothes.

Fassi challenged the 1983 award but it was upheld in 1986 by a state appeals court.

The California Supreme Court refused to hear Fassi’s appeal Nov. 19.