US$1b question in Hamms' divorce case

New York

JUST how much of Harold Hamm's fortune was amassed through his skill and hard work? That was a key question that Oklahoma divorce judge Howard Haralson had to consider in his decision last week, when he ordered Mr Hamm, the chief executive officer of Continental Resources - and Oklahoma's richest person - to hand over more than US$1 billion in cash and assets to his ex-wife in one of the largest-ever US divorce judgments.

Judge Haralson awarded Sue Ann Hamm just 6 per cent of the US$18 billion fortune her lawyers say the couple had amassed at the start of the divorce trial in August. Mr Hamm called the judgment "fair and equitable" but his ex-wife called it unfair and plans to appeal.

Several divorce lawyers said they were surprised by how small the award was.…