John Cleese says he’s ‘surprisingly poor’ as he hits out at ‘absurd’ $20,000,000 divorce-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

John Cleese takes aim at ex wife over huge divorce cost (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

At 84 years old, John Cleese is not eyeing up retirement any time soon as his £20,000,000 divorce left him shortchanged.

The Fawlty Towers actor blasted his ‘absurd’ divorce settlement in his split from ex-wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger, 79, in 2008.

Afterwards he embarked on his so called Alimony Tour but 16 years on the Monty Python legend is still ‘surprisingly poor’.

In a new interview he confessed the costly split, which resulted in a payout of $20million (£16million) to the American psychotherapist, still motivates him.

When discussing Cleese’s decision to work into his 80s and beyond, he told SagaMagazine there was ‘only one person responsible for that.’

He said: ‘Can you believe when I met her, I had a beautiful house in Holland Park and no mortgage and when I broke up with her, I had a flat in Sloane Square and a full mortgage? How they figured out she was worth $20m, I have no idea.’

Cleese was married to Alyce Faye Eichelberger until 2008 (Picture: Barry King/WireImage)

Despite the huge sum, Cleese insists he’s moved on from the anger of the divorce, helped by how ‘absurd’ and ‘ridiculous’ the amount was.

The pair had married each other in 1992, two years after he divorced second wife of 10 years, Barbara Trentham.

The Fish Called Wanda actor remarried in 2012 to current wife Jennifer Wade, who he says he transferred his short lease of his flat to.

Apparently he doesn’t own a car or property now, despite his net worth being estimated at around £20 million.

‘I’m surprisingly poor, never thought it was necessary to own a great deal,’ Cleese added. ‘The most important thing is to have enough money to have some really good food, buy clothes twice a year and have nice holidays.’

Connie Booth was also married to Cleese and complained she was unaware of the Fawlty Towers reboot(Picture: Shutterstock)

Much of his wealth came from being a founding member of Monty Python since 1969 with Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.

He is also leading a revival of the classic BBC comedy, Fawlty Towers in which he starred as rude and eccentric hotelier Basil Fawlty in Torquay.

Despite speculation over a TV series, the reboot is actually hitting the West End, with Cleese’s daughter, Camilla, helping pen the two hour stage show.

Controversy struck when ex-wife Connie Booth, 82, claimed she wasn’t told about the project despite helping make the original.

Booth married Cleese in 1968, with the pair welcoming daughter Cynthia together three years later but splitting before the second season of Fawlty was completed.

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