Now we get to talk about everyone’s favorite subject: money! Specifically, the money that crazy Mel Gibson is going to have to shell out to his soon to be ex-wife Robyn in the divorce. Yesterday, we reported on the general assumption that Mel’s fortune was in the vicinity of $900 million. Today, People Magazine is reporting that it’s probably “close to $1 billion”. Hello, sailor! Crazy sailor, that is.

Mel and Robyn have been married for 28 years. She’s the mother of his seven children, and she filed for divorce in California, a community property state that tends to split property and assets straight down the middle if a settlement cannot be reached. All of this leads to the conclusion that Robyn will walk away with something like $400-500 million.

Mel Gibson may soon be writing one of the biggest checks of his life – to his wife.

With no indication that the estranged couple – who married 28 years ago – had a prenup, Robyn Gibson, 53, is legally entitled in their divorce to half of everything the actor-director-producer earned during their marriage: A fortune estimated at close to $1 billion.

“This could easily be one of the biggest divorce settlements in Hollywood history,” says Los Angeles family lawyer Lynn Soodik, who’s not involved with the case. “Any attorney would advise her to take half.”

A $500 million settlement would dwarf the current record holders of celebrity divorce:

Michael Jordan ponied up $168 million following his 2006 divorce with wife Juanita; Neil Diamond forked over $150 million after his 1994 split with Marcia Murphey; while Steven Spielberg shelled out $100 million following his 1989 divorce from Amy Irving.

Among Gibson’s estimated assets: More than $600 million grossed by The Passion of the Christ alone, $100-plus million in real estate investments worldwide (he bought an island in Fiji for $15 million in 2004), and $75 million for film and TV projects for which Gibson executive produced.

As for film residuals, Gibson, also 53, “would be accountable to pay half for the rest of his days,” Soodik says. “If he gets a residual check for Lethal Weapon or Braveheart, half of that check is hers.”

But don’t expect the ex-couple to enter a painful, protracted battle in the courts.

“This divorce will probably reach a settlement in a matter of months,” Soodik says. “It likely won’t be messy since there’s enough money to go around.”

[From People Magazine]

We don’t really know how messy this is going to get, mainly because we don’t know just how crazy Mel is. Will he drag this out? Will he be humble in the face of divorce, or will he just go on yet another bender? Is it weird that I’m sort of hoping for a least a little insanity? He wouldn’t be Mel Gibson if he didn’t have the occasional freak-out.

Mel Gibson is shown at a Global Green event on 10/12/08. Credit: WENN. Robyn Gibson is shown out in Malibu on 9/10/2000. Credit: Fame Pictures