Sean Connery and Diane Cilento divorced after 10 years, 11 months of marriage. The settlement was reportedly about $5M. See the full timeline.
Figures are reported estimates. Last updated Oct 2026.
The original James Bond's split was modest by today's standards.
Sean Connery, the Scottish actor who became the first screen James Bond, and Diane Cilento, an Australian actress who was nominated for an Academy Award for Tom Jones, married on 29 December 1962 in Gibraltar. Cilento was already an established stage and film actress, and they had a son, Jason, who became an actor. Connery was then at the beginning of his Bond career, having appeared in Dr. No in 1962. The marriage was the first for Connery.
Connery's wealth came from his Bond films, starting with Dr. No in 1962, followed by From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball. He was well paid, and he took a share of profits in some of the later films. He went on to a long career after leaving the role, winning an Academy Award for The Untouchables in 1988. Cilento's wealth was far smaller than his, and the marriage took place while his fame was growing.
The couple married in 1962 and had their son in 1963. Connery's fame as Bond grew rapidly in the years that followed. The marriage was reported to be strained by his affairs and by his temper, and Cilento later accused him of violence, which Connery denied in a manner that provoked controversy. The couple separated in 1971, and the divorce was finalized in 1973, after about 11 years. Connery married Micheline Roquebrune in 1975.
The divorce settlement is reported to have been modest in modern terms, and the figure of $5 million often found in lists is an estimate, probably expressed in current values. Cilento received a share of Connery's property and custody of their son. Connery's income from the Bond films was high but was taxed heavily in Britain, and the reported sums are based on press accounts.
The reported figure reflects the fact that Connery's fame was at a high point when the marriage ended. The long marriage and Cilento's role as the mother of their child supported her claim. The figure is smaller than the later settlements of other film stars on this list, which reflects the lower fees and the legal environment of the time.
Connery's career continued with success in films such as The Man Who Would Be King, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Hunt for Red October. He was knighted in 2000 and lived in the Bahamas. Cilento moved to Australia, where she wrote and ran a theater in Queensland. She died in 2011.
The Connery divorce is among the earliest on this list, and it shows how the value of a film star's divorce has grown over time. Compared with the Cher and Sonny Bono divorce, it took place at a similar time but involved a different kind of fame and wealth.
Cilento's memoir, My Nine Lives, described her time with Connery. Connery was given a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000. Their son, Jason Connery, became an actor and director. The $5 million figure is an estimate.
Diane Cilento's reported settlement was about $5 million.
They married in 1962 and divorced in 1973, a marriage of roughly 11 years.
No prenuptial agreement was reported.
Yes, the family is reported to include 1 children.
Reported assets include: Cash, UK properties, film royalties.
The reported figure reflects the fact that Connery's fame was at a high point when the marriage ended. The long marriage and Cilento's role as the mother of their child supported her claim.