Diane Culligan, founder of London City Lionesses, at a soccer field.
A celebrated figure in women’s football has resolved a dispute with her former husband, a cryptocurrency millionaire, concerning their £7 million residence amidst a contentious divorce.
Diane Culligan, 63, a prominent personality in women’s football, has been legally contesting with her 62-year-old ex-husband, Anthony, a financier, since their separation in 2022.
Anthony Culligan, Diane’s ex-husband.
The London mansion in Primrose Hill at the center of the dispute.
The couple, who were together for four decades, experienced a breakdown in their relationship after deciding to renovate their Primrose Hill property in North London, valued at £2.1 million. The mansion features nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a private cinema.
Following their divorce proceedings, the division of their assets, particularly the luxurious home, became a major point of contention.
Mrs. Culligan attributed the marital split to her ex-husband, stating he “left the marriage without explanation,” causing her to seek therapy.
Conversely, Mr. Culligan described his former wife as “overbearing” and “irrational,” alleging she had twice physically prevented him from leaving the premises during arguments.
While both parties agreed to an equal distribution of their £27.3 million wealth, they turned to the High Court to resolve the disagreement over the mansion, which Mrs. Culligan was determined to keep.
The court’s judgment, now public, ruled in favor of Diane Culligan, allowing her to retain ownership of the multi-million-pound mansion.
Acknowledging that a single occupant might not require such a large nine-bedroom residence, the judge recognized Mrs. Culligan’s “emotional attachment” to the London property.
Justice MacDonald stated, “While their marital standard of living was high, it’s questionable whether Mrs. Culligan, as a single person, needs a nine-bedroom, seven-bathroom house.”
He conceded that despite the mismatch between the property size and her direct needs, “I accept that the wife has an emotional connection to the former matrimonial home to a significant degree.”
The judge concluded that a fair allocation of assets could be achieved without forcing the sale of the family home.
The couple’s relationship began in 1982, and they married in Japan ten years later, raising three children together.
Both individuals have achieved significant success. Mr. Culligan amassed considerable wealth through cryptocurrency, while Mrs. Culligan is recognized as a pioneering figure in football.
In 2019, they jointly established a company, with Mrs. Culligan as the primary shareholder, to acquire the Lionesses football club, with Mr. Culligan serving as a director.
Mrs. Culligan, aged 63, founded the Women’s Championship football club and served as its chairman until 2023.
Their lifestyle was described as luxurious, fueled by Mr. Culligan’s cryptocurrency investments, which transformed an initial £10,000 into £20 million.
They reinvested Anthony’s cryptocurrency earnings into real estate, building a substantial property portfolio.
Justice MacDonald noted their agreement on an equal division of assets but disagreement on the method of distribution.
Justice Macdonald emphasized the length of their forty-year marriage, stating, “There must be some sharing of the illiquid asset… keeping the wife’s share to the minimum required for fairness.”
Ultimately, the court ordered that Mrs. Culligan would keep the former family home, while Mr. Culligan would receive the rental properties and a payment of £750,000 from his ex-wife.
The judge highlighted Mrs. Culligan’s pivotal role in transitioning the Millwall women’s football team into an independent entity.
However, Justice MacDonald was critical of both parties in his ruling, describing Mr. Culligan as a “less than impressive witness” and Mrs. Culligan as also “not an impressive witness.”
Following the sale of London City Lionesses in 2023, Mrs. Culligan became a consultant earning £750,000 annually over four years.
The judge viewed her decision to receive £3 million as annual installments of £750,000 over four years as an attempt to “disguise assets as future income.”
The Judge ruled in favor of Diane Culligan keeping the mansion.
Diane Culligan, founder of London City Lionesses.
Marcus Bellamy