Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness may have kept their split quiet for a while, but behind the scenes, things were already in motion, especially when it came to their multimillion-dollar real estate empire, including the NYC penthouse.
Just two days before Furness officially filed for divorce on May 27, the former couple made a major move in dividing their assets. According to property records reviewed by PEOPLE, an LLC linked to Furness paid a staggering $11.7 million to the LLC both she and Jackman had used to purchase their stunning New York City penthouse in 2022. The luxury home was initially bought for around $21 million, and it’s now estimated to be worth closer to $23 million. That buyout signals that Jackman quietly handed over his half of the property, effectively stepping away from one of the couple’s most prized real estate gems.
The sleek penthouse is no average celebrity crash pad, it spans almost 5,000 square feet across two floors, with an additional 3,700 square feet of outdoor space. Nestled in Manhattan’s trendy Chelsea neighborhood, the building was designed by a renowned “starchitect” and sits near the Hudson River, surrounded by artistic facades and celebrity neighbors. It’s luxury stacked on luxury, the kind of place that screams A-list couple. But now, it belongs to Furness alone.
This penthouse is just a fraction of the jaw-dropping portfolio Jackman and Furness built over the course of their 27-year marriage. The pair reportedly still hold property in Australia, including a gorgeous waterfront condo overlooking Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. There’s also a second New York City apartment in the West Village and a chic Hamptons beach house. Together, they curated a globe-spanning lifestyle that matched their red carpet status. But all of that’s changing now as the divorce becomes official.
Jackman and Furness’s love story began back in 1995 on the set of the Australian series Correlli. The spark was instant. They married the following year on April 11, 1996, and went on to adopt two children, Oscar, now 24, and Ava, now 19. Their bond seemed unshakeable, one of those rare Hollywood marriages that felt grounded and real. So when they announced their separation in September 2023, fans were floored.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the couple emphasized that their family “has been and always will be our highest priority.” They called their 27 years together “a wonderful, loving marriage,” adding that their journey was now shifting so they could focus on “individual growth.” Still, the timing of Furness’s actual filing, nearly eight months later, raised eyebrows, and her recent comments added fuel to the fire.
In May, Furness made a deeply personal statement addressing the emotional toll of the split. “My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal. It’s a profound wound that cuts deep,” she said. Her words were heavy, hinting at more than just drifting apart. She also expressed faith in a higher power, saying that belief helped her survive the emotional fallout of the marriage breakdown.
But apparently, Jackman wasn’t thrilled about Furness going public with those feelings. According to a report from The Daily Mail, a source close to the actor claimed he was “extremely disappointed” and “blindsided” by her remarks. The source added there had been “an unwritten understanding that she would not trash him to the press,” and that Jackman “knows he cannot change anything now.” It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes drama that makes their split even more intriguing.
As of May 30, the pair had reportedly reached an agreement to divide their $387 million fortune. Furness’s divorce filings indicated the separation terms were uncontested, meaning all that’s left is a judge’s signature to make it official. For a couple who once seemed like Hollywood’s rock-solid duo, the speed and efficiency of this split, especially that $23 million property buyout, tells a story of quiet exits and careful planning.
It’s a graceful but undeniably high-stakes end to a decades-long marriage that once felt like the exception to every showbiz rule. While Jackman and Furness continue to move forward separately, the penthouse handover shows just how much has changed, and how fast.
