Michael and Maya Polsky came to America with $500, four suitcases and a dream. Thirty-one years later, the Ukrainian immigrants/Jews have almost $370 million, including five luxury homes and scores of jewels and pieces of fine art.

Other super wealthy Jewish divorces (Amounts are in today's dollars).

* Fox mogul Rupert Murdoch and Anna -- $2.1 billion (1999).

* Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone and Phyllis -- $1.7 billion (2002).

* Telecommunications magnate Craig McCaw and Wendy -- $624 million (1995).

* Singer Neil Diamond and Marcia -- $209 million (1994).

* Director Steven Spielberg and Amy Irving -- $167 million (1989).

Monday, Michael Polsky, 57, an engineering titan, tried convincing a judge that his ex-wife, a homemaker, isn't entitled to collect half of their life earnings. But Cook County Judge William Boyd disagreed, awarding her $183.65 million -- a slight increase from the $176 million he initially said she should get last year.
 
Court records show that when the couple decided to leave what was then part of the Soviet Union in 1976, he lost his engineering job, while she lost a job teaching English -- and both knew they could never return to their home under Communist rule.

They settled in Chicago in 1980, as Michael's career took off. He formed his own engineering firm in 1991, later selling it and taking a small break from working before starting Invenergy.


The Split

MICHAEL POLSKY GETS:
* Aspen, Colo. home: $7 million
* Chicago (Grand Avenue) home: $2.9 million
* Wisconsin home: $2.1 million
* Jewelry: $216,000

MAYA POLSKY GETS:
* Chicago (Lake Shore Drive) home: $3.7 million
* Glencoe home: $2 million
* Decorative art: $1.5 million
* Jewelry: $839,000
* Art gallery: $350,000

The couple are also splitting $9.1 million in fine art -- with Michael getting "The Egg Dance" by Bruegel.


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