Karl Stefanovic and Cassandra Thorburn complete carving-up of assets six months after announcement

EXCLUSIVE: Today host Karl Stefanovic has settled his divorce, leaving $6 million in assets to Cassandra Thorburn, the wife he left after 21 years of marriage.

Karl Stefanovic has agreed to the terms of a divorce settlement with wife Cassandra Thorburn

• Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough enjoy a harbour day-out

TODAY host Karl Stefanovic has settled his divorce, leaving $6 million in assets to the wife he left after 21 years of marriage.

Six months after Stefanovic and Cassandra Thorburn announced the end of their ­marriage, Stefanovic, who earns about $3 million a year, walks away with about $500,000 in cash and assets, including his beloved white Mercedes.

His friends yesterday described the arrangement, which includes the new family waterside mansion, as a “tough” settlement.

Karl Stefanovic has taken a hit financially to ensure he can see his kids whenever he wants. He keeps his prized white Mercedes pictured in the background. Picture: DIIMEX.COM

That figure is dwarfed by Thorburn’s share of their fortune, with the 44-year-old getting about $6 million in cash and assets, as well as child support and hefty ongoing payments.

The couple will share custody of their three children — Jackson, 17, Ava, 12 and River, 10.

It’s understood Stefanovic put up very little resistance during the negotiations that were finalised just days ­before he was snapped on holiday in the US with his girlfriend, 33-year-old designer Jasmine Yarbrough.

In stark contrast, Thorburn was photographed at the same time helping movers carry furniture and ­belongings out of their old family home in Lindfield, which sold for $3.8 million.

She now lives in the­ ­couple’s other home, an $8 million waterfront mansion in Cremorne, that she also took in the settlement.

However, it’s believed the property is ­significantly mortgaged.

Stefanovic declined to comment when contacted yesterday. However, a friend of the Channel Nine ­presenter, who is currently the highest-paid person on Australian TV, said he knew he would “take a hit” financially.

Cassandra Thorburn will receive $6 million in assets in the divorce settlement agreed to by Stefanovic.

“There was always the sense that it would be a big settlement and obviously not in his favour,” said the friend, who added that shared custody was always Stefanovic’s main priority.

“He was quite prepared to walk away with nothing, hand everything over with the one condition that he be able to see his children whenever he wanted.

“And I think they have managed to agree on that.”

Stefanovic can also take some consolation in his ­future earning capacity, as well as a close friendship with some of the country’s richest men, including ­casino mogul James Packer and accountant Anthony Bell, both of whom offered support during his divorce.

Prior to the settlement, Ms Thorburn had long maintained she was instrumental in helping build ­Stefanovic’s career after giving up her own media career 20 years ago.

The Cremorne property is now home to Thorburn.

The indoor pool at the Cremorne mansion.

A former TV journalist, Ms Thorburn took to Facebook soon after their split to write: “Apparently Today Show finally won a year.

“This took a huge toll on my family and I, and I’m congratulating myself ­­­to-day for all the effort that went into making that ­happen. The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years. I’m giving myself a pat on the back tonight as I know  many  people will also know how much effort I put into it,” she wrote.

Ms Thorburn also ­declined to comment.