Paulson divorcing wife in one of the most expensivedivorcespies

Billionaire investor John Paulson is divorcing his wife Jenny of 21 years and the scene is set for one of the most expensive splits of all time. The couple do not have a prenup, sources exclusively confirm to Page Six.

The 65-year-old business guru — who made $20 billion shorting the housing market before the 2008 crash — cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup according to paperwork filed on Monday in Suffolk County.

And they both hired powerful New York divorce lawyers in a move that insiders in the legal world are billing as the clash of the titans. There's no prenup, and John gathers most of his fortune during their marriage, so this is going to be an epic, wildly expensive divorce, one source says.

Smith, who married Jenny in 2000 after she worked as his assistant, was initially reported to be worth $4.7 billion by which private investigators now say her true wealth could be many times that number.

The source added that the estranged couple, parents to two daughters, Giselle and Danielle, had grown apart and lived in the last 15 years many different lives. They have to split an impressive portfolio of property.

They bought an enormous, 28,500 square feet upper East Side townhouse on East 86th Street, which they owned for $14.7 million in 2004.

The Paulsons also have an estate in Aspen purchased for $41 million in 2008 and a home in Southampton they bought for $24.5 million in 2010.

In recent years John has hired power attorney William D. Zabel, representing a series of leading clients including Stephen Ross, George Soros, Howard Stern, Jane Welch, Mort Zuckerman, Bill Ford, Peggy Bewkes, Bill Ackman and related owner George Soros.

In a statement, John said that Jenny has deep respect for John and will continue to support all that is best for the health and happiness of the family. There will be no further comment from John. Meanwhile, Melinda Gates is believed to be talking with prominent divorce attorney Robert S. Cohen, who is also working for Jenny and has handled divorces for stars including Uma Thurman, James Gandolfini, Ivana Trump and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Cohen could not be reached immediately.